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Droving


These outback towns have a disproportionally large number of hotels from the days when shearers and drovers ruled their economy.  Hot, hard and it seems sometimes dangerous work.

Participating in Taphophile Tragics.  Pop over to Julie's blog to see more interesting graves.

Comments

  1. WinamAugust 14, 2012 at 10:05 AM

    I guess anything could and did happen in those days. It probably still does in the outback.

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  2. MarkAugust 14, 2012 at 5:35 PM

    There are lots of stories around here of stockmen being killed by lightning. I think it was quite common in the old days before cars,

    ReplyDelete
  3. SeaThreePeeOAugust 14, 2012 at 8:07 PM

    Goodness, struck by lightening. That was unfortunate. Great post!

    Beneath Thy Feet

    ReplyDelete
  4. biebkriebelsAugust 14, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    A tragic death by lightning. Poor man.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JulieAugust 14, 2012 at 9:31 PM

    Not just he, but his horse also, according to the "Bourke Watchman": When he did not return others went looking, and found them both deceased beneath a tree, totally stripped of its bark. The drover's feet were still in the stirrups, and the reins in his left hand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joan ElizabethAugust 15, 2012 at 9:57 PM

      Julie, your sleuthing abilities amaze me, so interesting to know more of his history. I did some research of my own on lightening and one of the things things that happens to trees when struck is that their bark is stripped.

      Around 650 people have been killed by lightning in Australia since 1803 and in the US there are an average of 62 deaths per year.

      The safest place to be during lightening is to be inside or in a car with the windows wound up and you not touching an metal parts.

      Delete
  6. WibboAugust 14, 2012 at 10:06 PM

    How unfortunate.

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  7. UnknownAugust 15, 2012 at 1:44 AM

    Killed by lightning!? Wow!

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  8. Oakland Daily PhotoAugust 15, 2012 at 2:42 AM

    I like the way the headstone is newsy and gives details. No doubt sheltering under a tree was not the wisest move in a storm. Yet, a completely instinctual action to take. Very ironic.

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  9. diane bAugust 15, 2012 at 4:23 PM

    Poor guy,what a way to go, out with a bang.

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  10. CaTAugust 17, 2012 at 12:24 PM

    sad..
    but i like to read it on the stone. is that bad?
    hmm.. i guess when i would be struck by lightning i would also want it on my stone...

    ReplyDelete

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