Obituaries

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William Saunders (18??-1895)

The Late William Saunders of Wirra Warra.
A correspondent writes :
It is our sad duty this issue to chronicle the death of Mr. William Saunders, of Wirra Warra, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 14, at about half-past two. It will be remembered that about two months ago Mr. Saunders was taken ill, suffering from the effects of a huge carbuncle in the nape of the neck.
He was taken to Goodooga where he remained under the care of Dr. Hawkins for about two weeks. He then decided to come on to Brewarrina which he did (Mrs. Saunders accompanying him), and for the past six weeks has been located at Mr. W. McDougall's Sportsman's Arms Hotel, under the care and treatment of Dr. Sinclair. Shortly after his arrival, the carbuncle was lanced, and upon subsequent occasions the surgeon's knife had been brough into operation. Mrs. Saunders was untiring in her attendance upon the sufferer, and what with broken rest, worry, and anxiety the good lady is in a most unenviable condition.
The change noticeable from day to day in Mr. Saunders was indeed but slight, some days he appeared to be a little better than others. For the past week or so, however, the sufferer had become very weak in consequence of having partaken of little or no nourishment, and he was at times given to violent fits of coughing, they having a very bad effect upon him, leaving him almost prostrate. On Thursday morning the doctor expressed the opinion that the patient would not live the day, and such proved to be only too correct, death having come as a relief to the sufferer at the time above stated, the actual cause being congestion of the lungs. The deceased gentleman was a kind-hearted and generous citizen, and at all times was charitably disposed.

Mr. Saunders was, perhaps, one of this district's oldest pioneers, he having come out west in 1857 from the Hunter River district, where he had resided from his infancy with his parents on Mr. J. B. Bettington's estate. At the age of 19, or there abouts, he joined an old schoolmate in the person of George Tait (now of the Nebine) in the cattle raising business on the Culgoa. Later Mr. Saunders bought an interest in the Cuttabunda and Willoh runs, and for a number of years was in partnership with Andrew McKenzie. After being for a number of years interested in the above-mentioned proper-ties, Mr. Saunders sold out, eventually buying Wirra Warra from Mr. John E. Kelly, in the early sixties.
In 1866 Mr. Saunders was married to Miss Eliza Pierce, of the Hunter River district. Since that time he has resided at Wirra Warra where he raised a family. Although apparently a prosperous settler, the deceased gentleman had encountered many of the adversities of this world. In 1890 the devastations of the memorable flood of that year left Mr. Saunders almost without a hoof on his run ; in the year 1886, previous, having the misfortune to lose his eldest son, who met his death through being struck by lightning. And with the roll of years, so have misfortunes overtaken the once genial host of Wirra Warra. We are safe in saying there was no more hospitable roof in the back blocks than that of the Wirra Wirra homestead ; no more beaming countenances of welcome greeted the weary wayfarer and the casual caller, than those of its inmates.

Mr. Saunders leaves a kind-hearted and generous widow together with eight children— five sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Mr. E. Saunders, some time ago married the eldest daughter of Mr. J. T. Baker, of Goodooga ; whilst the eldest daughter married in December last Mr. Joseph Loughnan, of the Narran. The remainder of the family are at ages ranging from 19 to 9 years. Much sympathy is expressed throughout the town and district with the highly-respected family in their sad bereavement.
At the time of death, Mr. Saunders had just turned 56. His remains were interred in the Church of England Cemetery on the 15th, the body being followed to its last resting place by members of the family and relatives, as well as a large circle of friends and acquaintances. In the absence of the Rev. W. Hotston, Mr. J. H. Saunders officiated at the grave.

Source: The Late William Saunders Of Wirra Warra. (1895, March 1). The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW : 1894 - 1939), p. 4. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121323551

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