THE GRAVE ON FORT HILL
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Photo No:
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PH0375/0111 |
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Title: |
Grave. |
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Photographer: |
Unknown. |
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Date taken:
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193? |
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Place: |
Unknown. |
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Collection:
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Marella Collection. |
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Description: |
The
grave of Bennett and Hazard on the summit of Fort Hill. Fort Hill was removed
in the 1960s |
below photos from
Birth Index
John William Ogilvie Bennett born 11/11/1845
Lovely Valley, dist Adelaide SA
Book/page 1/132, Parents Thomas
and Elizabeth Wiggins
The below is a portion of an
article published by the Argus, Saturday 20 November
1869 in regard to the Survey Party which was sent
to
The vital statistics of the settlement have been, with one exception
encouraging. Not a single death happened which might be fairly
attributed to the climate or the work. One man succumbed under a broken
constitution, which he had brought with him, aggravated
by rheumatism, which he had contracted in camp. Another was killed by
the blacks in a dastardly outrage at Fred’s Pass-
Mr W O Bennett, a promising young
draughtsman, who, with Guy a labourer, had been left in charge of Knuckeys’s
Camp. This was
situated beside a lagoon, near one of the inland townships. There had
been originally four survey parties in the vicinity and while
they remained together very little was seen of the natives.
Towards the end of May three of them removed, and Knuckey’s party
remained to complete that portion of the country. The natives
began to increase as the whites decreased and unfortunately the whites,
so far from having their suspicions roused in consequence,
relaxed the precautions which Mr
Goyder had originally enjoined. Bennett, who had been at Escape Cliffs and
associated a great
deal with the natives, was supposed to be a great favourite with them.
His comrades in fact, relied as much on him for protection as
on their revolvers. The latter were the last thing they thought of
requiring to use against a dozen or so of apparently inoffensive
blacks, and when really wanted they do not seem to have come handy. On
the 24th May, Bennett was sitting alone at work in the tent,
when several natives appeared at the entrance, and without any warning
discharged a volley of spears at him. Two entered his lungs
and the other two inflicted only superficial wounds about the head. Bennett
immediately called to Guy to look
out, but before he
could reach his revolver an old native had planted a spear in his back.
He courageously broke it off, leaving the point in the flesh.
While he was attempting to show fight, Bennett sho had now secured a
revolver, fired and put the wretches to flight. Guy then crawled
into the tent and for several hours, the two bathed as they were in
their own blood, kept guard over the lagoon in which the blacks had
concealed themselves. It was nearly 2 o’clock before the survey party
returned and the leader (Mr Knuckey)
started at once for the next
camp. A guard of seven men was sent up, and the intelligence was
simultaneously despatched to ort Point which it reached early next
morning. Dr Peel, by dint of
the most persevering exertion, got to Fred’s Pass within 24 hours of being
called. Fortunately there was a
spring dray at the camp and on this the two wounded men were conveyed to
the river from whence they had an easy journey to
Fort Point in the lifeboat. From his first examination of the wounds,
the doctor had no hope of saving Bennett, but Guy was easily
relieved. Poor Bennett spent another day in intermittent delirium and on
the morning of the 28th he died-the first fatal breach in the
expedition and all the more sad that it had befallen so treacherously.
The Government have not had time yet to arrange for the removal of the
party remaining at Port Darwin, much less to decide on the
future administration of the settlement……. etc
Hearing of the good preservation of the graves on the
Mr J W O Bennett, and we paid a
visit to his last resting place on Fort Hill. We regret to say that the fencing
is in a very dilapidated
state and in some places broken down, and the writing is becoming
effaced by exposure. Could not the Government afford the trifling
expenditure necessary to put this grave in order and clear the grass
round it. It would not cost much
Buried on Fort Point – To the Editor
Sir, In the Observer of Feb 25th is published the death of Mrs Elizabeth Bennett, at Moonta aged
88 years. It may not generally be
known that this very old lady was the mother of Mr J W O Bennett, who was speared by blacks at Fred’s Pass during
the progress
of Mr Goyder’s Survey and was buried on Fort Point. I think Mr Bennett
was the second victim at Escape Cliffs, a member of the late
Hon. B F Finniss’ Expedition away back in the sixties. I am Sir, Yours,
etc Alfred Giles
headstone at
being the parents and possibly the brother of JWO Bennett
We understand from someone who recently took a saunter to the summit of
Fort Hill, that the inscription on the solitary tombstone
on that hill-which is so interesting a relic of the very early days of
settlement in the Territory is completely obliterated, and needs
repainting.
The tombstone itself is also said to be badly cracked. If we remember
rightly, it is some six or seven years since this grave(or graves)
was last attended to and in this climate of wide extremes the processes
of disintegration are to rapid to permit of long neglect.
It is interesting to note that Wednesday, the 28th instant,
carries the clock of time round to the 50th anniversary of the death
of
Mr J W O Bennett, who was
murdered by blacks, and whose grave is on Fort Hill,
following extract from our issue of September 17th 1917:-
This grave marks the last resting place of two of the very earliest
pioneers. The original inscription on the tombstone was painted by
William Webster Hoare, formerly
Surgeon’s Assistant and artist in the late G
W Goyder’s Survey Party in September 1869-just on half
a century ago. This inscription was repainted and the headstone repaired
a few years back, but apparently renovation is again badly
needed. The text of the original inscription is as follows:
“Sacred to the memory of Mr JWO
Bennett, who died on the 28th May 1869, age 23 years, from spear
wounds inflicted by the natives at
Fred’s Pass on the 24th day of the same month. Mr Bennett
placed implicit confidence in the blacks and treated them with familiar
kindness.
They requited his kindness and confidence by treacherously spearing him
when off his guard.”
“Sacred also to the memory of Richard
Hazard, who departed this life at Fort Point, 9th August, 1869
aged 43 years.”
It may be of interest to state that the old artist who painted the above
inscription is still alive and well. He lives in
to take the keenest interest in anything pertaining to the N.T. The
latest development in this matter is outlined in the following letter,
dated September 5th, addressed to H E Carey, Esq., Govt. Secretary, Darwin, which has been handed to
us for publication:
“Mr Jackson, Chief Engineer
of the s.s. Changshu, has presented
the
behalf of himself and Mr J Green,
Electrician of the Taikoo Docks, Hong King (previously in the employ of
Vestey’s Bros. Darwin) with the
accompanying tablet for erection on the Monument at Fort Hill, and as
you have taken a great interest in this matter, may I request that
you will be pleased to recommend that it be fixed free of cost and that
an entry be passed at the Customs.”
The brass tabled so generously presented by Messrs. Jackson and J Green,
measures
21 1-2 x 28 inches, and contains the following inscription:
In Memory of J.W.O. BENNETT
Died May 28, 1869.
Age 23 years.
(Murdered by Natives).
Also
RICHARD HAZARD
Died Aug. 9, 1869
Age 48 years
The Grave on Fort Hill
A correspondent drew attention in our issue of October 3rd to
the obliteration of the inscription on the tombstone erected over the grave
on Fort Hill, suggesting that so interesting a memento of the early days
should be preserved from oblivion. Mrs E
Luxton appears to have
had a copy of the inscription taken some years ago, which she kindly
forwards for publication and also very generously encloses the sum
of 5s to form the nucleus of a fund for the repair of the grave and
tombstone and renewal of the inscription. We shall be glad to receive and
acknowledge any further donations for this object, which cannot be
regarded as other than commendable. the following is a copy of the
inscription from which it would appear that the name of the second
person buried there was “Hazard” and not
Guy as given recently by
Mr J A G Little.
(Inscription is the same as the original above except the age of Hazard
is this time given as 42 years of age)
Little has been found on Richard Hazard. Below is another article
published in the
A resident of
the original inscription had become illegible and that there was nothing
to devote to whom the monument had been erected. The acting
editor, himself a comparative newcomer, is informed that the monument
was erected to two members of the
service-Mr Bennett, who was
speared by blacks at the
a natural death on the 2nd August 1869.
Anyway as pioneers, they deserve to have their memory recorded and the
cost we understand would not be much.
A possible match for the above Richard Hazard is by way of a marriage
index located in
Richard Hazard Married Ann
Graham 1/6/1863
Groom age 32, status not known, father Richard Hazard
Bride age 25, status not known, father Cornelius Graham
Book/page 54/311