AUS-VIC-NE-L Archives

From: Kaye Patterson <>
Subject: [AVNE] 1901 Fires around Myrrhee
Date: Sat, 03 Jun 2000 16:53:57 +1000

Hi All,
I thought the following (extracts describing the 1901 Fires around the
Myrrhee area of north-east Victoria) might be of some interest to anyone
researching in the Greta/Myrrhee area, as many of the names of the early
settlers of the district are mentioned.

Graham JONES. (1995) Memories of Oxley. Shire Of Oxley 1862 -
1994. Charquin Hill Publishing, Wangaratta.
"The first warning of a period of high fire danger came in the days
following the Federation celebrations, when a fire broke out to the west of
Wangaratta, burning from Thoona to Killawarra. Later in the month a fire
swept down Kelly's Gap to Greta, bringing destruction to several
properties. Then early the following month, a series of fires broke out
over much of the State, in a widespread conflagration which reminded old
timers of the Black Thursday fires nearly half a century before. One of the
fires quickly spread from Greta to Hanson, Boggy Creek, Moyhu and Myrrhee,
burning out 12 homesteads and 150 square miles of country. Many of the
farming families in the area narrowly escaped with their lives.
On the FLEMING, JARROTT and PATTERSON properties at Myrrhee, a desperate
battle was waged against the fire.
"In 1895, Tom JARROTT, that was my father, and my mother Martha WHEELER
were married, and bought CRYER's property at Myrrhee. In 1901, by that time
they had four little children, and on the 7th of February, 1901 they lost
everything in a bushfire. During the fire, one of the FLEMING girls came
and took my three oldest brothers - the oldest one would be five - she took
them up to PATTERSON's because there was quite a few grown up people there,
and with the fire - it rained fire, you see, on the valley - they had two
of the girls up on the roof - they were bark roofs - and the others were
getting water out of the well, and handing it up to them, putting out the
fire. That's the only way they saved their home. All my family had left was
the clothes they stood up in, a wagon, a reaper and binder, two horses, and
they managed to save all the cows. Now our neighbours, the FLEMINGS, lost
22 cows. They were all dead in one heap across the road. My parents had a
devil of a struggle after that, of course, for quite a while". Aub JARROTT,
Moyhu.
At night, the full fury of the fire was observed from a vantage point at
Black Springs, just outside Beechworth, 30 miles away. The viewer reported
in awe that the whole southern sky was illuminated, and the line of fire
extended along the hills on the horizon for many miles."

Wangaratta Chronicle, Feb. 13, 1901
"FAMILIES ESCAPE WITH THEIR LIVES"
The telephone message from Moyhu in our last issue, although correct by
reporting the main losses in the over-whelming bush fire which swept down
the Myrrhee side of the Boggy Creek on Thursday, could give no idea of the
full extent of the destruction wrought by the flames. The wall of fire,
carried forward by a south wind, fell upon the farms with a movement so
sudden and swift, that the settlers and their families had to leave
everything and fly to the nearest water-hole, patch of green maize or open
road to escape destruction.
The fire originated at Kilfeera on Tuesday, the cause being, it is
alleged, an accident with phosphorous, which while being mixed for rabbit
poisoning by two young men ignited and burnt the fingers of one of
them. The burning material was dropped on the ground, and the flames were
soon beyond control. On Wednesday the fire had spread to Hansen, assuming
large proportions as it progressed, and trails lit here and there to save
properties served to still further extend it. There was hope that it had
been controlled, but freshening wind set it off again from Mr J CORKER's
property, and on Wednesday night it reached the hills between Moyhu and the
Fifteen Mile by way of Mr J PRENDERGAST's. Settlers everywhere united in
the fight against the flames, but the line of fire was so extended that it
became evident that the saving of homesteads and stock would require all
the energy that could be brought to bear. Residents on the Moyhu side gave
the whole of their time on Wednesday and Thursday to the work of beating
back the fire, but at about one o'clock on Thursday afternoon it was felt
that there was to be serious loss amongst them, for the flames came with
gathering force as that sad day wore on. The fire-beaters hurriedly made
for their horses, and prepared as far as possible for the worst. Some who
delayed had to race the fire, for it swept along swiftly towards
evening. Milking time had arrived, and the work was being hastened so that
it might be finished before what appeared to be a heavy thunderstorm came
on, for the air was heavy, a noise resembling thunder was heard from over
the hills, and it was fast becoming dark. In a few minutes the whole
surroundings changed, the dense wall of smoke seemed to dissolve before a
huge wave of flame that was borne along by a violent wind, and it became
bright as day. The flames rose to the tops of the trees, and the wind
carried for several hundreds of yards large pieces of burning wood and bark
that quickened the work of destruction. Everything in front of that
terrible line of fire seemed doomed, and that there was no loss of human
life during Thursday night is the consolation of all who were witness of
the awful danger. There are 90 settlers along Boggy Creek within six miles
between Mr D FLEMING's and Mr R SHANLEY's properties, and 12 of these were
rendered homeless within a couple of hours. When the fire swept down the
flat on the wings of a strong south wind it engulfed only a few of the
homesteads, but by some strange fatality the wind chopped round to a
directly opposite quarter, and the flames returned along the creek to
complete the destruction on the houses that had escaped. Still greater
destruction was averted only by desperate efforts and many settlers can
describe how buildings were barely saved by the continued dashing of water
on the walls and the roofs or by the utmost vigilance as burning leaves or
pieces of bark came flying into the yards and onto outbuildings and
wood-heaps. When the flames rose from the Fifteen Mile creek to the top of
the range fanned by a hot wind, so great was the body of heat and burning
debris that it was carried one mile across the Boggy Creek road and on to
Mr R. WALLACE's property, where it set fire to the grass.
The occupants of Redcamp and Mr SHANLEY's family were the last of those on
Boggy Creek to be threatened, but the houses were saved after a great
struggle. The fire then passed onward towards Moyhu but with gradually
diminishing force as the wind lulled, and the crowd of men in front got
control when the flames had reached Mr. H. JONES's paddock, a mile and a
half from the township. But the greatest alarm had been felt by the
residents of Moyhu, as it seemed that the fire would surely reach them,
fortunately 1000 gallons of water were drawn from Mr C SHULZ's ….
MRS. FORGES'S HOMESTEAD - AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE
The house of Mrs FORGE [Susannah POULTER, wife of James FORGE], an old and
respected resident on Boggy Creek, was about the first of the fourteen
fated buildings to catch fire, and she and her son Robert, had a memorable
experience. Mrs FORGE, who has been 27 years on the creek, occupied a
four-roomed weatherboard house, with bark roof, and there was a detached
kitchen and a number of sheds and outbuildings close by. Her son, Walter,
resides with her, but on Thursday afternoon he was away helping with the
fire and was cut off from the homestead when the flames came along
there. His elder brother, Robert, had come, however to see to the safety
of the old home, and after a hard ride arrived just in time to share with
his mother the most thrilling two hours of his life. The flames came on
from every side with a noise like thunder, and the whole surroundings
seemed a mass of fire, preventing escape by any way. The mother and her
son were awed by their imminent danger, but they managed to gather a few
bundles of clothes and place them in a dray, which Mr FORGE drew on to the
centre of the road. They were hardly away from the house when it seemed to
burst spontaneously into flame, and Mr FORGE's efforts to save the place by
throwing water on the outer walls were proved to have been wasted energy,
for the building was meanwhile burning inside, ignited in a dozen places
through the roof. Mrs FORGE, who is advanced in years (being 66 years old)
[born 1835, Cowlinge, Suffolk] bore up bravely for a time, but the sight of
the burning homestead and the awfulness of the surroundings overcame her,
and she was resigned to meet her death, Mr FORGE sharing her dismal
feelings. There was till then some small consolation, for they had the
dray and a few of their belongings, but as if to make the ruin complete the
dray caught fire as it stood in the centre of the bare road and was soon
consumed along with the clothes that had been thrown into it. All hope was
then abandoned, and the mother collapsed, while her son sat near at hand
waiting for the final sweep of the flames, fully believing that he and his
mother would have to die together. The heat was intense - so great,
indeed, that Mrs FORGE, clad only in her ordinary working garments,
continued to cry that her clothes were burning, and her son could only
relieve her sufferings by occasionally dashing a cup of water on her
back. Just at this moment a pig - the only one of ten saved on the farm -
which followed them to their place of refuge, was so maddened by the heat
of the flames that in its anguish it bit viciously at their feet,
threatening to injure them severely. The squealing of nine pigs as they
were gradually roasted to death in the stye, the bellowing and rushing
about of suffering cattle, were heartrending, and made more dreadful the
awful experience of this old lady and her son while they remained
imprisoned on the few square yards of bare earth that saved them from
death. The air seemed filled with fire, but it was not merely a huge mass
of flame on all sides that was so awe-inspiring - there appeared to be
balls of fire flying in dense clouds of light for hundreds of yards. Added
to this dreadful strain on the senses was the physical suffering caused by
the heavy smoke, and when the fire passed Mrs FORGE was carried away blind
to Mr John EVANS's Redcamp, Mr J E EVANS, who did much excellent work in
the district last week, having ridden across at much risk to find Mrs FORGE
and her son lying exhausted on the road. Mrs FORGE was treated at Redcamp
with the utmost kindness, but was not yet safe, for she was present when
the fire returned along the creek and threatened Redcamp, and had to
retreat with others to the yard until danger was averted. She gradually
recovered her eyesight, and was able to leave Mr EVANS's for a house owned
by her son, Robert, lower down. Mrs FORGE's losses include the house and
all its contents, a large shed 30ft x 16ft, four tons of hay, 14 bags of
peas, chaffcutter, 150 cornsacks, tools, harness; and, indeed, everything
on the farm was lost excepting a rocking-chair, spring-cart, and a set of
harness. Mr W A [Walter Alfred] FORGE, the youngest son, who lives with
his mother, lost 410 acres of grass and fencing, milk cans, watch and
chain, all his clothes, etc., and Mr Robert FORGE owned a dray and three
sets of harness that were also consumed. There were 22 cows on the farm,
and although there has not yet been a muster, it is known that one or two
were destroyed. ...
MR PATTERSON's LOSSES
Mr H [Henry] Newton PATTERSON resides at the head of Boggy Creek, and
although he saved his homestead by having cleared paddocks close by he
sustained losses that will press heavily upon him, as he has a wife and
eight children dependent upon him [wife Henrietta (Hetty) FORGE]. His home
narrowly escaped, and wind having blown off a sheet of iron from the roof
sparks flew through, and a sofa had to be extinguished several times. His
losses include five tons of hay, 20 bags of peas, several pigs, 700 acres
of grass, fencing, and - what appeals most to dairyman - 19 head of milking
cows. These were found lying huddled together in a corner, but 14 others
escaped. His father and mother [Edward William and Phoebe Jane STAPLES]
who live in a small house on the property, are now also thrown upon him,
for their little home went in the flames, and the father, Mr G [sic]
PATTERSON, is a cripple. Mr PATTERSON, sen., met with an accident some
months ago by which his leg was broken, and as he has since had to have the
limb in splints, he had to be carried to his son's house in this helpless
condition on Thursday afternoon."

Abridged version of Report on Whitfield fire taken from Benalla Standard,
February, 1901
"The fire swept over MASON's place …. Heading towards the properties of
Messrs. CORKER …Up creek we raced for NOLAN's … passing Jim
KENNEDY's. Just before the fire closed in on all sides, I and two others
struck through to BRENNAN's place on Mannaree farm, and not till the next
day did I know the awful fight they had all night at NOLAN's…Across the
creek was BLANT's place, … but nothing could be seen more than a chain
away…Galloping over the cleared field of Mannaree…coming to BRENNAN's place
we found two women in a state of terror. Mr. Arthur BRENNAN was away
securing stock in a ploughed field … we started to burn a trail … but the
body of the fire was upon us … our forces were strengthened by the addition
of two ladies from TYRELL's and Mr. BRENNAN who had returned. We now
numbered four men and four women, each woman as good as a man … ploughed
land saved us … men and women worked like Trojans … when the worst of the
danger was over one of the hands determined to make CURRY's place … the
women tried to dissuade him … someone said 'We will never see him alive
again.' …
One of our party was W [William Thomas] FORGE and his place was the next
one up the creek, and his wife [Edith Matilda MEYER] and children being
there alone, it was necessary to reach them somehow. Saturating their
clothes with water and mounting their horses they set out. It was about a
mile and half of it through the fire, but it takes more than that to keep a
man away from his wife and children. BRENNAN, who went with FORGE, said
afterwards that he could not really tell how they got through. It was
simply fire, cinders, falling timber, smoke and suffocation. At one place
the road is fenced across with a swing gate over the track. As they came
near it, FORGE determined to take it at a gallop, shut or open, for to stop
was death. Luckily it was open, and a glimpse of posts as they shot
through and a crash of timbers as BRANNAN's horse struck one half of the
gate, which was partly shut, was all they knew of it. Just after this they
emerged from the fire and had only rolling clouds of smoke to battle
through. Clothes burning, hats gone, not a shred of main or tail on either
horse, and one of them badly staked, they deemed themselves fortunate in
getting through with their lives. On arriving at the house they found some
of the upper creek settlers had come down, and were preparing to fight the
flames. An effort was made by some of them to get back to CURRY's place
but it was impossible, and the two there had to stand their chance
alone. Just about this time a change took place, which although it stopped
the march of the fire up the creek, wrought awful devastation
elsewhere….All day the fire had been running up the Fifteen Mile creek in a
southerly direction, and had not made any progress up the range to the
Boggy…Just at nightfall, the wind chopped down and blew a fearful gale from
the west. The fire rushed at the range and simply engulfed the whole face
of it ….FLEMMING's and JARROTT's homesteads, the Creamery and the State
School were all burning before our eyes … it was with utmost difficulty
that we forced our horses towards the burning buildings, the heat being
almost unbearable and the dropping fire and cinders were a constant source
of danger … we got within a hundred yards of the place and witnessed the
very abomination of desolation.
…On Fifteen Mile creek only grass and fences were lost. The fire passed
over them before the gale on Thursday night, or a much more dismal tale
would be told. But on the Boggy, the aspect of the place is heart-rending
in the extreme … FLEMING's place, the school and Hansen's Creamery were a
heap of blackened ruins … SOUTHEY's homestead … HART's place …. At Redcamp
Station …. Homestead safe ….600 sheep and 14 horses lost …At Walter FORGE's
the struggle was for life. Several times during the night his mother
[Susannah FORGE] succumbed to the heat and suffocating smoke, and fainted,
and it was only by getting into the creek that life was preserved. Across
the Boggy to Hansen … homesteads were all saved … at Mr J DINNING's a great
fight was made to stop it, and fortunately succeeded."

Added text [ ]

Kaye


Kaye PATTERSON

http://www.deakin.edu.au/~kayep/geneal
Researching: PATTERSON [Co Tyrone to New Brunswick Canada to Greta/Myrrhee
Vic]: FORGE [Hundon Suffolk to Vic, mainly Greta/Myrrhee]: POULTER
[Cowlinge Suffolk to Greensborough and Kilmore area Vic]: MEYER [Germany to
Wangaratta Vic]: READ [Canterburry Kent to Geelong to Warrnambool area]:
FREITAG [Germany to Somerton Vic to Winton Vic]: HILL [Wolverhampton Staff.
to Campbellfield Vic to Taminick Vic]: GREEN [Donegal Ireland to Winton
Vic]: JOHNSTONE [Fifeshire Scotland to Terang area Vic]: HYNES [Co Clare
Ireland to Kapunda SA to Deniliquin NSW]: HUSSEY [Hampshire England to
Lilydale area Vic and Deniliquin NSW]: SANTILLA [Middlesex England to
Richmond Vic to Deniliquin NSW].

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• [AVNE] 1901 Fires around Myrrhee by Kaye Patterson <>