One stormy autumn afternoon in 1907 Modesto Varischetti walks through blinding rain to the goldmine where he works north of Coolgardie. He descends the mine - and vanishes. This is the true story of the astonishing events of the following nine days. There is the terror of Varischetti’s miraculous entombment in a fragile airpocket deep in the flooded mine. There is the touch-and-go struggle of the rescue team, not listening to those who say the missing man must be dead. A highlight is the record-breaking 600 kilometre dash of the Rescue Special train.

Here is a book of bravery, Cornish-born mines inspector Josiah Crabb makes swift, daunting decisions. The heroic divers, led by Frank Hughes, the Welshman the women love to kiss, and old Tom Hearn from London, are superhuman. And there is the strange inner strength of Varischetti.........

Tom Austen also examines why these migrants came to Australia, their life on the goldfields, and how the rescue inspired all of Australia. Pertinent glimpses of Edwardian London form an unusual contrast to our faraway Imperial backblocks.

Girls                  Boys

  1 Mary         262   William      363

  2 Elizabeth    199   John         257

  3 Alice         99   George       195

  4 Sarah         96   Charles      152

  5 Emily         86   James        152

  6 Ellen         85   Frederick    130

  7 Eliza         83   Thomas       112

  8 Emma          80   Alfred       100
 
  9 Florence      79   Henry        100

  10 Annie        60   Arthur        80



Different names  218                175



Total births    2739               2768

It is surprising to see how much more variation there was in the choice of girl’s names - the top ten names only include 41% of the total population, for boys it is nearly half as big again at 59%. The most popular girls name "Mary" was given to 9.5% of them, "William" was given to 13% of the boys (more than one in eight!).

It seems that my grandfather Frederick Thomas Crabbe, was very strict with his family when it came to playing cards, and would never allow any of his children or grandchildren to play cards, calling them "The Devils Work". The reason for this, according to my family, is that, when he was a youth he would frequently have a drink and a game of cards with his mates. One night things got heated, and one of the circle accused another of cheating. A struggle ensued, and the accuser knocked the accused to the ground. When he fell the accused hit his head on a cast iron fender, and subsequently died. The accuser was subsequently arrested, tried for murder, and hanged at York.

I became more excited when my father told me that he remembered a letter from the prisoner to my grandfather, written from York prison just before the man was hanged. A few enquiries led me to the letter - it had been sent to York Museum by one of my cousins for their archives, and York Museum kindly sent me a copy of the letter.

Mr F Crabb, 74 Selby St, Anlaby Rd, Hull, Feby 11th 1884
Dear Fred
Just a few lines in answer to yours. I was very pleased to hear from you, and am grateful for the expressions used as regarding my future Spiritual Welfare. I should very much have liked to have seen you once again, and had a little conversation with you but it could not be and I must be very thankful for the privilege allowed me of Correspondence. As touching the Crime of which I am convicted, I am very grateful for the opinions you express regarding it, and the deep sympathy felt for one in my great trouble, and I can only tell you as I have told others, that I had not any intentions whatsomever of inpining my deceased Wife, neither had I any knowledge of it until told by my sister, and if my case had been properly looked after, and had I been properly looked after, and I had been ably defended, I should not now be in the position which I am placed in, but I am trying to look to one above for comfort and protection, and if He so wills, He can deliver me. Dear Fred, you say you will treasure these few lines I am writing now whatever be the result of the exertions that are being used on my behalf, take this letter to my Sisters and show her it, and ask her to give you my Walking stick, and a likeness of me when She obtains some as she is going to. it is my particular wish you should have them in my Remembrance. My days of joy are all passed from me, for if God wills my life should be spared now, and I should ever regain my liberty my Spirit is completely crushed, and I should be in the way of you all. I hope as your sister says my position will be a warning to all our Friends and Acquaintances, that in future no drink shall pass their lips, then will my prayers be answered. Give my Best Respects to all especially to John and his poor Landlady and accept the same yourself and if it should please God I should see you no more on Earth may we meet above is the heartfelt wish of you Sincere Friend Charles Nowland. If no changes my breath is fixed for the 19th and may God receive my Soul.

As soon as I received it I knew the family story was wrong. My grandfather was only 3 years old when the letter was written, so it couldn't have been written to him. But his father was also called Fred - Frederick William Crabbe - so it must have been written to him. I have now got several other documents which prove that Frederick William lived at the address on the letter at that time.

So did this card game involve my great grandfather ? It didn't seem very likely knowing what I did about him, but how could I find out ?

Simple. If this chap was in prison waiting to be hung, then he must have been tried, and so there must be records of the trial somewhere. Where ? A few enquiries led me to Chancery Lane, and armed with a few details from York Museum (and with a great deal of help from the librarians at Chancery Lane) the details appeared on the table before me.

On Saturday 22nd December Charles Nowland returned home "in drink" but not apparently drunk, and assaulted his wife, so severely that she subsequently died. The following is the story of that attack and the subsequent events, as extracted from records of York Assizes held by the Public Records Office in Chancery Lane, London.

Statement made by Charles Nowland when charged by me at Parliament St Station on 2nd of January 1884
It was neither Maliciously nor intentionally done; I was in drink at the time; I was not responsible for my Actions. That is all I have to say. I was sorry when I knew it had occurred.
Charles Nowland W. Elliott Inspector

Statement made by Charles Nowland when charged by me at Parliament Street Police Station on the 11th of January 1884
He made no reply

Statement of Sarah Ann Nowland taken at Hull General Infirmary 2nd January 1884
On Saturday the 22nd of December last I was in the house in the afternoon and my husband came home crazy with drink. He carried on like a madman and I went upstairs out of his road. He followed me after a while and I said to him "Oh go down". He put his foot out and I slithered down the stairs. He came down and kicked me on the left thigh. I had fallen down the previous day while I was white washing. When he kicked me I said "Oh don't". He flew about the house like a madman and I said "Oo get out, make haste, there's a good man."
He then jumped up and edged his teeth and something came. I never saw it and never felt it. I was stunned but I wasn't unconcious. I was sitting on a chair against the door. The thing hit me on the back of the head on the left side. I did not know what it was until I saw the sawdust. I then thought it was the spittoon by seeing the sawdust. I kept the spittoon by the fireside.
It was and iron spittoon. I was afterwards taken to the Infirmary. My husband when he lived in London fell on a kerbstone once and since then when he gets a sup of whiskey it seems to turn his brain. I hope please God I shall recover from this. I feel I shall recover. [Turning to the prisoner] I don't think you knew what you were doing at the time.
Sarah Ann + Nowland her mark

Statement of George Isitt of No 17 Hanley Terrace, Anlaby Road, Clerk at the Police Court, Hull Thurs 17th January 1884
This statement merely confirms that he took down the statement from Mrs Nowland in the presence of the prisoner, and that the prisoner had the opportunity to cross examine her.

Statement of Thomas Brownlow Thompson of 15 Parliament Street, Architect & Surveyor Wednesday 16th January 1884
I have made an inspection and survey of Granville Terrace, Strickland Street and houses around, and especially the house No 11. I have made a plan of the terrace and of the house No 11 and I now produce the same marked "A". It is a true and Correct plan.

Statement of Eliza Jennison of No 10 Granville Terrace Wednesday 16th January 1884
She states that the Nowlands had lived at Number 11 Granville Terrace for about 10 months, and states the time as a few minutes past four in the afternoon when she heard someone enter the house and heard the door banging violently. Directly after that I heard Mrs Nowland scream several times very loudly. I then went out of my house and opened the prisoners front door and looked in saw Mrs Nowland standing up and the prisoner striking her in the face with his fist. I said to him "Will you leave Mrs Nowland alone ?" He said "You go away. I don't allow you or anybody else to interfere between me and my wife". He shut the door and I went away back to my house. I heard Mrs Nowland still crying very loudly and then I heard someone go upstairs into the bedroom. It sounded like Mrs Nowland's step. Her step was heavier than the prisoners - she was a very heavy woman. A few minutes afterwards I heard the prisoners step go upstairs and then I heard words going on between him and Mrs Nowland. Presently I heard something fall downstairs with a crash and I heard Mrs Nowland scream very loudly. I then went across the Terrace to the witness Mrs Rimmington - she lives at Number 7. Her house is nearly opposite to the prisoners.
She went across to Mrs Rimmingtons and they stood on the doorstop. When Charles Nowland opened the front door they could see straight into the room. Mrs Nowland was sat on the bottom of the stairs, she was sitting doubled with her elbows on her knees and her hands together crying bitterly. She called out "Oh Mrs Rimmington do come in."
Mrs Rimmington went in and closed the door. She stayed there for about half an hour, and then went to Mrs Jennison's house. Directly she came in I heard something fall very heavily on the floor in the prisoners downstairs room and immediately afterwards Mrs Nowland rushed into my house with her head bleeding. The blood was streaming down her kneck. She sat down in a chair. She stayed there for about three minutes and was screaming all the time "Oh my head". Mrs Rimmington then took her back to her own house. About quarter of an hour after that the prisoner came into the Terrace and I heard him say "I'll go back and finish the sod. She's only acting. I'll throw a bucket of water over her." The prisoner was in drink but did not, so far as I could see, appear to be drunk - He was very violent with temper - Mrs Nowland was a clean hardworking respectable woman and a perfectly sober woman and was as steady and industrious as she was sober.
I know her spittoon now produced. I have frequently seen it in the prisoners house. I have always seen it in one place. It was always on the hearth near the fireside inside the fender. On the 11th of January instant I went to the mortuary at the Hull General Infirmary and there I saw the corpse of Sarah Ann Nowland the wife of the prisoner.

Statement of Johanna Rimmington of No 7 Granville Terrace Wednesday 16th January 1884
Mrs Rimmington confirms the story very much as told by Mrs Jennison, but can add some detail about her own involvement in the incident. When she had gone into the house, at Mrs Nowlands request I said to her "What's the matter with you Mrs Nowland ?". She replied "He has thrown me down the stairs and I believe my leg is broken." The prisoner heard that but said nothing. .... the prisoner went into the scullery and got washed. With the exception of that he was in the room the whole time I was there. He frequently used very bad language to Mrs Nowland. ..... Mrs Nowland rushed into Mrs Jennisons house screaming. Her head was bleeding and covered with sawdust.
She took Mrs Nowland back home and started to wash her head. The prisoner said to me "You'll have to go out". Mrs Rimmington remonstrated with Charles Nowland, and told him that she could not leave Mrs Nowland bleeding as she was, as she would soon die from loss of blood.
"I'll finish the sod" he said. "If you had been a man instead of a woman I shouldn't have allowed you to stand there". Then he locked the front door and buttoned it and went upstairs and brought down two tools like chisels. He had one in each hand. He said "If any b----y policeman comes here or anyone else to interfere I will kill him with these" at the same time holding up the tools with both hands. Before he went upstairs the prisoner said "I heard her (meaning his wife) tell someone to go and fetch a policemen". I replied "Your wife certainly didn't say so Mr Nowland."
Mrs Rimmington continued to wash Mrs Nowland's head, and sent for the prisoners sister, and she came. She got him out of the house and into the Terrace, and that was when he said "I'll go back and finish the sod off" etc.
Mrs Rimmington sent for a cab and took Sarah Nowland to the Hessle Road Dispensary and from there to the Hull General Infirmary, where she saw two surgeons, one of whom was Mr Hagyard - another witness.
She confirms the spittoon was in place on her first visit to the house that day, but on her second she states that it was then near the door

Statement of Robert Hagyard, Senior House Surgeon of the Hull General Infirmary Wednesday 16th January 1884
Sarah Nowland was brought to the Infrmary between 5 and 6 pm. She was bleeding profusely from a contused wound one inch and a half long on the back of her head and slightly to the left side. The wound had severed the occipital artery. There was no fracture to the skull. The bleeding was stopped and she was admitted as an In Patient. She remained under Mr Hagyard's personal attention and seemed to be progressing favourably until the evening of December the 28th when the wound showed signs of erysipelas. She then became considerably worse and on the 2nd of January I thought it advisable that her statement should be taken. ..... The following day she became delirious and was never really sensible any more. She gradually sank and died at 4.50 pm on the 10th January instant from exhaustion due to erysipelas arising from the wound to the head.
His post mortem revealed no fracture of the skull, slight inflamation of the membranes of the brain due to erisypelas, which would account for the delirium, and extensive disease of the liver and kidneys. On both thighs and on the front of both legs I found extensive bruises extending through the muscles as far as the bone which must have been caused by very great violence. The wound was not a serious wound in itself but was rendered so by erysipelas setting in - erysipelas would not have set in except for the wounds.

[Erysipelas - an infection of the skin caused by the haemolytic streptococcus. It begins as a red, raised area anywhere on the body where the germs have been able to enter through a small crack or cut in the skin. The red area advances and spreads over the body until the disease is got under control. Erysipelas is very infectious, and those who look after the patient should wash their hands thoroughly after contact. At one time the disease used to spread as an epidemic throughout the hospital wards, but this is very rare nowadays.]

Statement of William Elliott, Inspector of Police, of 30 Bean Street Wednesday 16th January 1884
From information received I went on the 2nd January instant about 2pm in search of the prisoner and I found him at Number 12 RaglanTerrace, Bean Street. I said to him "Are you aware that your wife is in a very dangerous state ?" He replied "I've heard so." I said "You had better not talk about the case. You will have to accompany me to the Police Station and I may have to detain you." He made no reply to that - I then took him to Parliament Street Police Station and when there I said to him "You are going to be charged and whatever you say I shall take down in writing and it may be given in evidence against you at your trial." I then said "You are charged that you unlawfully maliciously and feloniously did cause certain greivous bodily harm to one Sarah Ann Nowland with the intent in so doing then and there to maim and disfigure her at Granville Terrace Strickland Street Hull about 4.30pm on the 22nd of December 1883".
He replied "It was neither Maliciously nor intentionally done; I was in drink at the time; I was not responsible for my Actions. That is all I have to say. I was sorry when I knew it had occurred." He goes on to describe taking Charles Nowland to the Infirmary and how they took the statement from Mrs Nowland, and how he went to the house with the prisoners sister and collected the spittoon. I examined it. There was blood on he upper and under edge of it and it was then still damp but it has since dried. He continues by describing charging Charles Nowland with murder, or more exactly Felanously willfully and of malice aforethought Kill and Murder on Sarah Ann Nowland against the peace of our Lady the Queen

Charge Sheet
The charge sheet shows witnesses to be brought for the prosecution are: Thomas Brownlow Thompson, Eliza Jemmison, Johanna Rimmington, Robert Hagyard, George Isitt and William Elliott
When appearing before the magistrate Charles Nowland said I have only to say what I did before. I was in drink and was not responsible for my actions.

The documents show the prosecution to be presented by James Campbell, at a cost of £50. Each of the witnesses are named and alongside each of them is what I assume are their costs. They all show £40.

The Trial
There are no transcripts of the trial (that I could find anyway). The jury delivered its verdict, which is recorded on vellum: The Jurors for Our Lady the Queen upon their oath present that Charles Nowland on the tenth day of January in the year of our Lord 1884 feloniously, willfully and of malice aforethought did kill and murder Sarah Ann Nowland against the Peace of our said Lady the Queen Her Crown and Dignity - Murder

The North Eastern Circuit Minute Book (covering the period 15th January 1884 to 23rd November 1886) records:
On Thursday 31st January 1884, before Mr Justice Day
Jury: Arthur Briks, George Boyes, George Gessy, Matthew Thomas Dodson, George Holmes, James Hurst, Robert Monsom, Joseph Benjamin Mudd, William Pexton, George Smith, James Wright
Charle Nowland - Willful Murder on 10th January 1884 of Sarah Ann Nowland
Plea - Not Guilty - Verdict - Guilty - Sentence - to be hanged. Afterwards imputed (? - the word looks like isspired) and sent to penal servitude for life.

And the Crabbe connection ? I haven't a clue ! The only direct connection is the letter that started off my interest in the case. It seems that the convicted man and my great grandfather were friends. My great grandfather came to Hull from Dartford, in Kent, and Charles Nowland's wife mentions that he came from London. Perhaps they were friends down there and came to Hull together. I haven’t been able to find the "likeness" or the walking stick, although one of my aunts has a number of walking sticks that belonged to my grandfather, so it could be amongst those. Charles Nowland and my great grandfather, Frederick William Crabbe, only lived a few streets away from each other in Hull.

John Cooper

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This page last updated on 20th August 1998.

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