The Allegations of Frau Backhaus

In 1863, one of the largest hotels in Brisbane Town was the Freemasons’ Hotel in Albert Street.  It had been taken over the previous year by a new lessee, Henry Meyer, and was well patronised by the German community.

Advertisement in The Courier, September 1, 1862 

On a night in January 1863, strange events were afoot at the Freemasons’ Hotel.  It would all come to light in Court after the landlord, one Henry Meyer, was charged with “Assault with intent to ravish and carnally know one Wilhelmina Backhaus”.[1]

She gave her evidence as follows: On the night of the 5th January I was awakened from my sleep in my own bed - I was undressed - by Mr. Meyer coming into my room with this piece of candle (producing half of a stearine[2] candle) lighted. He put the candle over my face. I said, in German, "Hallo." He said, in German, "Hallo, where's your husband?" We always talked German. I said, "I don't know; I think he's in the bar."

So Meyer said, "If I was your husband, I would go into bed at the same time as you." I said, "What for?" So Meyer said, "It is no harm to us; I'll take your husband's place in bed." I said to him, "No, Mr. Meyer, that will not do;" and sent him away. I said, "I stick to my husband, and you stick to your wife." So Meyer said, "I don't care a button for my wife; I want another woman."

After this seductive patter, Meyer proceeded with the ravishing.

So Meyer then blow the candle out and put it on the looking-glass, and shut the door; and then he came into bed.

 [The witness then described most circumstantially that an attempt to assault her criminally had been made by the defendant, and in spite of her remonstrances and exertions to put him away, and against her consent; the assault was nearly being consummated, when complainant said] -

 "Meyer, if you do not keep quiet now, I'll call my husband, and your missus."

So soon as I said those words (continued the witness) my husband opened the door, and found Meyer in bed.

Colonial Bar Room

At this point Henry Meyer’s lawyer pursued the standard defence of the time in cases of this kind, seeking to discredit the complainant by raising doubts as to her truthfulness and her morality.

Mr. Petrie: Did you make no noise, nor sing out?

Witness: I said I would tell my husband, and all the people. Meyer took the piece of candle and looked about, and outside the door, and said "Oh, don't sing out, there's nobody there."

Mr. Petrie: Do you know what time it was?

Witness: It was after I went to bed.

Mr. Warry: How long was he in bed altogether?

Witness: About a quarter of an hour. He said he had looked outside and nobody was about, and my husband was quite comfortable. He did not go out of the room at all. He looked out before he came in.

I have known Meyer for two or three weeks since I came from Rockhampton. My husband and I were lodging there. I did not sing out because I was undressed. I had no petticoat on, or I would have run away. Meyer was stronger than I, and I could not get from him. He had a glass in his hand; he was not drunk, he was not sober. When my husband opened the door my husband saw him, and as he went out he passed my husband.

Early view of Albert Street, Brisbane

The logical person to support this testimony would have been the complainant’s husband who had interrupted the ravishing.  After he commenced his evidence, the defence successfully objected to his appearing as a witness.

Sebastian Backhaus being called into the witness-box, Mr. Garrick objected to the evidence of the husband, and eventually his objection was allowed, though not till after the witness had been sworn and given part of his evidence

At this point the testimony of the complainant gets rather confusing.  None of the parade of witnesses could or would confirm Frau Backhaus’s story.

19th Century housemaid

Mary Anne Bell deposed: On the 5th of this month I was engaged as housemaid in the hotel kept by Mr. Meyer. In the after- noon the master spoke to me about the condition of the rooms, and said they were not clean enough and must be cleaned again. Between eight and nine o'clock that night he went up stairs with me to look at the rooms. He had a piece of candle in his hand.

I did not go into complainant's bedroom. I remained to dust a room and saw master go along the passage and into a bedroom on the left hand - not the complainant's room. Saw him return in about two minutes afterwards with a piece of candle in his hand. I was in the rooms upstairs about twenty minutes. 

While there I must have heard any loud talking, if there had been any, in complainant's room. I heard nothing. When I came down stairs Mr. Meyer was in the bar; it was nearly nine o'clock when I came down. I did not see Meyer after that time; but one of the girls told me he had gone to bed.

James Mackie, a lodger at the Freemasons' Hotel, deposed that on the evening of the 5th. between seven and ten o'clock, he and three other men were sitting on the balcony, within two yards of the complainant's bedroom door, and that he neither heard or saw anyone in the room.

Richard Moldner, a German, gave evidence showing that complainant had not been guarded or modest in her conduct towards him; she having one day gone into his room while he was lying on his bed, and asked him to "shout."[3]

Not surprisingly, the Bench were quick to dismiss the case.

This closed the defendant's case, and the Bench, without asking Mr. Garrick to address the court, dismissed the case.

Thus, despite the lengthy proceedings of the court, what actually occurred on that night in January 1863, at the Freemasons’ Hotel remains unresolved.  But it certainly made good copy for The Courier.

© K. C. Sbeghen, 2012.

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[1] The Courier 17.1.1863

[2] Commercial name of a tallow candle. (OED)

[3] i.e. buy her a drink.

Isaac Lenneberg and the Cafe de Paris

Colonial Haute Cuisine - The Cafe de Paris


Isaac Lenneberg and the Cafe de Paris



The Courier 15.3.1864




Having obtained publican’s licence in March 1964, a German immigrant named Isaac Lenneberg opened the grandly named Cafe de Paris in Queen Street, Brisbane Town. It was not the only establishment of this name in the Australian Colonies, there were also Cafes de Paris in Sydney, Melbourne, and other towns.


The re-branding of the former Hart’s Cafe was announced in The Courier.


RE-OPENING OF THE HOTEL
CAFE DE PARIS
AND
RESTAURANT,
QUEEN-STREET, BRISBANE,
(Opposite to the Home of Parliament.)


I. H. LENNEBERG begs to announce that he has re-opened the above establishment known as Hart's Cafe, where he is prepared to supply all kinds of the choicest WINES, ALES, SPIRITS, LIQUEURS. &c.


A Restaurant is attached, where a Table D’hôte is served daily, from 1 till 2 p.m.


LUNCHEONS


And other meals stall hours of the day or evening, with tea and coffee.


The Cuisine combines all the luxuries of the season.


The bed-rooms are neatly fitted up, convenient, and well-ventilated.


To men of business and visitors the central situation and punctuality of arrangements require no comment.


Civility, promptitude, and cleanliness, are the "Household Words" at this establishment.[1]


Lenneberg’s Cafe de Paris soon became patronised by the prominent citizens of Brisbane Town and particularly popular as a meeting place of the substantial German community. In August 1864, three eminent gentlemen of the German citizenry called a meeting to discuss a strategy regarding the Schleswig-Holstein conflict in their fatherland.[2]



The North Australian Thursday 4 August 1864


GERMAN GENERAL MEETING. The German inhabitants of Brisbane and surrounds are invited to a meeting on Monday, the 8th of this month, at 7:30 in the evening, at Lenneberg's cafe, Queen Street. Purpose of the meeting: - SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.


DR. EMMELHAINZ,
CHARLES CAMPEN,
ARMAND RANNIGER.[3]


The Meeting resolved to raise funds to support the families of the fallen.


OUR German citizens, with Dr. Emmelhainz as chairman, held a meeting at Lenneberg's Cafe de Paris in Queen-street, on Monday evening last, when the following resolutions were put and carried:—


That a subscription be made in favour of the widows and orphans of German soldiers killed in the battles of Schleswig-Holstein.


That the proceeds of the subscriptions be forwarded to the National Association in Germany (of which the Duke Ernest, of Saxe-Coburgh, is the President for distribution.


A subscription list was then opened, and the sum of £26 was collected. After a vote of thanks had been moved to the Chairman the meeting terminated.[4]


Before the year was out, disaster would strike at the heart of Brisbane Town. Constructed largely of timber, the buildings were extremely vulnerable to fire, especially during a Queensland summer. This was precisely what befell the town on a hot dry December night in 1864. Amongst the victims of the huge conflagration was the Cafe de Paris.


The flames continued to spread onward, apparently gaining strength in contempt of the puny resistance offered to their might, until at half past eight o'clock advantage was taken of a temporary lull caused by the non-inflammable character of the roofing of some of the shops, to make one more vigorous effort to save the more valuable properties further up the street by pulling down the premises occupied by Mr. Lenneberg, and known as the Cafe de Paris.


It was too late, however, as before the men could more than partially demolish the structure the fire was upon them, and the bravest among them were compelled, by the extreme heat, to make a precipitate retreat.





Queen Street Brisbane after the Great Fire of 1864


The enterprising Herr Lenneberg was soon back in business. Within weeks he had found new premises and fitted out the new Cafe de Paris. He announced the good news to his many patrons and even put on a free supper to bring back his clientele.



Darling Downs Gazette & General Advertiser 31.12.1864


CAFE DE PARIS.


MR. LENNEBERG, of the Café de Paris, recently destroyed by fire in Queen street, begs to return his sincere thanks to his old friends and the public generally for the kind and welcome assistance rendered to him on the night of the fire, and to inform them that he has taken the extensive


NEW PREMISES, CORNER OF ELIZABETH and ALBERT STREETS,
(Nearly opposite W. & B. Brookes')
Which he has fitted up in first-class style, and intends opening THIS EVENING, as the
NEW CAFE DE PARIS.


A FREE SUPPER will be on the table at 8 o'clock TO-NIGHT, and he hopes to see as many of his old friends and the public as can make it convenient to attend.[5]


Early in the new year of 1865, the German community gathered for a Christmas celebration that had been postponed due to inclement weather. The picnic feature a “Schutzen Fest” or shooting competition. Isaac Lenneberg was called upon to cater the traditional German event. Understandably the stifling summer weather was not what they were used to and in an age before refrigeration, they were philosophical – after all “it was a picnic”!


The steamer “Diamond” took down a large number of the visitors, but there were many who proceeded to the trysting-place in cars and other vehicles. At one time it was estimated that there about three hundred persons on and near the camping-place.


To Mr. Lenneberg, of the Cafe de Paris, was entrusted the task of satisfying the thirst of all, and considering the bad spot which was selected for the encampment, he managed very well. The ginger-beer and lemonade were certainly very hot, as also were other equally enticing liquors. Fowls and pigs had a sultry appearance about them; but what of that? It was a picnic.[6]


Later in the year the Cafe de Paris was the venue chosen for a gathering to establish a “Deutcher Turn Verein” or German Club.


A MEETING of German residents in this town was held last evening at the Café de Paris, in Elizabeth-street, for the purpose of taking initiatory steps for the formation of a "Deutcher Turn Verein."


The following gentlemen were appointed to act as a provisional committee: Messrs. Horstmann, Homburg, Simmons, Bullanf, Caesarowicz, und Kieser. A general meeting, to be announced in the local papers, will be held, we understand, on Monday next, when the committee will be requested to report as follows:-


How far they have succeeded in obtaining suitable premises and also what funds it is likely will be raised, and expenditure incurred.[7]





The Deutscher Turn-Verein at Wooloongabbba, Brisbane


In 1876 fire again struck the premises of Isaac Lenneberg. On this occasion it appears the blaze was unintentionally started by a pair of inebriated intruders bent on helping themselves to supplies in the storeroom of Herr Lenneberg.


A FIRE was discovered by Senior Constable Driscoll, about eleven o'clock an Sunday night, in premises in Elizabeth-street, occupied as a wine and spirit store by Mr. I. H. Lenneberg, who, at the time, was absent at Pimpama.


The alarm was given at once, and the fire-bell brought a large body of constables and several members of the fire brigade, with a couple of reels of hose, to the spot in a few minutes. The water happened to be turned on, and in the course of half-an-hour the flames were entirely subdued.


We are informed by residents of the neighbourhood that one if not two men not belonging to the store were seen to enter the cellar by the back entrance on Sunday, and remain for a considerable time. One of the men brought out a bag which apparently contained bottles, and the men seemed partially drunk.[8]


A man was eventually brought to trial for the arson three months later. Unfortunately for the prosecutor most of the witnesses had long since left town. The Magistrate had no choice but to dismiss the case.


DOUGLAS CAMPBELL, on remand from last week, charged with having set fire to Mr. Lenneberg's store on the night of the 30th of January last, was again brought up at the Police Court yesterday morning.


The evidence adduced was that of a young man who was then in the employ of Mr. Page, hairdresser, of Queen Street, who deposed to having heard someone call out "fire," and to going down to Elizabeth Street by the right-of-way, where he saw a fire in Mr. Lenneberg's store. On looking at the grating to the cellar, he found a bag nailed against it, which he pulled off, and then saw a number of broken casks burning on the floor, in the centre of the cellar; but he did not see the prisoner anywhere about there.


-Sergeant Driscoll gave evidence of a similar character, except as to the fact of seeing a sudden glare 0f light in the store; could not see distinctly where it came from in the store owing to the fact of a number of cases being piled up in front of the windows; he also stated that on going round to the back of the cellar he found the door securely fastened, so much so that it had to be broken open with an axe, and on going in found a number of partially burned cases on the floor, and a mound of ashes about two feet high, which showed that a fire had been lighted there; also a number of bottles partially filled with Lorne whisky and rum.


This evidence closed the case for the prosecution, Mr. Lewis stating that, owing to the time which had elapsed between the fire and the prisoner's arrest found great difficulty in getting more witnesses, as they were all scattered, some them being in Cooktown and other places.
Police Magistrate said that there were a great many suspicions circumstances connected with the fire which seemed to point to Campbell; but at the same time he did not think they were such as would induce a jury to convict him, and he would therefore order his discharge. Prisoner was discharged accordingly.[9]





Brisbane Courier 23.2.1877






The following year Isaac Lenneberg decided to move on from the Cafe de Paris to a larger and better sited establishment. The cafe continued to operate under a succession of proprietors and locations into the 1890s.


EXCHANGE HOTEL,
Edward and Charlotte Streets, Brisbane.
Proprietor: I. H. LENNEBERG,
Late of the Cafe de Paris, Queen-street.


I. H. L. notifies to his Patrons and the Public generally that, having taken and altered the above Hotel, he is now prepared to guarantee SUPERIOR ACCOMMODATION to Families, Commercial Travellers, Bushmen, &c, and keeping only the BEST BRANDS of WINES, ALES, and SPIRITS, can safely solicit a further share of the patronage so liberally bestowed upon him for the last twelve years.


Great facilities are offered intending visitors to Brisbane, the above Hotel being situated within three minutes' walk of the Wharves and five of the Railway Station.


The Cuisine is superintended by a noted Chef, vouching for the Table being second to none in town.


Ample Stable Accommodation.
Plunge and Shower Baths.
Sydney and daily papers taken in.[10]





The Exchange Hotel in 1929


© K. C. Sbeghen, 2012.


[1] The Courier Tuesday 15 March 1864
[2] The War of 1864 was fought between Prussia and Denmark over the sovereignty of the Danish-ruled duchies of Holstein and Schleswig. The war ended in October 1864, when the Treaty of Vienna ceded the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Prussia.
[3] The North Australian Thursday 4 August 1864
[4] The North Australian Thursday 11 August 1864
[5] The Brisbane Courier Monday 26 December 1864
[6] The Brisbane Courier 3 January 1865
[7] The Brisbane Courier 23 May 1865
[8] The Queenslander Saturday 5 February 1876
[9] The Brisbane Courier Tuesday 2 May 1876
[10] The Brisbane Courier Friday 23 February 1877

Prince Alfred is almost welcomed by the German Community of Toowoomba

Prince Alfred was the second son of Queen Victoria and her German husband Prince Albert.  In 1868, as part of a world tour, the Prince made a much anticipated visit to the Colony of Queensland.  Committees had been formed to plan the celebrations.

The Less Than Amiable Prince Alfred

As well as holding the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Kent and Earl of Ulster, Alfred was also (courtesy of his father) the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and as such, his visit caused much excitement amongst the German community in Queensland.

In Toowoomba, home to a large number of German settlers, the royal visit would not be quite what the German Queenslanders expected.

The Brisbane Courier reported:

A meeting of the German residents of Brisbane was held last evening, at the Town Hall, to arrange the part to be taken by them in the reception of H.R.H. the Prince on his visit to the colony.

After some discussion, it was unanimously resolved that a torchlight procession should be held in honour of the Prince on his arrival in the colony. It was anticipated that upwards of 200 or 300 Germans would take part in the procession. It was also resolved that the Prince should be serenaded on the same evening. [1]

The German residents of Toowoomba were also keen to provide a suitable welcome to the prince.  They were not pleased that the government had not planned an official reception in their town.

Gentlemen seated in front of the German Club in Toowoomba

Toowoomba and Drayton and the residents of the neighbourhood are quite as loyal to the Crown as the inhabitants of any other part of Australia. Amongst us there are many Germans, whose feelings towards the Prince may be warmer, because in the natural course of events, he will cease to be an Englishman, and become the reigning Duke of a German principality.[2]

A meeting was duly called.

The German population of Toowoomba met last night, and agreed to get up a grand demonstration during the visit to the Downs of the Duke of Edinburgh.  The residents in the outside districts are very enthusiastic with respect to the visit of the Prince.

Woman driving a German Wagon in Laidley

The Germans of Gotha Coburg are organising a demonstration, and have erected an arch near the Railway Station. It is hoped that the Prince will alight there, as the programme allows of a delay of twenty minutes before starting for Jondaryan. [3]

The prince’s train stopped briefly on his journey further west to Jondaryan.  His Royal Highness did not even bother to leave his carriage.

 The Prince arrived from Ipswich at a quarter to 7 last night; about two thousand persons were present. As soon as His Royal Highness entered the station he was greeted with enthusiastic cheers. The Prince smiled at this demonstration of the popular feeling—the first of the kind that he has witnessed in Australia. His Royal Highness did not leave his carriage, and no addresses were presented. The train staid twenty minutes, after which it proceeded to Jondaryan.  On leaving the station hearty cheers were given for the Prince.

After the departure of His Royal Highness a large public meeting was held, at which great dissatisfaction was expressed at the proceedings of the Government with respect to the Prince's visit. It was arranged last night that the Prince, on his return from Jondaryan to-day, should stay for an hour at Toowoomba, and receive an address from the Germans, under the triumphal arch.[4]

The Serious Men of the Lutheran Church Committee, Toowoomba

The return visit was not much better.

His Royal Highness arrived at a quarter to 10 o'clock this morning, and alighted amidst great cheering. Mr. James Taylor's carriage was in attendance. The Prince entered, and drove from the station up Ruthven-street and back to the station, when he took his seat in the railway carriage, and the train started at once. The whole visit only lasted twenty minutes. On the Prince leaving, he was again cheered heartily. About five hundred persons were present. [5]

Unfortunately, the German reception procession, which included a dozen costumed girls, was still making its way to the station.

German Wedding Party

About five minutes after the train had started, the Germans arrived in procession, headed with the national banner and twelve young girls dressed in white, with blue ribbons, each with a basket of flowers, intended to have been strewn in the Prince's path.

Their whole arrangements were very creditable. The German address was a poetical one, and was very good. Their disappointment, at finding that the Royal visitor had departed, was very great.

The Germans have agreed to send their address to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, to meet him on his arrival in Sydney.[6]

The Germans were in no doubt just who was to blame for the insult, and it was not the Prince, but those who were in charge of his schedule.  Amazingly the normally steady-minded Teutonic settlers of the Darling Downs were so incensed that they organised a trial in absentia and a medieval-style immolation of the guilty parties, namely the Premier and the Colonial Secretary, who also happened to be wealthy pastoralists – no friends of the farmers.

About three thousand persons of all classes attended the burning in effigy of Messrs. Mackenzie[7] and Palmer[8]. A mock trial took place at the School of Arts, after which the effigies were carried in procession through the streets. Unanimity of action was very general, the Germans being very bitter in their expressions.

The proceedings were closed by singing "Old John Brown."[9] The Prince was most enthusiastically cheered, whilst loud groans and hisses fell to the share of the Ministry. [10]

The whole affair reveals the undercurrent of feeling by the establishment in Queensland, that the Germans, despite their reputation as hard working settlers, were not considered as true British citizens, which in reality most of them had become through the process of “naturalisation”. 

© K. C. Sbeghen, 2012.

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[1] The Brisbane Courier 17.1.1868

[2] The Brisbane Courier 28.2.1868

[3] The Queenslander 29.2.1868

[4] The Queenslander 29.2.1868

[5] The Queenslander 29.2.1868

[6] The Queenslander 29.2.1868

[7] Robert Ramsay Mackenzie (1811–1873), Premier of Queensland.

[8] Arthur Hunter Palmer (1819-1898), Colonial Secretary.

[9] Presumably the American Civil War song celebrating the Abolitionist John Brown.  Did they regard themselves as being considered as non-British inferior citizens? No better than slaves? Was the singing of this rousing anthem, an affirmation of their rightful status as loyal Queenslanders?

[10] The Brisbane Courier 29.2.1868 

Sonnenstich - the Sun's Deadly Assault

New immigrants to Australia often misjudged the power of the Antipodean sun particularly those who laboured in the outdoors. Many of the new arrivals were Germans, recruited to work as shepherds in the bush.  Unaware of the dangers of a Queensland summer, they continued to wear heavy dark clothing more suited to the temperate climes of their homelands in Northern Europe. Not surprisingly cases of sun-stroke or heat-stroke were quite common and sometimes resulted in sudden death.

Advertisement for Indian Topees

In a guide to the Australian colonies an English Mineralogical Surveyor included these frightening observations:

 Immigrants arriving in the heyday of life, may expect to die ten years sooner than they would in England.

A few cases of coup de soleil, or sunstroke, occur every year during the hot weather, and sometimes a person dies from the bite of a venomous serpent.[1]

In 1857, the North Australian reported the gruesome discovery by a shepherd, of the blackened body of a fellow German immigrant.

Crohamhurst Station owned by Henry Cockburn

A magisterial inquiry took place yesterday, at the Police Office, touching the death of a German, named John Seitz, who died from the effects of a sun-stroke at the Three mile Creek, on the 15th instant.

It appeared, from the evidence of Mr. H M Cockburn, that the deceased was his hired servant and on being informed by one of his shepherds that the deceased was lying dead in the bush, he proceeded there accompanied by Dr. Challinor and a constable, and saw the body on the ground: there were no remarks of violence upon it, but his face was black.

Henry Montague Cockburn

Dr. Challinor stated that he had examined the body externally, and from the congested state of the head and face, was of opinion that the deceased died in convulsions most probably occasioned by a sunstroke.[2]

German immigrants, especially those recently arrived, seemed especially susceptible to the Queensland summer heat.

DEATH BY SUN STROKE -The weather has been excessively hot during the past week, and several cases of coup de soleil have occurred; one of these proved fatal. On Wednesday, we learn that the thermometer reached 105[3] in the shade.

We subjoin the particulars of the fatal case of sun stroke, as taken in evidence before the Coroner, (K. Cannan, Esq.):-

Dr. Kearsey Cannan, the Brisbane Coroner

William Gericke deposed: I am a farmer; the deceased William Klemm, has been in my employ about five months. Shortly before four o'clock yesterday afternoon I found the deceased lying under a bush quite insensible. About half an hour before, I saw him (the deceased) hoeing and apparently quite well.

He was rather an ailing ma
n, and did not enjoy the best of health. He had on a brown felt hat, - a hat I think quite unsuitable to the climate. I sent immediately for Dr. Bell. The deceased was a sober man, and had no drink to my knowledge yesterday.

-John Adsett deposed; I am a labourer, and have known the deceased about five months. About five o'clock yesterday afternoon, I found the deceased in the corn, lying helpless on his side, breathing very hard. I bathed him with water and vinegar till Dr. Bell came.

-Hugh Bell deposed: I am a legally qualified medical practitioner;  I saw the deceased between half-past four and five o'clock;  he was then nearly lifeless;  I considered that the heart was gorged with blood. I endeavoured to get some blood to flow, and to get some stimulants into the stomach, without succeeding. I think the deceased died from a sun-stroke. The jury returned a verdict of died from the effects of a sun-stroke.[4]

The Brisbane Coroner Doctor Kearsey Cannan, alarmed at the number of sunstroke deaths he was attending, wrote of his concerns in a letter to the Moreton Bay Courier. He first quoted from an account by the renowned General Sir Charles Napier of his personal experience of sunstroke whilst serving with the Army in India.

The subject cannot be better introduced than by quoting the late gallant General Sir Charles Napier's interesting and characteristic account of his personal seizure, when serving in Sindh.

"...  I was tumbled over by the heat with apoplexy; forty-three others were struck, all Europeans, and all died within three hours, except myself!  I do not drink!  that is the secret. The sun had no ally in the liquor amongst my brains.

General Sir Charles Napier leading a charge in India

Unable to walk, I flung myself on a table, and luckily one of my staff came in. He called the doctors; two or three were with me in a twinkling; wet towels rolled round my head, feet in hot water; bleeding, and two men rubbing me. I was so drowsy as to be angry that they would not let me sleep. Had they done so, it would have been hard to wake me."[5]

Doctor Cannan drew attention to the main causes of the deadly effects of sunstroke: - excessive exposure to the rays and heat of the sun, the consumption of alcoholic spirits such as rum, a heavy diet, and unsuitable attire.

Sir Charles here gave expression to a physiological fact. The sun is the primary cause; the spirit ration and the abuse of ardent spirits constitute tho chief accessories. Most experienced surgeons believe that, with temperance in diet, avoidance of so much direct solar exposure as may be compatible with the nature of the service, attention to tent covering and ventilation, and to head dress and body clothing, British soldiers may be made to march well under the hottest sun of India.[6]

Station hands sporting various styles of headwear

Finally Dr. Cannan the Coroner detailed  his latest case of sunstroke he had investigated, and provided some studied  advice to colonists.

On Saturday last I was required to hold an inquest on the body of a man who had been struck to death on the previous day, from exposure to the sun. He belonged to the road party working near Woogaroo.[7]

Such, frequently, is the suddenness and fatal character of the seizure, leading so often to the speedy death of men previously in health and in the midst of active employment, that this circumstance induces me to believe that the following remarks on the means of prevention of such a fearful malady will not be considered ill-timed.

Of all the means of prevention of Heat Apoplexy, the avoidance of spirituous liquors, and of excess in the use of animal diet, must take the lead.

The next most important matter is the quality and arrangement of the dress and on this subject there can be no difference or question. The head-dress should be light, of slowly conducting materials, and constructed so as to command ventilation.[8]

European gentlemen in Ceylon, wearing protective solar topee

He used the example of the trooper who accompanied him to point out the unsuitability of the clothing of those employed outdoors.  He notes that the unfortunate victim he examined was wearing the worst possible headwear - a tight black hat – a sure focus of solar energy.

I was accompanied by a trooper on Saturday last, whose dress I will now compare, or rather contrast, with that above recommended. He was cased in a close-fitting suit of blue cloth; head-dress, a cap of same material, barely covering the top of the head, leaving the back part totally uncovered - a peak in front sufficiently large to shade one eye at a time.

On my warning him that by exposing his head to the sun in such a manner he was courting the fate of the unfortunate man whose body we were about to view, he replied that such were the regulations, and he must obey! Comment on such a regulation is unnecessary. Publicity alone will surely put an end to such barbarity.

However, with the assistance of some green leaves placed in the cap, and damping the inside at a shady water-hole, to allay the intolerable heat, my companion - after six hours exposure to the direct solar rays-did arrive safely back again. I may here also mention that the man who had been struck to death wore a black felt hat, fitting close to the head.[9]

I am, &c.

K. CANNAN, Coroner.

Stores were quick to import proper protective headwear from India – the most efficacious thought to be the “Solar Topee”.  

Solar Topee or Pith Helmet

There was also the home-grown variety, the cabbage tree hat platted from the fronds of the cabbage palm.

Cabbage tree hat

© K. C. Sbeghen, 2012.

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[1] The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 24 December 1853

[2] North Australian, Saturday March 17 1857

[3] 41°C

[4] The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 2 January 1858

[5] The Moreton Bay Courier Tuesday 17 January 1860

[6] The Moreton Bay Courier Tuesday 17 January 1860

[7] Now Goodna

[8] The Moreton Bay Courier Tuesday 17 January 1860

[9] The Moreton Bay Courier Tuesday 17 January 1860