A HEROIC DEATH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1141, 14 March 1884, Page 3

A HEROIC DEATH.

Seldom even in the panes of romance is a more affecting story fold than that whic i gives further particulars about the fate of Mounted-constable Shirley and the other persons who formed the parly under Mr Giles when he went out to search for the murdere; sof Readford. On Tuesday,Feb ruary 19, the Commissioner of Polict received the following telegram from Sub inspector Besley. at Port Augusta:—“ Mr Giles and Mounted-constable Wilslnre, who left to search for the remainder of the bodies of the Shirley relief pa ty on the 18th ult., returned to Tennant’s Ureik today, ant reported as follows; Returned to d.y from the Eastern Plains, having mare a eaiefui search for the bones of Rees, Hussey, and George Phillips. Wo visited shirley's grave and discovered some papers written by him stuck in asmad bush near his grave, The fir.-t paper was addressed to Inspector Be*ley. in tne following words .—’Travelling allowance is due to me for all the time I have been out. Please pay it. to my mother ; also give her anil my sisters and hr 'them my dying love lam too weak to write any nii re. I died in executing my duly.—*igned. J C. Shirley.’ Aml another paper written Went seventy-live miles on Kealford’s tracks. Believe him to l>s all right. Died on leturning, Have lost Hs tracks, Could make the water, but am too wean. The matter to till up blank dates in journal will be found on a sheet ot foolscap, and the week of the journal would bo a tale ot horror.— Signed. J. 0. Shirley.' On another papei, a Idretßdil to Mr Michael. Barrow Creek, he says : ’ Good-bye, old man, remember ms to all on the line.’ This aso bo.e his signature Mr Giles and myseif and police hi ick tracker searched one day and a halt for the other bodies, but without success, as we were compelled to return to tho nearest water, sixteen miles off. our horses having been twenty-six. hours without water, and having been riden ail th i time in the burning plains. We erected black painted crosses on Shirley’s and Arthur Phillip’s graves, with their names and ages Hussey, ileea, and George Phillips must have suift n d from where Mr Giles saw them last, as we found George Phillips’s belt, pouch, and revolver some miles nearer the water than where he was last seen We remained at Rees’s Well, expecting rain to fall, so that, we could continue our search, but the water dried up and we were oblige I to return to Ten mints Cre°k. 1 intend returning to Alice Spiings in a few Mays, unless otherwise instructed by you.—--signed, .VI.C. Wiltshire.” There is something very alf din.' in the death of poor Shirley, who, from the tenor of his letter, had evidently laid himself down to die with the full knowledge that his life would be sacrificed to his duty. In the Assembly Mr Smith asked the Chief S -cretary whether he had seen an artio e in the Register, under the heading of “ An Heroic Death.” It was there related that Policetrooper Shirley sacrificed his life in the discharge of bis duty Ho was the sole support ot a widowed mother. Would the Chief Secretary make from the public funds some allowance for the poor sorrowing woman ? Mr Bray said the mattei had already been brought before him The unfortunate man’s retiring allowance was paid t ) his mother, whoalso riccives LSOoutof the sum voted for police contingencies. Tho Government had aete I liberally in the matter, and the bereaved woman was not, so bally off as Mr Smith appeared to think. ’Hie Commissioner ot police hat handed to us for punii catlm the following farther telegram respecting the death Mounted-constable Shirley, which he received from leap c or Besley, at Port Augusta, on Wednes lay, February 20 “ Mounted-constab e Willshire wires from Tenmnt’s Creek that ho had found another paper this morning amongst those brought in from Shirley’s grave, addressed to Mrs Shirley, in the following words : Good bye mother, sisters, brothers, cousins—from Jack. Am too weak to write more. Have been living on horse’s blood for the last three days ’ There is more writing, but tho paper is so rot'ou and obliterated by the we it her that. I cannot read it.”— South Australian Register, 23rd February.