9 November 1933

HOW 'GHOSTS' OF LONG AGO WERE LAID

Sweethearts' Ruse: Girls' Contempt For Apparition

MANY years ago several 'ghosts' were reported to have been seen in the Sandergrove-Strathalbyn district. A contributor has sent in the following interesting account of how two of these 'apparitions' were laid.

IT was a long while ago. Many people in the Sandergrove-Strathalbyn district had been greatly scared by the appearance of an apparition in white near a certain cemetery.

But two sturdy brothers, sons of a local farmer, were extremely sceptical, and determined to prove that the 'ghost' was not genuine. So, according to plan, they set off early one evening for the place where the 'ghost' was supposed to appear.

Arriving at the spot, the two separated, one hiding in the thick bushes near where the 'ghost' usually emerged from the cemetery, while his brother hid himself on the opposite side.

Close at hand, a small, vacant hut stood by, relic of the early pioneers, and now reputed to be haunted.

After a while, a white something suddenly stepped over the fence and began walking down the hill toward the hut. The lad hidden near the hut dashed after the figure, The 'ghost' ran, but was soon caught. Several piercing screams proclaimed the fact that the 'ghost' was flesh and blood, and when the sheet was torn from the figure, it proved to be a girl.

In the meantime, the other ghost hunter and another man had arrived on the scene, and the following story was told.

The two were courting, and the young man, having been forbidden to come to the girl's home, used to meet her in the nearby hut. To ensure that they would not be disturbed by passers by, the girl conceived the idea of acting as a 'ghost.' The brothers made a promise to the couple that they would not tell anyone if the girl and her sweetheart also promised not to indulge in any more 'ghost' appearances.

Living in the same district were two girls who had never been known to have shown fear of anything. Moonlight nights or dark nights, these two would tramp miles through the bush or on open roads to attend functions, so two young men determined to see if they could frighten them.

They hit on the idea of both walking beneath the one sheet and springing out into the path of the fearless girls just as they passed by. Expecting to hear the girls scream and flee, these two misguided youths stepped into the path way, but they hastily untangled themselves from the clinging sheet, and, leaving it as a memento of an unfinished fight, sped away in great haste, for the two lasses struck hard and fast with stout sticks, and showed no sympathy to the four-footed 'ghost.' The youths' plan had been overheard by another youth, who had informed the girls.

Another unusual happening was experienced by one of the bold young men of the first 'ghost' story. Having walked into Strathalbyn one afternoon, his return journey of some five or six miles had to be made in pitch darkness. He carried a stone in his hand as a ready weapon.

After having safely negotiated the well-known Limestone Hill, he struck across a paddock until he reached the railway line. By keeping between the rails he would be able to find his way almost home. With head bent, and eyes tracing the route which his feet were to tread, he picked his way carefully and slowly, when suddenly came the regular pad, pad, pad of — what?

Peering into the blackness ahead the youth was surprised to see four small white things at regular intervals apart. Without stopping to think, he hurled the stone he was carrying, and the next impression he got was of the four white things flying through the air. No more sound!

So after a brief interval he struck a match, the light of which revealed the strange thing to be a dark horse with four white feet. The stone had done its work, for the animal lay on the ground, stunned.— 'LONE STAR.'

A Land Of Milk And Honey

THIS is a story of life on the old Kanyaka Station in the early fifties, when romance and tragedy stalked hand in hand. This was the era when a general exodus set in from the southern portion of the State, where, through lack of superphosphates, the vegetable kingdom fell far short of requirements.

The rich luscious grasses of the north, and its radiant sunshine, were a potent lure to the men from the south, who came seeking its hidden treasures in bullock drays, spring carts, on horse ]back and on foot. Many were men of property and high social standing, through whose veins the blue blood of England surged, and all were here for the common weal.

The country surrounding Gordon was quickly taken up, and a sheep and cattle station founded. A fine homestead was erected, with neat little cottages surrounding it for the employes and their families. Stockyards sheep yards, woolsheds, all came into being almost overnight, and the place became a hive of industry.

Thousands of sheep and many hundreds of cattle were moved on to the run, and an era of prosperity set in. Rain fell in abundance. Water oozed from the foothills, and the creeks were teeming with wild duck and waterfowl. And when the sunshine came, vegetable life in a myriad form sprang into being. The owners stood by and watched their flocks and herds grow and multiply. Life was sweet. Truly, it was a "land flowing with milk and honey." So thought the settlers of that long dead day.

But the north can be hard and merciless as well as generous, and to these good people, our grandparents, there came a day for which they were neither forewarned nor forearmed. The north winds, which, in years of plenty, carried rain from afar, now earned dust in its stead. Clouds hung low and heavy, but not a raindrop fell. The wind veered to the south at nightfall, bringing mighty blue-capped dust storms in its wake. Next day it would return from the north again, strengthened and intensified.

The smitten people were mystified. The stock began to die rapidly, and in sympathy with the general decline all hands were gradually retrenched. Working expenses were cut to a minimum; but the drought, ruthless in its devastation, raged on, and all was lost.

Having seen this hard, cruel land in its days of plenty and its days of want, the owners decided to pass it on, but not before many of their numbers had died. The property changed hands many times during the ensuing years, and today the homestead is a shambles, on its ruined walls can be seen the writings of philosopher and cynic. It is the camping place of solitary swag men going to or returning from the outposts of civilisation.— Daniel of the Lions Den, Gordon.

Do Animals Race?

Few people are aware that animals have races. Here is one that I witnessed while working in a quarry on the side of a hill overlooking a nice, grassy flat.

It was an afternoon in late September, and a flock of lambs were sleeping on the pasture. Presently one rose, and began to walk amongst the others. One by one the youngsters got up and followed the first, until some 18 or 20 slowly made their way to a rock which projected about 2 ft. from the earth in the centre of the field. The leader sprang on the rock and faced his companions, who lined up like a string of racehorses.

Presently the leader wheeled, sprang from the rock, and followed by the others, raced at full speed, for an old sawpit some 90 yards distant. There the lambs lined up again and raced back to the rock, the winner springing on to it, and staying there until all had reached the 'post.' I saw the lambs carry out this race several times on different days.

But one afternoon the owner appeared with two sheepdogs. The lambs were frightened, and took shelter with their mothers. The whole flock was driven off. When they came back the lambs had been tailed. I never saw them race again after that humiliation, though I worked in the quarry until they had grown to sheep.— J. Stanley, Morgan.

Rescuing A Steer

Those who suppose that farm life lacks thrills speak from inexperience. It is full of them.

On one farm there was a huge 200,000 gallon underground tank, roofed over with iron, the top being level with the ground. A fence surrounded the tank to keep the cattle out. One morning, when a boy went to water the stock, he was surprised to find a steer swimming round the tank. The animal had broken through the fence and climbed on to the iron roof, which, gave way under its weight, precipitating it into the water.

The work of rescuing that steer provided a day's excitement. Several men were engaged. The beast swam round slowly, bellowing sadly, and looking appealingly at the men. After a lot of manoeuvring a rope was hitched to its horns. But the steer was too heavy to be pulled out. Time after time he was brought to the verge of safety, only to slip back into the water, necessitating operations being commenced de novo.

This went on for between six and seven hours, when men and beast were exhausted. Then someone thought of trying to haul him out by hooking him to a dray drawn by horses. This plan succeeded. After lying still on the ground for some time, the steer suddenly rose and galloped off. But his hooves were worn down to the quick through his unavailing efforts to climb out of the water.— 'Lolliepop,' Coorabie.

A Broken Neck

THE Maitland-Kilkerran district contains fine wheat lands, and many prosperous farmers dwell in the district. A certain farmer living near North Kilkerran, greatly loved his beer —so much so, in fact, that he could be found drunk in Maitland almost any afternoon of the week. He would drive to the town in his car, and, after his carouse would hunt up a garage hand to drive him home.

One afternoon, however, he drove to town in a horse and buggy, and went, as usual, to the hotel for his daily enjoyment. It was fairly late when he left, and he drunkenly drove the horse towards home.

Some hours later, a friend, passing along the track, saw the buggy by the side of the road, with the owner stretched full length beneath it. The man stopped, and, thinking the drunkard was in a drunken sleep, put him in his car and drove to the hospital. He carried his burden into the hospital, and said to the doctor who met him — "Fix this wreck, doc. He's got work to do tomorrow."

The doctor examined the man a moment, and said— "I'm afraid others will have the work to do. This wreck's neck is broken."

Evidently the drunken man had fallen from the buggy. In any case, some misfortune had led him to disaster, and he was dead some time before the friend picked him up.— 'Billy Bones,' Kadina.

The Queen's Birthday, 1840

IN Adelaide's early days, Colonists and Aborigines alike celebrated Queen Victoria's birthday with patriotic and religious fervor. Records show that the programme for the Queen's birthday was as follows 93 years ago:—

At 11 a.m. the Adelaide Volunteer Cavalry, the mounted and foot police formed in front of the Sappers' and Miners' Barracks. They were inspected by Governor Gawler at 11.30 a.m. At one p.m. the Royal Salute was fired. The Governor then held a levee, and Mrs. Gawler received the women of the colony. The Sunday-school children assembled at 2 p.m., and sang a 'loyal hymn,' after which they were treated to tea and cakes.

At the same time the aborigines were assembled by the Protector and German missionaries near the south-east corner of Government House grounds. The native children sang a hymn in their own language, spelled, read and repeated the numerals. The Ten Commandments were read to the Aborigines in their own language by one of the missionaries. The natives then dined on roast beef and pudding, and were supplied with rice, sugar, tea and clothing.

Invitation cards to a 'grand dinner' at Government House were issued by the Governor and Mrs. Gawler to "the officers of Government and Legislature and a number of the principal inhabitants."

With illuminations in the evening, the Queen's birthday of 1840 ended with everyone in the province just a little more patriotic, perhaps, then previously— C.V.H.