david coombe history
SUMMARY: S.T. Gill accompanied John Ainsworth Horrocks' small expedition from July to September 1846. Both Gill and Horrocks made expedition journals. This article reproduces Horrocks' journals as it was transcribed and published in 1906.
Article type: SOURCE DOCUMENT
In this article ...
John Ainsworth Horrocks (1818 – 1846) led a small expedition in 1846 intending to push European exploration to the northwest of the head of Spencer's Gulf, South Australia. S.T. Gill was one of the expeditioners, as accompanying artist. Both Gill and Horrocks made expedition journals.
Horrocks kept a journal from when his party started from Penwortham village on 29 July and up to 27 August 1846. He was fatally wounded on 1 September in a firearms handling accident. This article reproduces Horrocks' journal as it was transcribed and published in 1906.
A section of Gill's journal – 8 August to 24 September – was published as Progress Of Discovery – Expedition To The North-West in the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register on 10 October 1846. Gill's was the only journal publicly available immediately after the expedition. He differed from Horrocks in a little of the narrative. (See S.T. Gill's Horrocks Expedition Pictures 1846-1847 | Changing the Narrative.)
The map shows the approximate route of the Horrocks expedition, includes extracts from Horrocks' and Gill's journals and locates Gill's main pictures. The map opens in a new window.
John Ainsworth Horrocks' Journal. Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia : South Australian Branch. vol 8 (1906), pp 36-47. <http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/100101>
The journal article includes three images:
The Temple portrait is captioned (handwritten): John Ainsworth Horrocks eldest son of Peter Horrocks of Penwortham Lodge, Lancashire, England. Died in South Australia 1846 aged 28 years. Copied from a photo by Colonel Temple 60 Rifles.
S.T. Gill and the Portraits of J.A. Horrocks
I wrote about the Temple portrait in this article.
Two portraits of John Ainsworth Horrocks known only by early black and white photographs. I attribute them to Gill and date them to early 1840.
Although no author is credited with the article, the content, or most of it, has come from Celia Temple, John Horrocks' sister.
This journal doesn't always read like a field diary and perhaps has been edited. It would be informative to compare this 1906 transcript with:
PRG 966/5 Biography and diary of John Ainsworth Horrocks.19- . 1 vol. manuscript. (Formerly V 19). Compiled and written by his sister Celia Temple. Including the diary of the Northern Exploring Expedition. <https://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:443/record=b2187543~S1> (I neglected to do this comparison!)
The transcript as published in 1906 had clear errors which I have corrected:
Minor corrections have also been sourced from the contemporary publication of Horrocks' letter to Platts. "EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH-WEST." South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, 19 September 1846: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195934167>
My comments in the journal text are in [square brackets] and sometimes emphasised. Mentions of Gill sketching are in bold.
I've included bookmarks you can use to enable links to individual diary entries, such as a href="#18460822" which links to 22 August.
The following text is verbatim from the 1906 article, except for the aforementioned corrections and headings added by me.
John Ainsworth Horrocks, an extract from whose Journal is now annexed, was born at Penwortham Hall, Lancashire, on March 22, 1818. Years afterwards, in 1837, he was captivated with the enterprise of the South Australian colonization scheme that he and his brother Eustace (with their man-servant, John Green) decided to emigrate, and left London for Adelaide in Captain Fell's ship, with the late Judge Cooper and his wife as fellow-passengers, in October 1838, and landing at South Australia on March 22, 1839.
Upon his arrival Mr. Horrocks took up land on the Hutt River and began grazing both sheep and cattle. Very soon after, he started exploring, when he discovered Mount Horrocks and the country near Clare, besides a large tract of country beyond the Broughton River, which he named the Gulnare Plains, a country which was soon after settled upon by several who in after days took a leading part in the history of the colony, viz., Messrs, G. C. Hawker, J, B. Hughes, Gleeson, Pine, and others.
In 1846 Mr Horrocks organised what proved his last exploring party and but for the fatal accident which so un-happily terminated the expedition, he would doubtless have left high record, in the history of exploration. and would probably have traversed a great deal of the country afterwards explored by his successors, Warburton and Stuart.
[Headed in the article: "Copy of John Ainsworth Horrocks' Journal".]
July 29, 1846, Monday–Left Penwortham village at 12 and arrived one mile north of the stockyard on the North River at 6 o'clock–twelve miles north. The horses were very awkward at starting, not having previously been in harness together. Afterwards they travelled well, and promised to be a very good team. The axletree broke, but fortunately we were not far from Mr. Gleeson's village blacksmith, who made a capital job of it.
July 30, 11 a.m., North–We got thirteen goats from Mr. Robinson's station, on the Hutt River [Hill River? William Robinson had occupation licences for the Hill River and for west of Horrocks's stockyard. Adelaide Observer, 14 February 1846: 4. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158921797>]. A milch goat, a present from Mrs. Robinson, was obliged to be left, as they were not able to separate it from the flock. We started at a quarter to 11, camped at a quarter past 2, passed Mr. Hawker's head station, and camped about seven miles from the Broughton. The roads and places very heavy and boggy. Killed a goat–a very poor one.
July 31.–In the middle watch last night the goats rushed by the man on watch, probably having scented a wild dog. They were fortunately all found this morning about a mile from the camp. Started at 11 a.m.; camped on the second crossing of the Broughton at 5 p.m. It rained hard through the day. Twice we got deeply bogged, and were obliged to unload each time and carry the things across. The last time we had to pass through about fifteen yards of water 2 ft. deep. Very little wood for the fire; we burnt grass tree, which emits a strong aromatic smell. Having fastened the leading goat by a tether, the others stopped quietly with him. Last night the wind and rain were very heavy, capsizing the men's tent and tearing mine nearly all round the bottom.
We started at 11 with half a load to cross the third place of the Broughton, and unloaded about two miles on the north side, when the cart returned for the remainder of the load, which was quite enough for the horses to bring, considering the boggy state of the ground and hilly country.
[The next paragraph's reference to 10 o'clock is puzzling given that 31 July travel was 11:00 - 17:00. Sense may be made of this. The weather having disrupted the expeditioners' tents, perhaps they packed up at midnight (see 1 August start of 00:00). This would mean the next paragraph refers to the morning of 1 August.]
We reached Mr. Hughes' station about 10 o'clock, when I decided on sending back Mr. Theakstone to procure another cart and horse. Stopped at Mr. Hughes' head station to rest the horses and men. It rained hard during the day. Left the biscuit, sago, rice, and barrels for Mr. Theakstone to bring on when he returns from Penwortham village.
August 1, 1846, 12 a.m., (sic.) N.N.W. –After travelling three miles through gentle rising ground we came to Gulnare Plains, so called by me five years previously after a favorite dog of mine, which provided myself and three others with emus, our only food, having killed seven within four days, and the two last of the number he killed within ten minutes. About ten miles from where we camped the ground was very soft and sticky, and gave the horses hard work to drag the cart after them. Lately there have been wells sunk on the rising ground to the westward of the plains which has enabled Mr. Hughes to occupy a large tract of country and make capital sheep runs. About five minutes previous to camping, camel bit Garlick severely on the head–two wounds of great length above his temples and another severe gash on his cheek. I dressed them instantly and applied sticking plaster. He (the camel) had in the morning taken one of the goats across the loins, and would have broken his back if Jimmy had not speedily run to its rescue.
Sunday August 2, 1846, 13 M., N.N.W. – Last night it rained hard, and was very cold. We started at half-past ten and camped on Rocky River at a quarter to 3 p.m. We first came to the river five miles from the last night's camp; the ground to it undulations and gravelled in places. Sent Mr. Gill to the Messrs. Hughes for a little mutton, who were kind enough to send in a leg; the last sheep station we shall pass. Their new station is lately formed, and is situated on the west of the river in a fine grassy, hilly country, well timbered, but very indifferently watered in the summer season. In the bed of the river are gum-trees, but rather stunted.
Monday, August 3. 11 M., N.N.W.–We started at 10, reached Mr. White's station at 3 p.m. The country improved every mile. The hills on the west of the river well timbered, and those on the east open and well grassed. In about nine miles we left Rocky River and continued on White's Creek. The water in the channels was running rapidly. This part of the country is beautifully adapted for a cattle station, and its present occupier has about 11,000 head running on it. The ranges are rich in minerals. A splendid survey of 26,000 acres has lately been mapped out by the sapper and miner. Mr. Gill has taken several beautiful sketches in the vicinity.
Tuesday, August 4, 1846.–Stopped at Mr. White's to recruit the horses and waiting for Mr Theakstone's arrival with another cart; the load too heavy for the present state of the ground. Jimmy Moorhouse wounded a black swan. Mr. White rode to a gum-tree in Flinders Range with Mr. Gill to take a sketch of the north of the gulf and the hills on the opposite side [transcribed "road"].
Wednesday, August 5.–I remained at Mr. White's. A black named Kelly has promised to show us a pass through ranges by Mount Brown. Theakstone arrived with a cart and horse, making my party and outfit consisting of myself, Theakstone second in command, Mr Gill landscape painter, Kilroy driver to one-horse team, Garlick tent-keeper, and Jimmy Moorhouse a native goatherd, two carts, six horses, one camel, and twelve goats.
Thursday, August 6.–Preparing to start tomorrow. Mending harness, cobbles, and camel's saddle, put all the provisions in one cart, and tent, bedding, &c., &c., in the light cart. Killed a calf, a present from Mr. White.
Friday, August 7, 15 M., N.N.W. –Started at a quarter to 11, camped at a quarter past 4. After five miles, over grassy undulating hills, reached Wild Dog Creek, which we followed down for seven miles. We then turned to the north-west, and in three miles over very boggy, barren, and strong ground reached Malcolm and Campbell's cattle station, about one and a half miles from the foot of Mount Remarkable. The country for the last eight miles covered with gums and box-trees, and the hills partially with scrub. The station is well situated in a large grassy plain, and is at present occupied by 500 head of cattle. Before starting this morning a shepherd of Mr. Robinson's, distant from Mr. White's about two miles, reported to the police at Mr. White's station the robbery of twenty-two sheep during the night previous.
Saturday, August 8. –Sent Kelly (a black) back again to Mr. White's for a bag containing the men's clothing, which was forgotten to be put on the dray yesterday. 8 M., W.N.W. –Started at 11. Camped on the Third Creek from last night's station. Passed over a well-grassed country partially covered over with stones, and the ground in places very boggy.
Sunday, August 9, 3 M., N.N.W. –The ground being very heavy we put extra horses on each dray. Camped on the edge of the scrub by stony point. Capital feed and rain and water. Campbell accompanied us to show a pass through the ranges. On leaving his station he gave us butter and part of a calf. Their hospitality was unbounded.
Monday, August 10. –Accompanied by Campbell, I went in search of a pass through the ranges. We found a tolerable place, but shall be obliged to carry the load on horse and camel back part of the way. Had all our linen washed and harness put in order.
Tuesday, August 11. –Campbell returned to his station. We started at 11, but had not proceeded more than one and a half miles W. when an axletree broke asunder. Sent back Kilroy to Mr. White's to endeavour to procure another.
Wednesday and Thursday, 12th and 13th. –Made an excursion to the top of Flinders Range. The top very rocky: Composed of a red and grey stone, and very hard. The sides, near the bottom, red slate in strata of from 1/8 to ½ in. in thickness. The night very frosty. The horses slept uncommonly well about the camp, and are looking in good condition for their route across the plain. After leaving this range the view to the N.W. is very cheerless. One hill is distant about 100 miles in that course. Fires seen about thirty miles off. Same route a prospect of there being better.
Friday, August 14.–Last night bitterly cold from a very hard frost. The goats, with the exception of one, are very lame. They amused themselves last night by leaping on our tent, and tearing it in several places. They are decidedly preferable to sheep in an excursion, as they give tongue immediately they are caught, so that the natives could not take any without being heard. Theakstone and Jimmy went out kangaroo-hunting, and brought home a doe, which Jimmy declined to feast upon, as the young blackfellows are told by the old men some calamity is sure to happen to them if they touch one, thereby securing to themselves a larger amount of meat in their hunting excursion. When I told Jimmy how ridiculous it was for him to suffer hunger when he saw it did not injure us, he said we, being whites, it was harmless, and mentioned a black of his tribe having been lame in his foot, and also another boy being smashed by a star, the consequences of eating a female kangaroo.
Saturday, August 15, 1846.–Kilroy returned from White's bringing two half-axles and boxes. Mr. White behaved in the kindest way possible, having told Kilroy to select from three drays any axletree he might think suitable, and eventually they were obliged to break in pieces two old wheels to get out the boxes. Immediately on his return we set to work, and managed, by good fortune, to, get out the box from the wheel without damage.
Sunday, August 16.–Completed the damage done to the provision dray, and got ready for a start in the morning. Kelly (a black) promised to accompany us to the head of the gulf with his lubra (wife), who is a native of that country. In the night he decamped, taking her with him, having told one of the men he was afraid he should lose his lubra if she went back to her friends. He had only stolen her from a native policeman a few days previous.
Monday, August 17. –Started very early with one dray with four horses. They reached the top of the hill in safety, and then returned for the other dray. In the meantime I took the camel and the provisions down the range through a nasty narrow valley on him. He answered very well, considering he had never carried a load above two hundred yards. He got enraged one time and bit two bags of flour, making in each a large hole, At another time he felt his load (350 lb.) getting a little hard, when he decamped, and left the load scattered all down the pass. The two drays were got safely to the bottom of the first steep hill; when, in going along a sideling, with two men holding on, they each got a capsize, without doing much injury. The quicksilver bottle was broken and tumbled on the ground. With a great deal of trouble most of it was picked up again. The two drays remained for the night where they were capsized.
Tuesday, 18th, 1846, 1½ M., N.W.–Returned for the drays about one and a half mile up the valley, where we camped and got one of them safely down. By the evening we dug a road over all the places where the creek crossed, and collected all the items scattered on the road.
Wednesday, August 19, 4½ M., N.W.–Mr. Theakstone and Jimmy Moorhouse cut away several crossings in the creek towards the plain, which made the road outwards good. In the meantime Kilroy, Mr. Gill, and myself went up the creek for the provision dray, which we at last got to the camp. It required all our utmost strength to keep from capsizing by holding on the upper side with ropes. When we reached the bottom of the creek with our loads we took the horses up the gully, N., to water about one and a half miles. We camped in a patch of wild oats three miles from the creek and four and a half from camp.
August 20, 22 miles, N.N.W.–Started at a quarter to 9 a.m. Camped on creek three miles from Depot Creek at 6 over a most desolate plain filled with watercourses, and very stony, covered with salsolaceous plants. Killed three kangaroos. The dogs not showing, we only got one. Saw in the creek a most gigantic geranium, a beautiful light bluish-purple. In the creek we camped Mr. Gill saw five natives. He was then in search of water, and endeavored to make them understand it, but to no purpose. They appeared dreadfully alarmed, and he returned to acquaint me when they decamped. They have been much disturbed by the police whilst they have been hunting for the murderers of two shepherds of Mr. Tennant's and taking from him 900 sheep.
Friday, August 21, 4 miles, N.N.E.–Reached Depot Creek at 11, the horses very much fatigued, not having had any water for two nights, and yesterday and to-day very warm. We found the spring about one mile up the creek, and got good water by digging on the gravel. The horses drank each on an average 45 quarts of water. Good oaten grass about Eyre's old camp. The traces still visible in places, though above six years old. We did our might to perpetuate his memory in this country by taking our drays on his tracks and mark the route to water for future bushmen. Killed a goat–the one that has given us so much trouble, and which Jimmy was delighted to see slaughtered, having in his hatred to the animal promised Garlick, the tent-keeper, a pint of ale if he would kill it the next.
Saturday, August 22.–Mr. Gill accompanied me over table-topped hills bearing 16 degrees north of west. We crossed the first creek from Lake Torrens about nine miles and the second creek ten miles from the camp. The ground in both places was tolerably firm. The land on both shores and the island in the centre sandy, and producing a little grass. Eight miles further in the tableland very stony and desolate. The country round about covered with stunted and salsolaceous trees and shrubs. In passing between the undulating land we saw two natives–a woman with a child. We rode up to her. She was dreadfully frightened at first. By degrees I persuaded her to go with us to water. On the way we saw five more natives; none of them would approach us–all children. After passing over very stony ground she brought us to a gully running south, where we saw several more natives. These she beckoned to run away. Mr. Gill leading my horse, I advanced and made signs of peace, when two men and a young boy, armed with several jagged spears, came to meet me. They sent away the women and children, and were very sulky. For a long time they would not show us water, which eventually was within fifty yards, the remains of rain. They appeared alarmed at the horses. After we had all drank they departed, the old man gesticulating and threatening us. I fired off a gun to see if it would intimidate them but to no purpose, the old man appearing to wish the other two to attack us. He stopped until we went round the side of the hill, when I left Mr. Gill and ascended to the top. About sixty or seventy miles north-west were two rises, a table and the other a small round hill about two miles in length. All the space between and on both sides for many miles a large plain covered with stunted trees and scrub, with innumerable sand rises. The view I had convinced me that it was impossible to expect to find any country in that direction, and, moreover, too late in the season to traverse it. I descended the hill, which is very steep and rocky, and made up my mind to return to the camp and follow up the table land hills with the camel. We returned to the water in search of a quart pot and compass Mr. Gill had dropped, when we saw the natives had made three camps in different directions, evidently watching us. We passed on, not finding the articles, and saw about half a mile further on an old native. We passed him at about 200 yards, when he was very ferocious and threatening. We had not proceeded more than 100 yards further on, when we heard a shout on a hill behind us, and on looking back saw six natives after us with their spears. We halted and let them come within 200 yards, when we fired three shots. This stopped their progress, but not their rage. They did not seem to know what danger there was in a gun.
They retreated about fifty yards, and then set a scrub on fire. We reloaded after some trouble, as the cartridges were all undone, and the carbine I had was rather too small in the bore for the balls, which obliged me to pick up a stone and hammer it down. We then advanced about 80 yards, when Mr. Gill fired one shot. They laughed at us, as they thought by getting behind a small scrub the balls would not harm them. A young man had on his head a part of a red worsted cap, and knew my knife by name, evidently having seen Europeans. It strikes me I saw this part of the cap in the possession of a man named Southey, lately murdered by the natives, and one of his spears had the marks of blood about six inches along the point. The two murdered men had guns, but neither of them would go off, which inclines me to think these natives had a share in the murder and robbery of 900 sheep, and that they thought our guns were useless. We then continued our journey to the island between the creeks, where we slept, and had a little grass for the horses. It was the only grass we had seen all day.
Sunday, August 23, 1846.–Returned to the camp about nine miles. Saw on the salt creek several tracks of two-toed emus, very large. The drainage from the hills is into lakes, which dry up into very hard crust, the horses scarcely making any impression. On the back of one I found a quantity of talc.
Monday, August 24. –Removed our camp nearer the water, and found some tobacco plants in the creek.
Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25 and 26.–Mr. Gill not having completed his sketches hindered us from leaving the camp, as he is to accompany me to the north-west.
Thursday, August 27. –Ascended the mount too late to take my bearings. Before starting I saw four hills bearing 32 to 35 degrees north of east [sic. – should read "west"] distant about sixty miles, which I immediately determined to explore previous to going on to the west coast of the lake.
This was all that Mr. Horrocks wrote in his private Journal with his own handwriting that reached England; and it was while exploring the four hills bearing north-east [should read "north-west"] that accident occurred (hereafter related). He had traversed the sixty miles with Mr. Gill on the camel, and Kilroy, the driver, and on reaching the salt lake found the water was brackish. After the accident, and when poor John had ever the depot, where no medical man came, he ordered everything to be returned to the colonists exactly in the same order he had received them, and dictated the following letter:
Depot Creek,
September 8, 1846.
Mr C. Platts,
Hon. Secretary Northern Expedition.
It is with the greatest regret I have to inform the Committee and my fellow-colonists who subscribed towards the expenses of the expedition, of its untimely and unfortunate termination. Having made an excursion, accompanied by Mr Gill, to the table land on the west of Lake Torrens, to ascertain if it were practicable to form a depot in that neighbourhood, and not succeeding in finding either water or grass, I returned to Depot Creek, determined to make an excursion with the camel, as it was impracticable to take horses sufficiently far, from what I saw of the desolate and barren country.
Having ascertained, the morning previous to our departure, from the summit of the range behind Depot Creek, the bearings of a high land seen by Messrs Eyre and Darke, to be 32° north of west by compass, and the distance I considered about eighty miles, I determined to make straight for that land.
With this view I started on the 28th of August, accompanied by Mr Gill and Bernard Kilroy with provisions sufficient for three weeks, and ten gallons of water, the camel being loaded with about 350 lbs. Our first day's journey brought us to one of the creeks running from Lake Torrens into the Gulf, distance about ten miles. The last four [transcript: six] miles was over red sandhills, partially covered with oaten grass.
The second day's journey we camped on the west side of the table land, distance fifteen miles, the first eight miles over a continuation of sandhills, the last seven miles over a country covered with stones and salsolaceous plants.
The next day we entered a light scrub and very heavy sandhills, fifteen miles.
The day following, scrub and very heavy sandhills, and plains all covered with salsolaceous plants.
The day after, having made six miles, we reached a large salt-water lake, about ten miles long and five miles broad. The land we were making for we distinctly saw, I supposed, about twenty-five miles distant. In rounding this lake–which I named Lake Gill – Bernard Kilroy, who was walking ahead of the party, stopped, saying he saw a beautiful bird, which he recommended me to shoot to add to the collection.
My gun being loaded with slugs in one barrel and ball in the other, I stopped the camel to get at the shot belt which I could not get without his laying down.
Whilst Mr. Gill was unfastening it I was screwing the ramrod into the wad over the slugs, standing close alongside of the camel. At this moment the camel gave a lurch to one side, and caught his pack on the cock of my gun, which discharged the barrel I was unloading, the contents of which first took off the middle finger of my right hand between the second and third joints, and entered my left cheek by my lower jaw, knocking out a row of teeth from my upper jaw.
In this dilemma I was fortunate in having two most excellent companions. We were now sixty-five miles from the depot or any water that we knew of, and all the water remaining was about five gallons. With very great reluctance I consented to Bernard Kilroy's entreaty for him to return back and fetch Mr Theakstone and two horses, as I knew part of the country was inhabited by a fierce lot of natives, as they had attacked Mr Gill and myself on my [newspaper: every] previous excursion. He said he was not afraid, therefore he left, and reached the depot the next evening by about nine o'clock. Having missed the tracks during the night, he could not have walked less than one hundred miles from the morning of the accident to the time he reached the Depot, having most bravely accomplished his task.
Mr Gill stopped to nurse me, his attention and kindness were not to be surpassed, considering the distance we were away and the uncertainty of Kilroy's reaching the depot. Mr Gill has shown himself to be a brave and steady companion by remaining with me. Mr Gill has taken several sketches of this country which will show to those interested how very improbable it is that any stations can be made to west of Lake Torrens. All the drainage is into fresh water ponds and salt water lakes. The ponds are apparently dry in a very few days after rain, the water which is in them being of a dark red ochreous color. The size of them varying from half-acre to five acres, and when full not more than 6 inches in depth.
The hill we were making for is table-topped with precipitous sides about seven miles in length; to the N.N.E, are three more smaller hills, continuing on from them is a low land, gradually diminishing in height until it joins the land running from Lake Torrens. I did not find a spot where there was any probability of finding a spring. Grass, there is none, except a little wild oaten grass, which grows in the sand here and there, and that not sufficient to feed a horse.
It is with extreme sorrow I am obliged to terminate, this Expedition, as the two men that were with me, the camel and myself were in excellent working condition; and had it not been for this accident it was my intention to have followed down this low land, running to the N.N.E., and returned by Lake Torrens, a distance of between 300 and 400 miles; and would then have been able to have given a more accurate account; although I am convinced we should not have found one acre of ground to make a station, or judging from the land I had gone over, and what I could discern with my naked eye, there being a sterile sameness throughout.
Had it been earlier in the season and my wounds healed up I should have started again.
On Sunday last I returned to the depot, horses, myself, and party, all completely knocked up.
I remain, yours truly,
J. A. Horrocks (Signed).
This noble, clear, and most unselfish letter was dictated by John, and signed.
No medical man coming to the depot, Kilroy accompanied him towards home, passing the different stations in his wounded state. All gave him what assistance they could. The rain came on and he at length reached his village. The native boy went on foot all night for help from Adelaide. Green washed him and changed his poor master's dress and made him comfortable. Mr. Robinson gave up his cottage to him, and all the villagers came to see him. He related little laughable anecdotes to them and they went away comforted, saying he would surely live. Next day Dr. Nott, his old friend, came and poor Arthur, whose affectionate heart was most deeply grieved ; and he wrote to his mother after all was over and the hope and pride of the family laid low in his grave. Green then went to England to see them, and finding all had gone to Baden Baden, followed them there.
The meeting was too sad. Green, who had nursed his master to the last, related every incident, and poor John's grief and prayers for God to protect his beloved mother and sisters. when he their hope and support was gone.
He died peacefully as a child, and resigned to God's will. His sufferings were agonising, but he was easy between the fearful convulsions, and at the end of the third day after he had reached his village he died without a struggle at last, having given orders for his grave to be bricked in; and asked Theakstone to carve his name on a stone, telling him what he wanted written on it. Mr. Jacobs was with him also.
In a letter to his sister written March 14, 1846, he says:
I was lately over the Burra Burra Mine. It has only been worked four months, and they have raised, about 3,000 tons. It is said to be the most extraordinary mine ever heard of. Some of the lodes are 33 ft. broad. The copper one is from 40 to 55 per cent. I will send you home some specimens. In six weeks I am going to explore with another man and black-boy to the N.N.W. of Mount Arden. Captain Sturt has come back after being eighteen months absent, and has discovered nothing but a desert. He has undergone many dangers and privations, yet he looks very well.
We then are going out with the camel, and shall be absent about four months. I have great hopes of finding a country, and it is looked forward to with great interest by the old colonists. We start from Mount Arden, 250 miles north of Adelaide, and we know that we have eighty miles of a dense scrub to get through before we can reach any water. However, by God's help, we may do great good, and get through all dangers. It suits my temper, as I want a more stirring life ...
I shall ride over and see Arthur shortly. Green is going home this next shearing to see his parents. He has about 1,500 sheep and seven or eight hundred ewes in lamb, so that he is doing well ... Now I am in better spirits I shall write oftener, and hope every time to give you good news. My health is good, though I am not so heavy by 3 stone as when in England ; so much the better for the horses that have to carry my carcase.
The weather is very hot, and I have seventy-five miles to ride to-morrow.
Your ever most affectionate brother,
John Ainsworth Horrocks.
David Coombe. 2025. Original 18 July 2025 | text copyright (except the 1906 transcript)
CITE THIS: David Coombe, 2025, S.T. Gill on the Horrocks Expedition, 1846, accessed dd mmm yyyy, <http://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/Horrocks_1846_Expedition_Journal.htm>