Killed by Lightning – Rody Schwan

KILLED BY LIGHTNING – R SCHWAN, PROSPECTOR – LAVERTON Sept. 14, 1904

Duketon Cemetery

News has just reached Laverton that a well-known prospector, ” Rody Schwan, was killed by lightning yesterday afternoon at the Daisy Belle, a prospecting show about 12 miles west of Duketon. The weather during the last couple of days has been rather sultry and culminated at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon in thunder and lightning. It appears that preparations were being made for tea, and Schwan was sitting on his bunk at the camp. His mate, J. Barnett, had just gone out to the wood heap to get some wood for the fire, and at this time a vivid flash of lightning occurred and struck Schwan, killing him instantly.

It is also stated that Charles Cocks, a young man whose camp almost adjoins that of Schwan’s, received a slight shock, which threw him off his bunk. Rody Schwwan was a well-known prospector, having been on the fields for many years.  He was one of the early prospectors on the leads at Kanowna, as well as one of the first at Burtville. He was well known among footballers, and at times acted as an umpire. He did a large amount of pioneering in the back blocks, his last trip being to the Warburton Ranges with Carr Boyd and a party. For some months, Schwan, Barnett, and Stasse had been working a small reef named, The Belle, and, like many others in. the district, was waiting with a fair dump of stone for the early erection of the State mill.
Strange to relate, Barnett is identical to the man who was present in the. same camp as that in which James Heffernan was struck dead by lightning six years ago at the British Flag mine, Laverton. On that occasion, Barnett received injuries from which he suffered for some time. Schwan has a brother who is a well-known resident in the Kalgoorlie District.

NOTE:- from his death certificate: SCHWAN Brady died 13.9.1904 aged 33yrs, killed by lightning at Duketon in the Laverton District. Death certified in writing by William Schwan, brother, Boulder Block. He was born in Moonta SA, son of John (labourer) and Mary nee FLAHERTY. He had been in WA for 10yrs.

He is one of only three burials in the Duketon Cemetery. The others are:-

John Duke died 28.4.1917 aged 55yrs at Mulga Queen, Duketon
Martha Robinson died 18.56.1905 aged 37yrs at Duketon