Died In Service Traditional Cache
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Size: 
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KAY , James Edmond. 24th May 1896.Died in service from Typhoid (police officer).
Old Kanowna Cemetery
Western Australia
CEMETERY RUSH AREA
Located in the Kanowna Townsite
Thanks to Moya Sharp for all her work on this index
As more and more good gold was found in and around the Kanowna Townsite, Gold leads were running everywhere and one of the best ran right to the fence of the south end of Cemetery. Rumors were rife that the gold ran right under the Cemetery.
Four prospectors Jerry McAuliffe, Tassy O’Connor, Pierce Larkin and Ted Gore decided to test the theory and pegged a claim on the opposite side of the Cemetery and sank a shaft – it turned out to be very rich and proved that the gold ran under the Cemetery.
Due to enormous pressure from the Kanowna miners, the then Minister for Mines visited Kanowna to inspect the Cemetery on his return to Perth and it was decieded that as there had been no burials in that part of the Cemetery it would be opened for the pegging of mining claims. But it had to be re gazetted and be advertised in the Government Gazette first.
So on the 3rd of December 1897 by 2pm nearly 3000 people had gathered to witness the rush and to peg a big portion of the action in the hope of making their fortune.
Sergeant of Police at Kanowna was in charge of the event and at 2.30 he raised his hand and dropped his handkerchief as the signal to start pegging could begin. What a sight it must have been - but all the ground was pegged without any serious injury to anyone.
A claim for each individual miner was only 25 square yards and 25 x 50 yards for 2 mining partners. Many men made their fortune in the Cemetery Rush at Kanowna as it proved to be a hugely gold rich patch.
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