Joanni (Joseph) Fidele SCATTINI was born on the 17th Dec 1879 in Strathfieldsaye, Victoria to Giovanni Antonio Fidele SCATTINI (Born in Brione, Verzasca, Switzerland) and Mary Elizabeth GOOD (born Sheep Wash, Victoria). He married Martha Wilson in Kalgoorlie WA on the 5th Aug 1908. Martha was from Adelaide Lead VIC and was the daughter of George Michael WILSON (Born in Amherst and Died in Kalgoorlie) and Margaret THORP (born Hobart Tasmania).
Joseph and Martha Scattini on their wedding day – Photo Ancestry.com
The couple were to have three children in five years before Joseph’s tragic death.
Waveney Veronica SCATTINI born 1909 Kalgoorlie
Joseph SCATTINI born 1911 Kalgoorlie
George Ross SCATTINI born 1914 Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie Miner 20 August 1913, page 2
THE WOODLINE FATALITY.
CRUSHED BETWEEN BUFFERS
ACCIDENTAL DEATH
An inquest was held in Kalgoorlie yesterday afternoon by Mr F. A. McMullen. J.P., deputy coroner, and a jury comprising Messrs. H. Oldfield, J. W. North, S. C. M. Newnark, touching the circumstances of the death of Joseph Scattini, who was killed on the Kurramia Woodline on August 6. Corporal Sheil appeared for the police.
Dr. Mathews, D.M.O., said that he made a post-mortem examination of the body of the deceased on August 7th. Death was due to shock, caused by haemorrhage and fracture of the symphysis pubis, the result of crushing. Thomas William Smith, locomotive engine driver, employed by the Westralia Firewood Co, deposed that on August 6th he was working at the head of the line between 5 o’clock and 6 o’clock in the afternoon. Scattini was engaged in coupling a rake of trucks, which was not his usual occupation. He had offered to do it for the guard, who had orders to transfer to the 45 mile, while he (the guard) was packing up.
The witness mate drew his attention to Scattini falling from between two trucks. He applied the brakes and stopped the engine immediately. Scattini was lying on the ground groaning. In answer to a question, said:
“I’m fettled, I got caught between two buffers. I went in to couple up, and two buffers bumped together.”
The truck that was bumped into had started to run back, and Scattini tried to cross from one side to the other to get the brake down to stop the truck. Deceased said
“I’ll never see my poor wife and children anymore. This is what a man gets for doing a good turn.”
They put the deceased on the footplate of the engine and proceeded to the loaders camp, and with the assistance of others placed Scattini on a water truck and made all haste to Bulong, where he found that the man was dead. Mr Macfarlane, the general manager of the company, joined the train at the store and went to Bulong with them. The body was given to the police.
There was not a medical man to meet the train at Bulong. It was not a common practice for the deceased to take the guard’s work. The deceased was bush boss. Alfred Charles Leech, locomotive fireman, said that the evidence given by Smith was correct. Witness saw Scattini fall from between the two trucks. Clarence Callanan, boss of the log camp, employed by Richard Coleman at the 51-mile, said that on August 6, about 6 p.m., he got a message from Leech stating “Joe is broken up on the tank.” Witness went to the tank and spoke to Scattini, who was his step-brother. Scattini said,
“I am dying.” They then started for Bulong, and witness remained on the tank with him. Scattini said, “Take your money from my pocket. I’m dying.”
Scattini was holding some money for the witness. He did not take the money. Scattini said that the brake was the cause of the accident. About the 19 mile, the deceased, who was lying on witness’s arm, fell back, and when the train reached Bulong he found that Scattini was dead. They put the deceased in a wood truck and proceeded to Kurramia, where the police took charge of the body. Witness identified the body at the morgue. The jury returned a verdict that Joseph Scattini met his death by being accidentally crushed between the buffers of two wood trucks on the Westralia Firewood Companies Line on Aug 6th.
Kalgoorlie Miner 9 August 1913, page 4
Four years after her husbands death Martha married again to Alfred John CAPLE a recently divorced man. The short marriage again ended in tragedy when her second husband died from illness in 1919 aged only 28yrs. Oddly, in the notices for Alfred’s funeral, Martha is not mentioned as attending, so perhaps they were not together.
Martha was then to marry for a third and final time to Frank WATSON in 1920. They had one child together, Frank Enos WATSON born in Kalgoorlie in 1921. It appears that Martha’s three other children went by the name of WATSON.
Both Joseph Scattini and Alfred Caple are buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.
Joseph Scattini – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Plaque erected by Jeanette McKinley
Alfred J Caple – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo Find a Grave
Moya Sharp
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Hi Moya, I don’t know why you didn’t contact me, JOANNI and Martha’s Scattini Grand Daughter before putting up your post.
My Grand Father was JOANNI Fidele Scattini his father was GIOVANNI ANTONIO FEDELE SCATTINI Born in Brione Verzasca Switzerland his mother was Mary Elizabeth Good born in Sheep Wash Victoria. Joanni Married Martha Wilson born in ADELAIDE LEAD VICTORIA, Martha was the daughter of George Michael Wilson Born in Amherst and Died in Kalgoorlie. The family lived and owned 4 Gold Mines at Ora Banda, Joanni’s mother was Margaret THORP born in Hobart Tasmania Died in Kalgoorlie Hospital, George and Martha are both buried in Kalgoorlie Cemetery. Joanni’s (known as Joseph) plaque was erected by me Janette McKinlay.
Moya can you please amend The Grave Tale about my Grand Parents, there has been a lot of miss information put up on the internet in the past which people will take as gospel.
Kind regards
Janette McKinlay
Hi Janette Yes happy to amend and add your info. I’m afraid I didn’t know you were his granddaughter.
Hi Janette Did you mean George and Margaret ‘Wilson’ are buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery? I have made the changes as requested.
Thanks Moya, my Longwood side: g’Uncle: Francis William Longwood
1873–1957: married: Agnes Wilson (Grant) 1882–1974: cheers, Les.
Hi Moya, Thank you for making the changes, sorry I meant Joanni’s mother-in-law was Margaret Thorp.
Yes George & Margaret Thorp are buried in Kalgoorlie B1 67A 21 7519 and it has a head stone. They had 7 children 3 Wilson children are buried in Kalgoorlie, Margaret also had 4 Abbott children, 3 Abbott children are also buried in Kalgoorlie.
Jan McKinlay