Ethel Cath SULLIVAN [847]

  General Notes:

The Australian Workers News Sydney Thursday 23 November 1916 page 11

Ethel Sullivan (7), Joyce's Creek: We had a concert, and it was a great success. The hall was crowded. Our teacher
was pleased with us children. I would like my letter in The Worker.
* * *

According to information from family members and newspaper articles of the time, Mary and her sister Ethel were taken to school in a buggy each day by Mr Judson, along with Mr Judson's two sons. In 1918, the Loddon River was in flood and as the buggy was crossing the river, the horse shied. The buggy tipped and the occupants in the buggy were thrown into the river. The two Sullivan sisters and Mr Judson and one of his sons also drowned, but Mr Judson's younger son was rescued. Due to the flooding in the river, searching for the bodies was delayed. Mr Judson was recovered on the 19th of June, his son on the 20th, Mary Sullivan was found on the 23rd of June and Ethel was found on the 25th of June. The Sullivan girls were buried on the 26th of June. The horse also drowned. An inquiry was held into the drownings in late June or early July 1918.


Constable Ellis said at about nine o'clock a.m. on the 18th ult, he was informed of the fatality and proceeded to the spot. The Creek near the school is crossed by a very much exposed and dangerous crossing. A footbridge is built across the stream on the side of the road in such a way that little protection is offered. The bridge itself is not safe for children to cross. It appears that when half way across the stream, the horse became frightened. At the side of the road, downstream, there is a deep hole, and no fence to protect any persons crossing. The horse, when it turned to go back, fell into the hole, and the gig and occupants wore thrown into the water.

He considered the occurrence was purely an accident.

Henry McDonald said he saw Mr Judson driving through Joyce's Creek, and spoke to him before the accident. Shortly afterwards, he heard screams, and ran down and crossed the foot bridge. He could then only see the horse's head some distance down the stream. He ran past the gig and horse, and then saw Mr Judson in the water, but he immediately disappeared. Witness continued running towards the railway bridge, and saw two children in the water, one in the middle of the stream, and the other on the opposite side. A little further on Mr Caulfield joined him, and they threw a log into the water in the hope that someone might catch hold of it. He then left Mr Caulfield, and ran across the railway bridge to get near the children. He was then able to rescue Thomas Judson.

A verdict was returned that the deceased persons came to their death on the 18th June from drowning, and that the occurrence was purely accidental.

In December 2014 I searched on the National Library of Australia's Trove site and found no less than 50 articles regarding this tragic event in papers all over Australia from Western Australia to Queensland and also in major newspapers in Melbourne and Sydney. This story obviously grabbed the hearts of the country despite the fact that the first World War was still raging. The articles from the Newstead Echo were not found on Trove so I assume they are not yet digitised.

Here are some of the articles that I found.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 19 June 1918 Page 6
OUR DROWNED.
FARMER AND CHILDREN.
ACCIDENT IN FLOODED CREEK.
MARYBOROUGH, Tuesday.-Mr. Harry Judson, a well-known farmer of Joyce's Creek, was driving his two boys to school this morning. On the way he picked up two little girls, the daughters of Mr. John Sullivan, who also resides at Joyce's Creek.
They were crossing the creek, which was considerably swollen by the recent rains, when the vehicle was upset, and the occupants were swept away. Hearing cries from the direction of the creek, Mr. H. H. McDonald ran down to the stream near the crossing, but nothing was to be seen. Shortly afterwards, however, he discovered one of the Judson boys nearly a mile down the creek floating on a buggy cushion. As the boy drifted near to the bank Mr. McDonald hauled him out. The bodies of Mr. Judson and the three children who lost their lives, have not yet been recovered.

Messages were sent to the police at Newstead, Dunolly, and Maryborough for grappling irons, but these were not to hand till a late hour this afternoon. Joyce's Creek flows into the Loddon, and it is feared that the bodies have been carried to the river. The horse, which was drowned, and the gig were carried against an obstruction in the creek

The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Tas. : 1899 - 1919) Wednesday 19 June 1918 Page 3
FOUR PERSONS DROWNED
BUGGY CAPSIZES IN FLOODED
CREEK.
MELBOURNE, Thursday. - Mr. H. Judson (a well known farmer), one of his sons, and two daughters of Mr. J. Sullivan were drowned through a buggy capsizing in the flooded waters of Joyce's Creek, near Newstead.
A second son of the Judson family was rescued.

The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) Wednesday 19 June 1918 Page 9
CAPSIZE IN A CREEK.
FOUR DEATHS RESULTED.
MELBOURNE, June 18.
While Mr. H. Judson, a well known farmer, -was taking his two sons and the two daughters of Mr. J. Sullivan to school at Newstead this morning, the flood waters of Joyce's Creek swept the horse off its feet and capsized the buggy. Mr. Judson, one son, and both the girls were drowned; and the other son was rescued by a man who plunged into the creek and caught the strap of the buggy seat, to which the boy was clinging. The creek was swollen by the heavy rain which had fallen all night, and the horse and buggy were caught by the current near the school house. The youngest son, who was rescued, held to the vehicle, which was carried swiftly downstream. Mr. H. McDonald, who saw the accident, ran along the bank until he was slightly below the floating buggy, and then plunged into the water and saved the boy by a mere chance.
The four bodies have not yet been recovered. The horse was drowned, and its body has been pulled out of the creek.

Weekly Times (Vic. : 1914 - 1918) Saturday 22 June 1918 Page 31
FOUR DROWN IN CREEK
FATHER. SON, AND TWO GIRLS
While Mr H. Judson. a well-known farmer, was taking his two sons and the two daughters of Mr J. Sullivan to school at Newstead on June 18, the flood waters of Joyce's Creek swept the horse off its feet and capsized the buggy. Mr Judson, one son and both the girls were drowned, and the other son was rescued by a man who plunged into the creek and caught the strap of the schoolbag to which the boy was clinging. The creek was swollen by the heavy rain which had fallen all night, and the horse and buggy were caught by the current near the school house. The youngest son, who was rescued, held to the vehicle, which was carried swiftly down stream. Mr H. McDonald, who saw the accident, ran along the bank until he was slightly below the floating buggy, and then plunged into the water and saved the boy by a mere chance.
The four bodies have not yet been recovered and as the creek flows into the river Loddon, which is only a short distance away, it is difficult to say when they will be found. The horse was drowned, and its body has been pulled out of the creek.