(Part One) Constable Tom King: Hero of Maryborough's Great Flood of 1893 [Sharon Hollingsworth]

The terrible flooding in Queensland continues this week with Brisbane and Maryborough (and other areas) getting inundated. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected right down to the pets, livestock and wildlife.

Previously, the worst flooding Maryborough ever experienced was back in February of 1893 when the river peaked at 40 feet (12.27 meters). One of the heroes of the '93 flood was someone with ties to the Kelly saga, Senior-Constable Tom King. King was just mentioned in a recent blog as being the Senior-Constable who came down to Victoria with Sub-Inspector O'Connor and the black trackers in March of 1879 to aid in the hunt for the Kelly Gang.  He, however, headed back to Queensland in August of that same year, so he was not at the siege of Glenrowan and Ned Kelly's capture. I do wonder if things would have turned out differently at the siege with a man of his ability on scene? At some future point I will perhaps go into King's full life story which is a rich and fascinating one, but for now we will concentrate on his acts of heroism during The Great Flood of 1893.

Reading in the Queensland papers from the era, we find that Senior-Constable King and his crew were the first rescuers in the area to take to the water in a large whale boat. (Note that previously, in 1883, King had requested leave to participate in the Brisbane Regatta as part of a four-man rowing team representing the Maryborough Rowing Club. He also competed in the solo amateur sculling race. Neither the team, nor he individually, took top honours. However, surely he was a strong rower, which would have come in very handy during the 1893 flood.) Many homes in the Maryborough area were already under water when rescue efforts began and many other families had taken refuge in top storeys of houses and barns. Some refused assistance, saying they felt they would be ok where they where, but others took the rescuers up on their offer to get to higher ground. Many rescues of people were due to the bravery and tireless diligence of King and his crew. At another time, and in another context, a colleague described Tom King's courage as being "ludicrous and sublime." It certainly was true during The Great Flood.

Constable King not only saved people but animals, too. He was a man of great compassion.

According to The Morning Bulletin of February 15, 1883:

"Constable King, ascertaining that the remaining farmers were secure, turned his attention and that of his crew towards saving cattle and horses. They had great difficulty in swimming a number of cattle, among which was an obstreperous bull which charged them on two or three occasions. The difficulty was solved by locking this unruly customer up in a yard. The cows were then taken across some considerable distance to dry land, and on return the gate was thrown open and the bull quickly joined his companions. Some eight or nine horses which were isolated and almost submerged by the water were also successfully swum ashore."

Later King and his men helped to deliver food and other provision to stranded citizens.

The grateful citizens wanted to present King with an illuminated address as a token of their appreciation.

A letter was sent to the Commissioner of Police in Brisbane which said:

Sir, We, the undersigned, have the honor to inform you that several citizens of Maryborough desire to present a testimonial to Senior Constable Thomas King, who is stationed here, in recognition of his valuable service during the recent floods in this town, and we beg to request that you will be kind enough to grant him permission to accept it.
Trusting to hear from you as early as possible.
Here is what the address looked like:

(image courtesy of Greg Young)

And here is a transcription of it:

THOMAS KING

DEAR SIR

We the undersigned on behalf of the numerous residents of the Wide Bay District, beg your acceptance of this memento of our huge appreciation of your valorous conduct and untiring energy during the late flood in Feb 93. Your utter disregard of self, your indomitable perseverance and good generalship, were the means of rescuing many who, but for your intervention, must inevitably have perished. Only those who witnessed that mighty rush of waters have any conception of the peril to which yourself and comrades were exposed. Your duties during this perilous period necessitated unceasing labor, not alone during the day, but at all hours of the night, and we heartily congratulate you on having performed those duties in a manner impossible to one less inured to danger and hardship than yourself. We also thank your comrades for their hearty co-operation in this work of rescue.
Again thanking you for your indefatigable exertions, and wishing you and yours a long period of happiness & prosperity.
Your Sincere Wellwishers


That is really nice, isn't it?

But what is not so nice is the Commissioner's reply:

Senior Constable King can accept any testimonial  from the citizens of Maryborough that is presented to him through the Inspector of the district, but cannot attend any meeting.

That seems rather harsh, doesn't it, not letting Constable King attend a presentation function? (perhaps that was just regulations, but still!!) He deserved a dinner and a parade, or at the very least some applause and pats on the back, though he probably would have said he had just been doing his sworn duty.

Let's consider this blog posting to be a posthumous "For he's a jolly good fellow" chorus for Constable King!

Speaking of jolly good fellows, a while back my close friend Greg Young, who is also the great-great grandson of Thomas King, went in search of the present day location of this illuminated address. He will tell of his journey and his findings in Part Two of Constable Tom King: Hero of Maryborough's Great Flood of 1893 which will be coming soon.

Stay tuned!

Part Two is now available at http://elevenmilecreek.blogspot.com/2011/02/part-two-constable-tom-king-hero-of.html