KWOBRUP SWAMP FATALITY

Hunter's Tragic Death in 1933

A report being received by the Katanning police that Mark Ring (45), single, an unemployed farm worker, had been missing from his camp In the bush south of Kwobrup since early In February, a search party was organised, Sergt. Timms, Constable Mailer and a black tracker proceeding to the deserted camp.

The discovery was made by Joseph Parker, Ring's nearest neighbour, who paid a visit to the camp, and, finding it had been deserted for several days, came to the conclusion something was amiss.

Ring's disappearance was reported to the police on Thursday night, the search party, under the leadership of Sergt. Timms, setting out early on Friday morning, an arrangement being made for settlers from .the surrounding country to assist.
 

JOSEPH PARKER
THE NEIGHBOR WHO RAISED THE ALARM
 

The police arrived at the camp before the search party and proceeded to a dam located nearby, dragging operations being conducted without result.

It was noted that on one corner of the dam were fresh tracks, which probably had been left by Ring's dogs.

Assuming that the animals had come straight from the bush to drink, Sergt. Timms sectioned off the bush adjoining the corner where the tracks were seen and requested the helpers to make an intensive search and to shout and whistle continuously in an attempt to attract the attention of the dogs.

This ruse proved successful, for after a search which lasted some 21 hours a shout from one of the men was answered by the bark of a dog.

The man. who knew the dogs and whose voice was evidently recognised by one of them, succeeded in enticing it to his side. The animal immediately led the party through the scrub to a spot about one mile from the dam. Here was found Ring's body, in an advanced state of decomposition.

Theory of Ring's Death.

About 50 yards from the body was the carcase of a dead kangaroo, while near the corpse were the remains of another kangaroo. An examination disclosed that deceased's leg had been broken about three inches above the ankle.

After making some investigations, Sergt. Tlmms was able to reconstruct the tragedy and arrive at the probable cause of death, his theory being subsequently confirmed by an autopsy performed at Katanning by Dr. E.C. Pope, Resident Medical Officer.

It is thought that on the day of his death Ring was walking through the bush with the carcass of a kangaroo on his back, evidently making towards his camp. In doing so his dogs bailed up a large boomer, and dropping his burden, he went to their assistance, armed with a stout stick (this was found close by).

The animal evidently showed fight, and while Ring was edging close to aim a blow with his stick It lashed out with its hind leg and broke his leg. Ring fell forward and stunned himself, and being exposed to the fierce heat of the sun, probably died without regaining consciousness.

This is confirmed by the fact that the body had not moved from the position in which it had fallen, also that had Ring been conscious he could have crawled to the dam, which was only about a mile distant.

Had it not been for the sound common sense and bushcraft exercised by the police, it is probable the search would have lasted over days

instead of hours, owing to the denseness of the scrub on the country surrounding the camp.

The Coroner was placed in possession of the facts of the case, and as there were no suspicious circumstances, an order for burial was made, the remains being interred in the Katannlng General Cemetery..

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Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024