Brisbane River Monsters 1901-1902

A fatality of a particularly horrifying character occured in the Brisbane River shortly before dark last evening, the victim being a boy named Joseph Thompson, 12 years of age, residing with his parents in Quay-street, off North Quay. It appears that Thompson, in company with two of his brothers and two other lads named Dickson, went down to the pontoon at the Brisbane Rowing Club's shed at about 7 o'clock to bathe. Joseph Thompson and Charles Dickson, the latter aged 12 years, plunged into the stream and swam out about twenty yards. Here they were disporting themselves when Dickson saw his companion almost leap out of the water and utter a faint cry. Dickson intuitively guessed what had happened, and he immediately struck out for the floating stage, which he reached in safety. Thompson, too, was observed to be partly swimming and partly drifting with the tide towards the pontoon, but in his wake blood was seen floating on the surface of the water. When he reached the staging he lifted up his hands and grasped the edge. He was then utterly exhausted. His companions had meanwhile raised the alarm of "A shark," which was heard by a member of the club who was at the time descending the steps to the boat-house, and he at once proceeded to the staging and drew the fainting boy from the water. As the lad was laid on the pontoon he uttered something inarticulate, and almost immediately expired.
Dr. Hopkins was hastily summoned, and arrived on the spot within a few minutes. A very casual examination showed that the lad's left hip and thigh bones had been literally stripped of flesh, and a portion of his abdomen had been dragged away, leaving a fearful gaping wound. The arteries in that region of the body had been severed, and the youth had actually bled to death while in the water. Dr. Hopkins having certified to the cause of death, the lads body was taken possession of by his father and conveyed home.
Several members of the rowing club have at various times warned boys of the danger of bathing at this spot, as it is known to be the haunt of several large sharks. Only a fortnight ago a valuable retriever dog was taken away bodily by one of these monsters within a few yards of the pontoon. On Monday evening several boys who were bathing off the stage were warned of tbe risk they were running, but apparently no notice was taken of the advice tendered.

As an additional warning, if such be needed, against bathing in the Brisbane River, a correspondent writes :—
At about 3.30 on Thursday afternoon, Mr. S. Hawgood, whilst fishing opposite the Iceworks in a punt, managed to hook a shark. After the exercise of considerable strategy the shark was towed to the South Brisbane bank of the river, and despatched with a tomahawk. The brute was 5ft. 10in. in length. The capture of this shark so soon after the terrible fate of the lad a few days ago is significant, and should be at least a warning to bathers in the river.

TO THE EDITOR.
Sir,—The fatality in the Brisbane River, through being seized by a shark, must create widespread sympathy. Death in this way is the most horrlble, and, to my mind, it lies at the door of the authorities responsible for the utter lack of proper bathing facilities. What does one find in this queen city of the North, possessing miles of river frontage, situated where the rigours of the climate demand a daily bath for health and purity's sake? One bath, situated in one of the dirtiest spots on the river, and costing 5d. before you can avail yourself of its privileges ; and another where water is pumped in, and therefore cannot possess the purity of the flowing river, remotely situated from the great mass of this rapidly-growing metropolis, and thus only benefiting a very small proportion of the people. This state of affairs is scandalous, and calls for immediate reform. I should be very pleased to see your influential paper take the matter up and not rest until some provision be made for the safe bathing of the many who now daily risk their lives in this shark-infested river. I consider the matter sufficiently serious and important to call a public meet- ing to petition the authorities to erect baths in at least three places (to be approved) on the river. The idea properly carried out would prove a financial success, as well as fill a public want.

—I am, sir, &c.,
F. E. F.
Brisbane, 23rd January.

TO THE EDITOR.
     Sir,—After the terrible bathing fatality on Tuesday last, when young Thompson lost his life by being fearfully mangled by a shark, and his unfortunate parents driven to distraction in consequence, perhaps the municipal authorities will awake from their Rip Van Winkle sleep and have free bathing-places established in the most prominent reaches of the Brisbane River, so that our youngsters may bathe in safety without the fearful repetition of poor Thompson's fate.
     To learn to swim is the ambition of all young Queenslanders ; it is one of the manliest of exercises, and at every opportunity they are off to the river, more especially during the summer months, for a bath. Warnings as to the danger they may incur have proved futile. The temptation to have a "bogey" is too great. Especially when a number of them get together, those who have made good intentions are easily persuaded by their more venturesome companions, hence the great number of drowning accidents recorded year after year. As an instance of the venturesome spirit and indifferent feeling as to an accident with some of our Brisbane youth, I may mention that a score of youngsters were to be seen on the day of young Thompson's funeral disporting themselves in the water on the south side of the river, and within a quarter of a mile from the scene of the late accident.
     In all the Southern colonies, I believe, free bathing-places exist, especially in Sydney, where excellent baths are erected in the Lower Domain, Woolloomooloo ; and these are provided with all the necessary saving appliances in case of accident.
     It seems monstrous that the question of free baths has not been dealt with by our civic fathers years ago. Matters of a less important nature, and involving thousands of pounds of the ratepayers' money, have been decided by the City Council. Next month municipal elections are impending in the various wards of the city. It is the duty of every ratepayer in each ward where a vacancy exists to demand a promise from the aspirants for office that their first action, if elected, will be to bring the question of free baths before the council, otherwise nothing will be done until an alderman or some other individual high in office loses a son in the same way that poor Thompson lost his life ; then perhaps we shall have free bathing-places galore.

I am, sir, &c,
W. J. CORRIGAN.
Robert-street:, Spring Hill.

Mr. R. A. Ranking, P.M., at the City Police Court on Saturday conducted an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of a boy named Joseph Thompson, who was bitten by a shark whilst bathing in the Brisbane River on the evening of Tuesday last.
     Acting Sergeant Dillon conducted the inquiry.
     Charles Dickson, a school boy 12 years of age, deposed that he knew the deceased Joseph Harold Thompson. He was on the pontoon at the Brisbane Rowing Club's shed on the evening of the 22nd instant, in company with his brother, the deceased, and his two brothers. They all five went into the river, but the others afterwards got out, leaving witness and deceased in the water about 25ft. from the bank. They were both swimming side by side, when suddenly he heard a splashing, and on looking around saw blood about the boy Thompson. He then swam for the bank, where on looking back he noticed Thompson was swimming towards the pontoon. The eldest of the boys on the pontoon cried out, "Buddie has been bitten by a shark." Deceased swam to the pontoon, and had just enough strength to catch hold of the pontoon. Two of the boys pulled him out of the water, and laid him on the pontoon, where he died.
     Simon Boland, clerk in the Railway Commissioner's office, stated that he was at the rowing club's shed on the evening of the 22nd instant. His attention was attracted by the cries of some lads on the pontoon. He ran down the steps and assisted to pull deceased out of the water, and to lay him on the stage, where he died. There was a gap extending along the whole of the left thigh, the upper portion of which was torn off. The boy uttered a moan or sigh and then died.
     When, Dr. Hopkins examined the body he said the main artery was injured, and the lad could not have lived. A few evenings before he had cautioned some boys about the dangers of swimming in that locality.
     Joseph Thompson, a hairdresser, father of the deceased, slated his son was 11 years of age, and was born at Brisbane. When he was home for lunch between 1 and 2 o'clock on Tuesday last he warned his boys not to go into the river.
     Constable Michael Hayes gave formal evidence, after which the inquiry closed.

Sharks still abound in the Brisbane River, but two that were there last week have ceased from troubling (says the Telegraph.) They fell victims to an undue liking for catfish lined with blasting gelatine. The men engaged at the Lytton rock blasting operations caught some large catfish and placed a quantity of blasting gelatine inside two. They then floated them out in the stream, but kept in touch with the fish and their contents by means of an electric battery. Presently one of the sharks before mentioned seized upon a fish and swallowed it. Someone pressed the button and the gelatine did the rest. As one gentleman put it, "The air was full of shark." The second shark died somewhat similarly, but the body was not blown to pieces, and it was afterwards secured and measured. It was 11 feet long.

It cannot be classed as due to ignorance that youths so continually go bathing in the river when sharks are in close proximity. Warnings have been uttered time and again, but apparently with but little or no deterrent effect. The stretch of water near the South Brisbane Cemetery has long been a favourite resort of youthful bathers, who gather in large numbers on every available opportunity, and desport in the water for hours. Sunday morning is the time most affected by the boys, and never a Sunday passes but dozens congregate at the river bank for the pleasures of bathing. The terrible reality of the dangers they so carelessly run has now, however, been brought home to all.
The boys were warned yesterday by the policeman on his boat and by others, prior to going in the water, that sharks had been seen that morning ; but the party of four or five in question disregarded the advice. They stayed in the water some time, and deciding eventually to go out, William Quince started swimming on his back to the opposite bank, while his comrades swam for the cemetery side. They had gone but a short distance when they heard him cry out, and, looking round, saw him striking the water with hands and feet, endeavouring, they subsequently found, to ward off the attack of a shark. While they looked he sank under the water, and rose shortly after, crying out, "Come and help me ; a shark has bitten me !" He went under again, and they swam towards him, though they half thought Quince was jesting. He rose, and was again attacked, but apparently managed to beat off his assailant, for he presently commenced to swim away from the vicinity with all possible speed. A boat near by went to his assistance, and willing hands soon got him to the shore on the cemetery side. The plucky youth walked out of the boat, and part of the way along the bank, but was soon overcome by exhaustion. Prompt assistants carried him to an old shed some distance away, and the Ambulance was telephoned for, the call being received at 1.44 p.m. On arrival it was found that the youth was lacerated badly on the chest, buttock, and loins, the flesh being frightfully torn by the shark's teeth. The boy's father, who lives at Earl-street, Thompson Estate, authorised his removal to the hospital, where he now lies in a precarious condition. Inquiry late last night elicited the information that the patient was easier.

Sharks are still plentiful in the Brisbane River, and parents will do well to caution their children against river bathing. Yesterday afternoon a party who were shark fishing near the North Quay, using a bait suspended from a float in the form of a sealed kerosene tin, caught a man-eating shark, which on being landed was found to be 6ft. Iin length. In the morning another monster was hooked and brought, to the surface, its length being estimated at about 10ft. The hook used was exactly the same sort an that on which the 6ft. shark was landed, but the 10ft. fish broke it in two and got away.

Bathing in the Brisbane River continues to be risky. A young follow named Charles Jones, aged 16 years, discovered this yesterday. The City Ambulance reports that on Sunday, about 12.21 p.m. they received a call from Mr. Davies, chemist, of West End. Their assistance was required for Jomes, who, while bathing off the rocks near Dornoch terrace; was bitton by a shark. A piece was taken out of one leg, and the other leg had three teeth marks as evidence of the attention the shark gave to that member. The boy was taken to the General Hospital, and is progressing favourably.

Sensational fish-catching stories are proverbial, and have often to be largely discounted. A statement by Mr. Joseph O'Neill, of Cornwall street, South Brisbane, of an angling experience on Saturday is, however, credible, and can be borne out by corroborative evidence from eyewitnesses. O'Neill and a comrade named M'Gee were indulging in the gentle art froma punt anchored midstream hard by the South Brisbane cemetery. They were luring perch with shrimps on thin lines, but in addition O'Neill had out a jew line somewhat thicker than a lucifer match, and dangling from the end of it, quite close to the sinker, was a Limerick hook concealed by about a 3-inch piece of mullet bait. It was night time, close on 11 o'clock, and the tide was on the ebb. The jew line was attached to a rowlock hole, and it went under the end of the punt. It was a strong string of 100 yards in length, but only 2S yards of it were out. The hooking of the succulent perch went on slowly until perhaps a dozen shining little beauties were bagged. Then M'Gee yelled, "What's on your big lino, O'Neill? Look at it!" O'Neill himself was wondering what was happening, for the punt had started to swing round and about as if in a nasty whirlpool. "Pull up the anchor !" shouted the bold O'Neill, as he paid out his jew line, and M'Gee obeyed with alacrity. Then comnenced a royal game. The punt was free, and the monster, whatever it was, could be played, if skill was used, without a fracture of the line. The battle lasted for two hours. The fish made down stream, and the punt went along cheerfully. After half an hour's stratagem on both sides the monster rose above the surface, and fell again with a great splash. Then in the depths of his own element he darted in various directions, the punt still obediently in tow. Eventually the captive became exhausted, after pulling the boat over to "sandy," at the bottom of the cemetery, and when the piscatorial combat came to a close the parties thereto were in the neighbourhood of Black's paddook. Here O'Neill risked an inhaul. The captive, thoroughly tired out, came up as easily as a little bream, and turned over on the surface in full surrender. Instantly a paddle was thrust into his gill, and he was taken ashore. It proved to be a groper, which when weighed turned the scale at 2½cwt., and strange to say he was hooked on the outside of a gill. Some hours later he was cut up and distributed amongst a largo circle of neighbours, who may in after years remember that "there were fish in the Brisbane River in those days."