Praise for Flinders from Capt. Douglas

Upon his return to Adelaide in June, 1858, from his re-examination of the West Coast, Capt. Douglas praised Mr. G. E. De Mole for his part in the construction of the charts and taking observations. Benjamin Germain, the late master of the Yatala, acted as mate and pilot, and afforded Capt. Douglas "much valuable assistance in the course of the survey." The master and the crew also came in for commendation, "all have vied under many arduous circumstances, to carry out their respective duties to my entire satisfaction."

As a result of this expedition, large scale plans were made of Fowler's Bay, Denial and Streaky Bays, and Venus Harbor, as well as the preparation of new sailing directions of the north-west coast of the province.

Mr. G. E. De Mole, who was out with Capt. Douglas, was an uncle of Mr. W. F. De Mole, who about 1921 set out the sidings and works for the Gypsum Company at Cape Thevenard, and surveyed a route from the gypsum lake to the coast (Port Le Hunte?) Point De Mole commemorates Mr. G. E. De Mole.

FLINDERS PRAISED

After finishing the resurvey of Kangaroo Island, Capt. Douglas in reporting to the Government on February 24, 1858, wrote : "I cannot finish this portion of my report without publicly expressing my admiration of the wonderful correctness in all essential points of Capt. Flinders' survey, and would observe, that no means at our disposal at present are sufficiently reliable to correct the various leading features as determined by that in trepid navigator, but, as a humble follower in his steps. I hope with the liberal resources at the disposal of the Government as voted by the Legislature for the current year, that I may be permitted to fill in details, which, from the nature of previous surveys, have been neglected."

This was written after the first extensive re-survey of the coastline. It is gratifying to have such a commendation as to the superior work executed by Capt. Matthew Flinders, and in this our Centenary year the remark, although not appertaining to Eyre Peuinsula, it is well worth recognising and repeating in connection with this series of articles.

Now to resume the account at James Geharty's exploration in 1858 :

"OUR OWN EXPLORER."

James Geharty had a long connection with Eyre Peninsula, and therefore we can justifiably call him our own explorer. It is recorded that he was sworn in as a police-constable for the province on March 19, 1841, or rather, that was the intention. For some reason not disclosed the swearing-in did not take place till next day. Matthew Smith making the necessary entry in the court record book. Why, I cannot understand, but that book records that he was again sworn in on October 2, 1841, with the proviso "for the ensuing year."

James McLean in his reminiscences said that Geharty accompanied the police party under Major O'Halloran in search of the murder of Brown, Biddle and others in 1842. The next record is that Geharty left Port Lincoln on October 20, 1843, being relieved by another constable at the same time as Corporal Swaffer was returned to Adelaide. I have not been able to ascertain when he returned to Port Lincoln, but Geharty, now a corporal, assisted Inspector Tolmer in raiding the natives after the murders of Captain James Beevor and Mrs. Eastone.

The Commissioner of Police (Mr. Dashwood) reporting on these murders spoke very highly of the corporal in connection with the search. Evidently at the time of the murders Geharty was stationed at Port Lincoln (May 1849). Beevor was murdered on May 3, the news of the murders was received at Port Lincoln on May 4, and the police party left immediately. While the search was in progress, Mrs. Eastone was murdered.

The Commissioner of Police said the search was "renewed and continued with indefatigable perseverence until the evening of May 15, when Corporal Geharty returned to headquarters at Port Lincoln, both men and horses completely knocked up, having, in the language of the corporal 'visited every native well, known to me within fifty miles of the station.' "

The native guide, who was well known to the corporal during the eight preceding years ascribed the non-arrest of any of the murderers to the fact that the natives ate the flour raw, travelling over country unsuitable for tracking and over which they were able to travel quicker than the horses.

In addition to his police duties, Geharty must have gone in for pastoral work, for in 1856 he held 10 square miles of country near Lake Newland, but transferred it to J. Kelsh. He also had 10 square miles near Venus Bay. In 1861 he took up 50 square miles near Venus and Streaky Bays, while in 1863 he took up another 46 square miles near Venus Bay. He also put in claims under the " Preferential Rights Clauses " for land at Gawler Range.

INFLUENCE WITH NATIVES

As mentioned previously, Hack spoke very highly of Geharty. In his first report from Streaky Bay in June, 1857, Hack stated that Geharty appeared to have considerable knowledge of the native language and had much influence over them, many having stayed with him for some time. By the generous permission of Mr. G. W. Halcombe, I am able to give an extract from ex-Inspector Holroyd's manuscript autobiography, in which is given a fine pen picture of our own explorer.

"He was a tall fine-looking man, wearing his iron grey hairs in long curls, and had a grand dash of military style which was very effective amongst wild natives, and rough bush men," wrote Holroyd. "He was an excellent traveller, kind to his horse, and a most agreeable and good humoured companion on long journeys in the bush. Always ready to turn his hand to anything, and what he could not do, nor cared to do himself, he had a happy way of making others do it. He had great power over the natives and yet was always kind to them."

Geharty did not take kindly to the appointment of Holroyd as inspector, having been the leader himself in the district for so many years, and then being forced to accept second place. However, Holroyd was able to record that after Geharty's retirement, he received many long and kindly letters from the former sergeant, and that Geharty junr was also a valued friend. Mr. George Standley stated that a hill on the property of Mr. Francis Jacobs, near Franklin Harbor, was named after Sgt. Geharty.

(Another Instalment Next Week.)