The Ghosts of the Bloody Mile

[KANACKI]

In 1952 during broad daylight along the Bloody mile Berty Sweet on motorcycle run up the back of another broken Down truck. The coroner back then stated it was mystery why he had not seen the broken down truck?

Was it all coincidence or is there some thing else behind these death all with a rough mile stretch of Highway and adjoining railway line over a period of years.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

In the following 1950 newspaper article a young women June Walter aged 24 burnt to death in farmhouse near the dump at Dunmore in effect in the area of the Bloody mile roughly between the old Dunmore train station the swamp, rail and road bridges in between and Minamurra train station.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Here is a map of approximate location of fatalities. Murder in Blue, Accident in red and Drowning in yellow. It should be noted last 30 years road deaths and drowns are incomplete. But it does highlight a higher than average rate of fatalities per mile stretch than average. Is there a malicious force lurking in depths of bloody mile? It should be noted the two modern murders was committed elsewhere and body or body parts dumped there. One thing for sure it is a creepy place at night. With its history of death indeed it has earned it sinister reputation.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

In continuing our journey through the history of murder fatalities of Bloody mile. We travel back to horrible case in 1861. When Ellen Flynn snapped and murdered her sisters 2 month old baby girl, cutting the arms and legs off  with a hand reaper used for cutting corn.

There is nothing more traumatic than the death of child  by murder. One wonders what negative energy or remnants of such a terrible event lingers....

Here is the story in the newspapers  below....

It is interesting to note the dead baby's mother was not exactly an angle either.... As months previously she forced a neighbors head  into a  cauldron of boiling water badly scalding the face of the women and losing and eye.

That event must of been basis for some of early legends of man boiled to death. That has been some times told. But over time in retelling it was a man and he died from it.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Digging deeper into history.

You can see Ellen Flynn was sent to jail and Darlinghurst jail then onto Parramatta Asylum. The verdict of her court case was below.

Please forgive me for not posting writing exactly what was said as my eyes are not so good these days.  Ellen Flynn was given not Guilty on the grounds of Temporary insanity?

Hard to imagine getting away with such a claim these days?

To be continued.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Ellen Flynn was discharged from Parramatta Asylum in 1862 nearly 12 months after the gruesome murder of her baby niece as you can see in the following document below discharged as cured?

For those who need to know her fate? A little more digging into past may of found where she spent the last of her days?

The Question remains what drove her to murder her niece? Was it jealousy or hatred  of her sister in a insane moment of spite? Or was there unseen forces at play?l

Life in the early Minamurra village was tough and employment was back breaking work in the stone quarries. But no different to many parts of country in early days. Was this tragic murder influenced by unseen forces of the alleged Curse by James Tobin in 1836. He claimed  that he was innocent and the area will be plagued with tragic death?



Kanacki

[KANACKI]

As for Ellen Flynns fate. She became a hotel keeper at Sofala gold mining town. It appears in some death records she may of died around 1868? Her death was recorded n Bathurst. However there was a 1870 police gazette journal with her listed as hotel keeper of hotel Sofala in 1870?.

In which you can see in document below.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Here is newspaper copy below of drowning of William Gard in 1853 on the north side of the present Minamurra bridge.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Finally here is the 1836 article below of trial of Jame Tobin of the Murder of his overseer with an Axe.

Perhaps this early event was catalyst of future traumatic events in such a small area?

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

The area had near  by a strong aboriginal presence too. There is sacred site nearby very few people now know about. There is a cave where you can whisper and 60 meters you can here clearly what has been whispered. The cave elliptical in shape has excellent acoustics. No wonder the local indigenous people must of though the place had magic powers of the ancestors.

Kanacki

[Christine]

Another amazing post Kanacki!!! It's weird how so much tragedy can be in such a focused place.

[bronwyn]

Hi Kanacki.Sorry I have not been on for a while.What great posts you have put up.I have heard of the cave but have never wanted to go.I have also heard that the north western side of the minnamurra bridge was an Aboriginal Camp(?),meeting place for summer & that some,maybe all were murdered & the elders put a curse on the area or the spirits were angry from it.
So much history .The map was interesting ,to see where it all happened in such a small area.I have never felt comfortable at the beach where the river mouth opens.Great posts.Thankyou.

[KANACKI]

Hello Bronwyn

Yes you are correct. I suspect it was area near the cave.

 Mickey Johnston was born at Port Stephens about 1834 and arrived in the Illawarra around 1865. He joined the local tribe in his adult years, eventually becoming a senior figure. Mickey was a good tribal leader and was well liked by all who knew him.

Rosie was born c.1840 and it is believed she was a Wodi Wodi tribal member. She was with Mickey Johnson by the 1860s and supported him in his dealings with the growing European community. Rosie was active within the tribe.

Like Mickey, Rosie was a communicator and somehow managed to bridge the gap between the two communities.

The local Wodi Wodi tribe was known to have camped at Bass Point during the summer months. Pioneers Clorinda and Samuel Atchison farmed at Bass Point in the late 1800s, and Clorinda Atchison often spoke to her family of times when Rosie Johnston would bring members of the tribe to her, to dress their sores and wounds. Rosie was also very fond of Clorinda’s baked custards.

The local community recognised Mickey and Rosie’s standing through Mickey’s coronation in 1896 at the Wollongong Show, where he was crowned King, however, no recognition was given to them or the Wodi Wodi tribe in terms of land, hunting ground or water supply.

It was reported that Mickey Johnston, on the occasion of his ‘crowning’ at the Wollongong Show, was asked whether or not he had been invited to attend the coronation of King Edward VII in London. Mickey replied that he had not, however, he was not expecting an invitation, as he had not invited the King to his own coronation.

Mickey died in 1906 from Pneumonia at his Minnamurra camp aged 72, and Rosie died in 1923.

Here is picture of both of them below.

Legends say later in life Mickey became disenchanted with the patronizing and during an outbreak of Pneumonia that killed many of his fellow tribes peoples as well as no recognized tribal hunting rights or land. Cursed the settlers at the last corroborate at the cave.

Some say in the cave you hear faint voices through the rock.

Very few people know where it is. As it is a secret sacred place . But if you look in the old black and white picture taken in 1880's you can see to women settlers in the background, which gives you an idea of the size if this secret cave.

Just one of secrets of the region few know about.

Kanacki

[Colleen]

What great reading. Thanks Kanacki.

[KANACKI]

Its my pleasure.

Kanacki