The Jones Family Part VII: Explorers and Troubadours.

In my last post, I talked about the construction of the railway to Kapunda.

The public in the early 1860s were gripped with explorer mania. People lapped up the stories of exploration and adventure around the world. Explorers were celebrated as heroes, and they were latched onto by Australians searching for a national identity.

Kapunda being the last stop on the new railway became a good departure point for exploration expeditions. My ancestors Thomas Rowlands and Theophila Jones were running their hotel the Sir John Franklin in Kapunda and these events influenced the direction their lives would take.

The South Australian Relief Expedition

The Victorian Exploring Expedition, better known now as the Burke and Wills Expedition, set off from Melbourne for the interior of Australia in August of 1860.[i] After six months people began to be concerned for the fate of the explorers. Four different Relief Expeditions were assembled to search for the men. The Relief Expedition put together by the South Australian Government was headed by John McKinlay. They hoped to beat the Victorian Relief expedition headed by Alfred William Howitt to Coopers Creek.

John McKinlay
State Library of South Australia [B 5955]

John McKinlay’s relief Expedition assembled at The Sir John Franklin Hotel in Kapunda on Friday the 16th of August 1861. McKinlay, Mr. William Oswald Hodgkinson, and four camels arrived in Kapunda via the new railway and met with the rest of their party and supplies.[ii] The camels along with the horses for the expedition were kept in the yards of the Sir John Franklin Hotel. Camels were a rarity in Australia at the time, so it caused quite a lot of excitement. The camels in the McKinlay expedition were from the same group of camels that were used for the Burke and Wills expedition. The Victorian Expedition had selected a number of camels and left four camels behind at Royal Park in Victoria (two were pregnant cows). Along the way three camels strayed from the Burke party, two were re-captured in South Australia. The South Australian Relief Expedition had the two re-captured camels and two sent from Royal Park in Victoria.

Burke and Wills Expedition Camels 1861
State Library of Victoria H5117

The party was due to depart on Saturday the 17th August 1861. It was market day so Kapunda was full of people, and some had even travelled up on the train from Adelaide. Everyone wanted to witness the excitement and wave off the explorers. Mr. Hodgkinson amazed the crowd with the obedience of the camels, how they followed his verbal commands. I wonder how excited my Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth Jones at 10 years old would have been, right bang in the middle of this great spectacle. I wonder if she had a chance to get close to one of the “ships of the desert”. My Great Great Great Grandmother Theophila Jones had a new-born baby to take care of in this busy time. Horace Foley Jones had been born exactly two weeks before.


It was quite poignant that the Burke and Wills relief expedition was departing from a hotel named after a great explorer and former governor of Tasmania. Sir John Franklin and ships the HMAS Erebus and Terror had been missing in the arctic for about 15 years. Many expeditions had been sent to discover their fate. In 1854 Inuit people told a search party the grisly fate of the ice-bound crew. All 129 crew died when icebound and starving. The crew included the cousin of William John Wills, Lieutenant Henry Thomas Dundas le Vesconte.[xvii] Sir John Franklin’s death was only confirmed in 1859 when a handwritten note beneath a cairn of stones was discovered.

At the time of the McKinlay Party departure from Kapunda, the cart that was to carry the bulk of their heavier supplies for the first section of their journey broke an axel when it hit a small rut. McKinlay remained overnight with the cart and four horses whilst it was quickly repaired. The rest of the party set off for a nearby property 9 miles (about 14 Km) North of Kapunda to set up camp for the night. They comprised of around 8 men, four camels and 18 horses. The spectators crowded the streets and yards of the Sir John Franklin hotel, giving the explorers a hearty three cheers and wishing them “God Speed”.

The Burial of Burke. Artist: Strutt, William 1825-1915.State Library of Victoria, Image H13087

McKinlay and party found the grave of Charley Gray near Cooper's creek, and soon after learned that Howitt had already arrived at Cooper’s Creek and had discovered and buried the remains of Burke and Wills. Howitt had left to return with the survivor John King, who had been cared for by the Yandruwandha people. The McKinlay party then continued their exploration of the interior, with the hope of discovering more grazing land. They arrived back in Adelaide late in 1862.

John McDouall Stuart’s Sixth Exploration Party

John McDouall Stuart 1865
State Library of South  Australia [B 500]

On the 7 Dec 1861 the explorer John McDouall Stuart with Frederick John Waterhouse (Naturalist) passed through Kapunda on their way to meet up with the rest of their party at Moolooroo for Stuart’s Sixth Expedition to the interior. Stuart had separated from the rest of the party when he was injured by a rearing horse not long after departure. He was knocked unconscious and his hand was badly trampled. When well enough to travel, five weeks later, he passed through Kapunda. The residents of Kapunda cheered the men on their way.[iii]

This exploration party eventually traversed the continent from North to South, providing a route for the overland telegraph.

The Long Burial March of Burke and Wills

On Wednesday 10 of December 1862 the exhumed remains of Burke and Wills were brought through the town of Kapunda, ready to be sent via train to Adelaide then on to Melbourne for re-burial.[iv] Flags were flying half-mast at the Sir John Franklin Hotel and the church bells tolled. The Kapunda Rifles marched ahead of Alfred William Howitt’s party and people gathered in the streets to pay their respects. The remains of Burke and Wills arrived on camel-back, in a box draped with a Union Jack flag.[v] There is an unconfirmed tale that the box of remains was placed on the main bar of the Sir John Franklin Hotel for people to view and pay their respects.

There are reports though of the remains being viewed at Gawler, so it is possible that they were also viewed at Kapunda:

"The party present then inspected the box containing the remains of the gallant and unfortunate explorers, which were deposited in a moderately sized chest, covered with black cloth, and divided into compartments, one containing the remains of Burke, and the other the headless remains of Wills. It was surprising to notice in how small a compass the relics were contained. In conversation with Messrs, Murray and Howitt, I learned that the head of Wills had not been found, owing, it is supposed, to the wild dogs having carried it into the polygonum scrub, where all attempts to discover it failed. The union-jack interred with the bodies of the brave explorers formed part of the contents of the chest. The remains, accompanied by Messrs. Murray and Howitt and Mr. Sheriff Boothby—a schoolfellow of the latter gentleman—proceeded to Adelaide by the 1.15 train."[vi]

From Adelaide, Howitt continued on by steamer to Melbourne. The idea of publicly displaying remains sounds very odd but was not unusual for the times. The remains were also put on display when they reached Melbourne and drew huge crowds.

The Burke and Wills Funeral Procession Melbourne.
State Library of Victoria IMP24/01/63/8-9  

See the Conquering Hero Comes

17 Dec 1862, (exactly a week after the remains of Burke and Wills passed through town) John McKinlay caught the train from Adelaide to meet John McDouall Stuart at Kapunda who was making his way home from his successful sixth expedition. Kapunda’s Mine Volunteer Band assembled on the balcony of the Sir John Franklin hotel playing “See the conquering hero comes” to welcome the famous explorers.[vii][viii] Stuart was very unwell, he had been carried by litter between two horses for 900 km of his journey. He had begun to recover enough to ride though by the time they reached Mount Margaret.[ix] Stuart was suffering from scurvy, malnutrition and was nearly blind from trachoma.

John McDouall Stuart being carried ny "ambulance'
during his sixth expedition. Sketched by Stephen King Jr. 1862
State Library of South Australia [B 59536]

The explorers were greeted by a celebration at the Sir John Franklin hotel.

“Mr. McKinlay was the first to shake hands with his brother hero, and such was the crowd of persons anxious to catch a glimpse of the great little explorer that he stood a fair chance of being suffocated. Having adjourned to the Sir John Franklin, the congratulatory address was read and presented by Mr. Browne, S.M. Mr. Stuart returned thanks for the kind and hearty reception, and said his expedition had been most successful, and its beneficial results would soon be seen in all the colonies. The party had then to hurry to the Railway Station, accompanied by a variety of vehicles, and Mr. Stuart, Mr. Auld, and Mr. McKinlay went down in the train.”[x]

Stuart never fully recovered his health after his last expedition.

Douay and Poussard

Horace Remi Poussard and Réné Douay were talented French violinists. They arrived in Australia in 1861 and during 1862 they had a gruelling tour of South Australia. They performed most nights and travelled town to town. They had regular singers and other musicians as part of their show.

Douay and Poussard performed a wide range of music but their extraordinarily popular piece “Dead Heroes” written to celebrate the lives and achievements of Burke and Wills, struck a chord with the South Australian crowd. It was poetry set to a musical composition that was a complicated medley of different popular tunes, arranged to tell the story of the Burke and Wills Expedition. It was a piece that evolved over time as it was performed over many months.[xi]

In 1862 Douay and Poussard performed a number of times in Kapunda to great applause and hearty calls of encore. With such recent and frequent contact with exploration parties, the locals of Kapunda were a primed audience for their piece the “Dead Heroes”. They came to Kapunda in July, October and in November of 1862.[xii]

In August 1862 Douay and Poussard failed to turn up at one of their booked performances in Kadina, after flatly refusing to travel. This caused a huge dispute with their manager Robert Sparrow Smythe. It led to a break up between the duo and their manager and also resulted in legal action.[xiii]

1862 'Advertising', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 3 September, p. 1. ,
viewed 13 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50175741

Poussard and Douay performed for McKinlay on his return from his expedition in November 1862. Douay performed a harmonium solo titled “Welcome in honour of McKinlay and Party” and a poem titled “Homage to McKinlay” was also performed. [xi]

The Return of Stuart to Adelaide 1863
State Library of South Australia [B 9382]

In Adelaide there was great celebration on the return of Stuart, which included a large street parade. There was a performance by Poussard and Douay on the 22nd January 1863 at the Adelaide Assembly Rooms in honour of Stuart and McKinlay, who attended the show. It was the last time they performed “Dead Heroes” in South Australia.[xiv]

Hard Times and a New Hope

Despite the promise of booming business with the arrival of the railway, business at the Sir John Franklin Hotel was suffering. Costs had gone up, but business had gone down. After the railway was constructed, a road connecting the train station to the rest of town was built. The road controversially did not run directly to the main street where the Sir John Franklin was positioned. As a result, three new hotels were built along this new road and managed to capture some of the rail traveller business. Also,“Crase’s Room” was built, which became a rival function venue. On top of all this, the number of men working at the mine had reduced considerably, and those that remained were earning less. In May 1862 Thomas Rowlands Jones petitioned the court reduce the cost of his lease. [xv] The initial lease was taken out at £350 per year and he hoped to have it reduced to £250. His request was granted and the rent was lowered.

It is probable that even with the cost reduced lease, the Sir John Franklin Hotel was not as profitable as Thomas had once hoped. Thomas began to look for a new venture.

After their breakup with Robert Sparrow Smythe, Poussard and Douay were in need of a new manager, and Thomas Rowlands Jones stepped into the job.

"Mr. T. R. Jones having entered into an engagement with Messrs. Poussard and Douay, will leave the Sir John Franklin Hotel, which he has so satisfactorily conducted, in the course of the month."[xvi]

I think that his love of music and his business experience would have made him a great choice for the position. I also wonder if his ability to speak German could have been an advantage in communicating with the Frenchmen.

1863 'Advertising', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 20 January, p. 1. ,
viewed 18 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50164844

My Next Post will be about Thomas Rowlands Jones on tour with Poussard and Douay and his return home to Adelaide.

I really recommend reading about Sir John Franklin. He really was a man of action and lived an extraordinary life.

Canadian Geographic has a good timeline here: http://maps.canadiangeographic.ca/franklin-search-timeline/franklin-search-timeline.asp

The Franklin expedition is in the recent news here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/12/hms-terror-wreck-found-arctic-nearly-170-years-northwest-passage-attempt






[i] http://burkeandwills.slv.vic.gov.au/ 

[ii] 1861 'THE BURKE RELIEF PARTY.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 19 August, p. 3. , viewed 15 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article876609

[iii] 1861 'KAPUNDA.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 14 December, p. 7. , viewed 10 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158184509

[iv] 1862 'KAPUNDA.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 11 December, p. 4. , viewed 10 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13070760

[v] 1862 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 13 December, p. 7. , viewed 10 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90257532 

[vi] 1862 'GAWLER.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 13 December, p. 7. , viewed 11 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158190358

[vii] 1862 'KAPUNDA.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 20 December, p. 7. , viewed 10 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158190417

[viii] 1862 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 20 December, p. 2. , viewed 15 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90256558

[ix] Deirdre Morris, 'Stuart, John McDouall (1815–1866)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stuart-john-mcdouall-4662/text7707, published first in hardcopy 1976, accessed online 10 September 2016.

[x] 1862 'KAPUNDA.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 20 December, p. 7. , viewed 12 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158190417 

[xi] Lais, Peggy. Horace Poussard and Dead Heroes: A Musical Tribute to Burke and Wills [online]. Context: Journal of Music Research, No. 23, Autumn 2002: [23]-32. Availability:<http://search.informit.com.au.ezproxy.slv.vic.gov.au/documentSummary;dn=199092705107032;res=IELAPA> ISSN: 1038-4006. [cited 17 Sep 16].

[xii] 1862 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 28 November, p. 3. , viewed 13 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50157934 

[xiii] 1862 'WALLAROO.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 16 August, p. 2. (Supplement to the Adelaide Observer.), viewed 13 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158188162

[xiv] 1863 'THE STUART DEMCNSTATION.',South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 21 January, p. 2. , viewed 18 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50180068

[xv] 1862 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS.',South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 3 May, p. 2. (Supplement to the South Australian Weekly Chronicle.), viewed 16 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90258109

[xvi] 1863 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 10 January, p. 1. (Supplement to the South Australian Weekly Chronicle.), viewed 18 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90259108

[xvii]  http://oztypewriter.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/weird-coincidences-deaths-link-arctic.html

The Jones Family Part VI: Kapunda Community and Railway

1860 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 19 May, p. 1.
(Supplement to the South Australian Weekly Chronicle.), viewed 11 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90251543

In late 1859 Thomas JONES transferred his licence for the Blenheim hotel to Henry DOWNER. Thomas, Theophila and the five kids moved from Adelaide to Kapunda.  There they took over the Sir John Franklin Hotel. My great great grandmother Elizabeth would have been nearly 9 years old. Kapunda looked like it was starting to bounce back after hard times, the railway opened that year to great fanfare as well as a new post office and telegraph station. Lots of new shops and hotels opened. Kapunda was predominantly a mining town with rich copper deposits, there were also nearby quarries of marble and bluestone.

Main Street, Kapunda 1871
State Library of South Australia  [B 19714/45]

Early History of the Sir John Franklin Hotel

The Sir John Franklin hotel Kapunda was built around 1849 with James Wittaker applying for a publican’s licence that year. It was named after Tasmania’s first governor and arctic explorer Sir John Franklin. The hotel had 7 furnished rooms and more waiting to be furnished. It was a large and extensive premises. Despite this the application was denied, with a publican licence being granted to John Bickford of the North Kapunda Arms, arguing that the town could only support one public house. There must have been some kind of appeal or change of heart because James Wittaker was granted a general publican licence only two months later in December. Perhaps it had something to do with the town having cracked down on the many storekeepers selling and producing sly grog.

A bullock wagon hauling wheat sacks past the Sir John Franklin Hotel, Kapunda, approx 1900
State Library of South Australia [B 16395]

About 10 years later in May 1860 Thomas Rowlands and Theophila JONES began their business at the Sir John Franklin Hotel in Kapunda. Thomas and Theophila set to work, renovating rooms and aimed to make it the best hotel outside of Adelaide.

1860 'Classified Advertising', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889),
27 June, p. 1. , viewed 11 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1206502

A Paucity of Leaches

Life in Kapunda was hard in 1860, there had been outbreaks of sickness attributed to poor sanitation in the town. In the late 1850s there had been a bit of a slump in property sales, there was not much money in the town. In the Jones family's first month in Kapunda, a child the son of Joseph Tuckfield drowned when he fell into a hole that had filled with water.

 A man named Mr. Small fell from his horse when jumping a log and due to a “paucity of leeches” townsfolk were unable to tell whether his arm was broken or dislocated. 

Whilst renovating the Sir John Franklin hotel one of the front windows was smashed and the front chain separating the footpath from the road was stolen. Thomas Jones offered a reward of £5 in the hope the offender would be “nabbed”.

On the 13th April 1860 Kapunda was shaken by a small earthquake. It was enough to knock over wine glasses and shake items on tables.

Local Community

Thomas involved himself in community activities. He was on the committee for the Mechanics’ Institute, was a member of the Freemasons and he joined the local Cricket Club when it formed in 1862. Looking at some of the scores I take a guess that he was a better bowler than batsman. 

He was a judge for the Kapunda Agricultural and Horticultural Show for Wine, Fruit, and Flowers. At the 1861 show he won a prize for his onions, third prize for his Sow and first prize for his Ham. The society’s dinner was held at the Sir John Franklin hotel where a large group of gentlemen enjoyed a dinner that was “in every way excellent” and they enjoyed a dessert that included some of the best fruit that had been exhibited at the show that day. At the end of the evening, a toast was proposed to the Host and Hostess. Mr. Jones returned his thanks and the party broke up at around midnight.

Volunteer Riflemen

Thomas JONES was part of the Adelaide Marksmen/Rifle club and the German Rifle Club and had been part of a committee trying to establish a mounted rifle force. He continued his interest when he moved to Kapunda. There was a strong movement at the time for volunteer militia and mounted riflemen in the colony. The Kapunda Rifles were issued with their first uniforms in 1860. They had “grey Sydney tweed trousers, with red stripe, also a blue coat with red facings, and cap bearing the initials K. V.”

South Australian Volunteer Forces 1860
State Library of South Australia [B 5592]

The Northern Brigade was formed, made up of the small rifle brigades in the region. They would meet for shooting competitions sometimes at nearby Bakers Flat, and would often have functions at the Sir John Franklin. Thomas Rowlands Jones was still considered one of the best shots in the colony, and won rifles and money in competitions. He acted as scrutineer at some competitions, inspecting the targets to determine a winner.

In July of 1860 at the Sir John Franklin, a meeting took place to form the Northern volunteer corps, bringing several volunteer brigades together. The volunteers began drilling in preparation for the opening of the new railway in Kapunda. Unfortunately, the Angus Park group were not going as well as others. Some of the Angus Park “Germans were so insubordinate and careless” that Captain Connor had to take their arms and uniforms and give them to Greenock who were showing great zeal.

Railway to Kapunda

With the construction of the railway in 1860, it seemed as though the town’s prospects were starting to improve. A new post office and telegraph office were constructed and many other businesses started to spring up.

In June 1860 a group of about half a dozen members of parliament were invited by the Commissioner of Public Works to inspect the progress of the train line to Kapunda. The day before the outing it was found that numbers had bumped up to 20, arrangements for dinner at the Sir John Franklin hotel had to be promptly changed. On the morning of the outing at the Gawler train station it was found that around 30 members of parliament from both houses had arrived with their friends and officials, so a telegram to the Sir John Franklin had to be quickly sent to arrange dinner for 40.

On the journey, they inspected the line, bridges, cuttings, causeways and stations under construction. Some of the passengers on the outing had very little experience of train travel. The curves and cuttings through the hills as they approached the river Light were a cause of apprehension for many of them. The bridge over the river Light was not yet completed so the passengers had to disembark at that point. The party began to break up and it was a smaller group of ministers and officials that were left to inspect the progress at the Kapunda station. Once it was time for dinner the Kapunda locals were excited to see so many politicians in town so “several Kapunda gentlemen, about 50 in all” joined the party for a “substantial dinner”. “The tables were loaded with the good things of this life.”[i] Having worked in the hospitality industry I think it is amazing that Thomas and Theophila were able to throw together such a large impromptu dinner. The party drank to the health of Her Magesty and His Excellency and enjoyed lively songs during their meal. On the party’s return journey home they were joined by several hundred of the workmen that had been working on the line, also heading home for the weekend.

“Happy in the prospect of revisiting their hearthstones after a week’s labor upon one of the most simply grand and useful productions of modern ingenuity and skill.”[ii]

On the 10th of August 1860 a group of about 35 people were invited to inspect the soon to open line between Gawler and Kapunda. The group arrived by special train and were treated to a meal and entertainment at the Sir John Franklin Hotel. It was reported that:

“ the company, whose appetites were whetted by the long trip and the bracing air of a delightful day, did ample justice to Host Jones's liberal catering and exquisite cuisine.”

On Monday the 13th of August 1860 the Northern Extension line to Kapunda was finally officially opened. A train left Adelaide with 13 carriages with around 600 passengers for the event. The line was opened by the Governor and there were many parliamentarians along for the event.

“A very large proportion of the passengers were ladies, and we venture to say that never before has Kapunda been the receptacle of such a galaxy of beauty and fashion.”[iii]

The train left Adelaide at 10:30am with cheers from the large crowd of spectators that had gathered. All of the stations along the line were decorated with evergreens, flowers and flags and crowds gathered to wave and cheer at the train.

They picked up another 52 passengers at Gawler and attached another engine. The group were uneasy with the twists and turns before the river Light, but were amazed at the marvels of modern engineering. They stopped at the Bridge over the River Light to inspect its construction and then went on to arrive at Kapunda at 1:17pm. 

Kapunda Railway Station Approx 1907
State Library of South Australia [B 11985]

The lovely Kapunda Station was built using locally mined bluestone. It was also decorated with evergreens and flags for the occasion. His Excellency Sir Richard G MacDonnell Governor in Chief of Her Majesty’s Provence of South Australia was greeted by the Reverend Mr Oldham, and the Captains of the Angaston and Kapunda Rifles. The Kapunda Rifle Corp were there with about 50 members and accompanied by their band. They formed a guard of honour. After some speeches, the Governor proceeded to a crane which he himself used, to symbolically load the first bale of wool and the first bag of copper ingots onto the train. The vice-regal party then were taken by carriage to the Sir John Franklin hotel amid a salute fired by the Kapunda Blacksmiths’ Artillery Company. The main street was decorated with flags, mottos, and garlands of evergreen. At the Sir John Franklin the Governor received visitors until it was time to leave for a great banquet at Crase’s rooms at the North Kapunda Hotel (a rival hotel to the Sir John Franklin). There they had many speeches and toasts. The return train to Adelaide left at 5:30pm, but had to go back when they realised they had left the vice-regal party behind, in all it was only a 5 minute delay and the train arrived safely back in Adelaide at around 8pm.

Also...

Also in August of 1860 William Hislop an employee of Thomas JONES at the Sir John Franklin, was given two 1£ notes to get change. William took his chances, ran off with the money and did not return. Perhaps he used the new train as a getaway? He was caught by police in Adelaide and sentenced to three months gaol.

In December 1860 a large crowd at the Sir John Franklin hotel enjoyed the entertainment of Mr Henry Julian Hall, polyphonist. I have found an advertisement from a show he did in New Zealand which is handy as a description for what the show may have been like.

1862, Page 1 Advertisements Column 6
Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVIII, Issue 1531, 19 June 1862, Page 1,
 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=DSC18620619.2.2.6

Expanding Family

On the 2nd of August 1861 Thomas and Theophila welcomed the arrival of their son Horace Foley JONES, born in Kapunda.

Next Time

Next blog post will be about a downturn in fortune for the Jones' Sir John Franklin Hotel in Kapunda, Explorer mania, and a new business venture.



1860 'Classified Advertising', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 27 June, p. 1. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1206502
1860 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 19 May, p. 1. (Supplement to the South Australian Weekly Chronicle.), viewed 28 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90251543
1860 'BENCH OF MAGISTRATES.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 16 March, p. 2. , viewed 19 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49896527
1859 'BENCH OF MAGISTRATES.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 17 September, p. 3. , viewed 27 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158129706
1849 'NEW GENERAL PUBLICANS' LICENCES.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 12 September, p. 4. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50247760
1849 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS. BENCH OF MAGISTRATES.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 13 December, p. 3. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206981635
1849 'BENCH OF MAGISTRATES.', South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1847 - 1852), 14 June, p. 4. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195937869
Wikipedia contributors, 'Kapunda', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 April 2016, 11:02 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kapunda&oldid=717386196> [accessed 17 June 2016]
1860 'KAPUNDA.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 21 May, p. 3. , viewed 08 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1205447
1860 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 14 April, p. 3. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49889180
1860 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 29 August, p. 3. , viewed 10 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50025446
1862 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 27 March, p. 3. , viewed 10 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40468355
1861 'THE KAPUNDA AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S ANNUAL EXHIBITION.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 2 March, p. 2. (Supplement to the Adelaide Observer.), viewed 10 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158179484
1861 'KAPUNDA AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S ANNUAL EXHIBITION.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 28 February, p. 3. , viewed 10 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50018869
1860 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 12 May, p. 2. , viewed 11 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90251807
1861 'THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.',South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 26 March, p. 5. , viewed 19 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50021708
1866 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 30 July, p. 3. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-
1860 'INSPECTION OF THE NORTHERN EXTENSION RAILWAY.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 21 June, p. 3. , viewed 08 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1206326
1860 'THE RAILWAY TO KAPUNDA',Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 23 June, p. 7. , viewed 08 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158175712
1860 'KAPUNDA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 10 August, p. 3. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50026032article41019946
1860 'INSPECTION OF THE NORTHERN LINE BETWEEN GAWLER AND KAPUNDA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 11 August, p. 2. , viewed 19 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50024439
1860 'OPENING OF THE KAPUNDA RAILWAY.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 18 August, p. 5. , viewed 11 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90250769
1860 'OPENING OF THE RAILWAY FROM GAWLER TO KAPUNDA.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 18 August, p. 3. , viewed 11 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158176484
1860 'OPENING OF THE RAILWAY FROM GAWLER TO KAPUNDA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 14 August, p. 2. , viewed 11 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50025627
1860 'LOCAL COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 28 August, p. 3. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50023301
1860 'OPENING OF THE KAPUNDA RAILWAY.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 14 August, p. 3. , viewed 08 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article822747
Birth Index South Australia, Horace Foley Jones.
[i] 1860 'THE RAILWAY TO KAPUNDA',Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 23 June, p. 7. , viewed 08 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158175712
[ii] 1860 'INSPECTION OF THE NORTHERN EXTENSION RAILWAY.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 21 June, p. 3. , viewed 08 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1206326
[iii] 1860 'OPENING OF THE KAPUNDA RAILWAY.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 18 August, p. 5. , viewed 11 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90250769

The Jones Family Part V: The Long Arm of the Law and The Blenheim.

I have previously mentioned that the Jones family ran the Blenheim hotel in Adelaide, South Australia from 1855 to 1859. Pubs are eventful places not only as meeting spots and entertainment venues but they can also have their fair share of crime. The Blenheim was no exception.  There are many accounts of Thomas in court dealing with small crimes and bar room fisticuffs.

Sketch of Hindley Street by Rev. Theodore Percival Wilson.
 SLSA PRG 1399/122/1
http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1399/122/1

NICE TRY

On the 24^th of July 1855 Thomas Rowlands Jones was charged by Inspector Reid (I assume the same Inspector Reid mentioned in Part III) with not closing the outer doors to the Blenheim Hotel after 10pm. There were police reports of people coming and going after 12am, the sound of liquor being served and money was being collected even at 4am. The fine was £2. Thomas appealed to the Local Court with the argument that technically he had closed his doors at 10pm and had not re-opened the doors until after 12 am, which would have been the morning of the 25^th and so the next day. Sadly he lost his appeal, but the fine was kept at a token £2.

THE GIG IS UP!

In the morning of the 25^th January 1856 at around a quarter to 7, Thomas R Jones and Thomas Donkin Chisholm left together to bathe at the City Baths. Back in the days before running water and bathrooms, people who could afford it would wash in public bathhouses. Before they left Thomas Jones left a couple of £5 notes under a book on his dressing table taking only small change to pay for his bath.

Thomas Chisholm who had been staying at the Blenheim with his wife and child for a couple of months, went upstairs on his return. Thomas Jones had said that he could borrow books from his bedroom. When our Thomas went upstairs to dress, to his dismay he found that the two £5 notes had gone. When Thomas asked Chisholm’s wife where he was, she told him that he had gone out to get his shoes repaired. When Chisholm had not returned by 11am Thomas became suspicious and decided to ask around at the Livery stables to see if anyone had seen him.  Chisholm had hired a horse and gig from William Rounsevell  a highly successful stage coach company owner. The gig was hired to drive to Mt Barker and a driver to return the carriage as he “did not know that he should return”, but hoped to be back to see the “show” (possibly the flower show).  The gentlemen became concerned that Chisholm may have bolted with the horse and gig. Mr Rounsevell sent his son John off to chase Chisholm. Thomas Jones followed, bringing Police Constable Clark with him. When they got to Mt Barker they learned that Chisholm had “made haste” on to Strathalbyn. Constable Clark and John Rounsevell continued the chase. The journey from Hindley Street Adelaide to Strathalbyn these days only takes about an hour by car, but I imagine that in the 1850s it would have taken hours in a horse and gig on rough roads. 

Detail from a sketch of Hindley Street by Rev. Theodore Percival Wilson.
 SLSA PRG 1399/122/1
http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1399/122/1

It was dark when they arrived at Strathalbyn, but they managed to spot the horse and gig and then saw Chisholm standing in the doorway of an Inn.  John Rounsevell in disguise followed Chisholm and managed to strike up a conversation. Chisholm referred to the horse and gig as though it was his own. Rounsevell heard that he planned to go on to Wellington, New Zealand. Constable Clark then arrested Chisholm and when asked where he was headed, Chisholm replied “Port Elliot”. When he was searched he had only Melbourne notes totalling £10, 10 sovereigns, and some silver. There was no sign of the missing £5 notes.

A Dishonorable Namesake

I am sure John Rounsevell would have made his father proud and relieved when he returned home with the horse and gig. John later became a pastoralist and politician elected to the South Australian House of Assembly in 1865 and served on the Adelaide City Council.

When Thomas Jones returned to the Blenheim more of Chisholm’s deception was revealed. Frederick William Lindrum a billard marker (a person who keeps score on billiard matches and helps run the table rooms) working at the Blenheim knew Thomas Donkin Chisholm as Captain Chisholm. Captain Chisholm had claimed that his pocket book had gone missing containing £9. Over time “Captain” Chisholm had borrowed different sums of money from Mr Lindrum totalling £38 10s, promising to pay it back when his money came in on the White Swan steamer from Melbourne. A portion of the money had been requested to buy apples to send to Melbourne. Of course, the borrowed money had not been repaid. 

As an aside Frederick William Lindrum went on to be a very famous name in Billiards, he eventually ran his own billiards hall and won against a visiting world champion.  Two of his sons were considered billiards prodigies and he devoted his time to training them. Several grandchildren were also world class players. His grandson Walter Lindrum was considered the “best player ever seen” in the 1930s and is considered one of Australia’s all time sporting greats. You can read more here: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lindrum-frederick-william-7200/text12453

Walter Lindrum, 1932. "The Daily Standard"
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186485253

There was also the matter of Thomas Donkin Chisholm’s bill at the Blenheim. Over his stay, his bill had come to total £88 13s 8d. Thomas R Jones had received a cheque for £70 10s from Chisholm and had deposited it at his bank. The cheque was eventually dishonoured. It was for a bank called the “Union Bank of Victoria”. Jones’ bank did not have a listing for a bank of that name, but they could not be certain with so many new banks opening in Melbourne. The cheque was sent by steamer to Melbourne to hopefully be cashed. There was not a Union Bank of Victoria in existence, and neither of the similar sounding banks named “Union Bank of Australasia” or the “Bank of Victoria” had an account in Thomas Chisholm’s name.

At first the case was heard at the Police Court in Adelaide. Poor Mr Lindrum was laughed at for lending so much money to buy apples, and that it could not be proved that Chisholm had not bought apples. The Police court also heard the matters of the missing notes, the stolen horse and gig and the dishonoured cheque, with the hearing going over a number of days. The lawyer for Mr Chisholm asked for the money found on his client be released for his wife and child, who had no other means of support and were dependent on “Mr Jones’s kindness”. The court rejected the request. Thomas Jones stepped forward promising that “they should not want”. On the 4^th of March Thomas Donkin Chisholm was committed to gaol for Larceny in a dwelling house, until the matter could be seen at the Supreme Court.

The trial went to the Supreme Court in May. In the matter of the missing £5 notes from Thomas Jones dressing table, the case was made that it could have been stolen by any number of people. The bedroom adjoined the breakfast room where other lodgers could have easily taken the money and there were around 8 servants who could have taken the money without anyone noticing. As the money was not found on Mr Chisholm there was no proof that he had taken it, so he was acquitted.

On the charge of stealing a mare, gig and harness from William Rounsevell, he was also acquitted by the Judge. Chisholm’s defence had been that he had travelled to Mt Barker to try and find work in the legal profession. He had not had any luck so travelled on to Strathalbyn to find work there. There was no evidence that he had intended to steal the gig, he had paid for the hire and had simply taken it further than first intended.

In the end, the Jury found Thomas Donkin Chisholm not guilty on the other charges. The judge cautioned him “as to his future conduct”.

When I looked into Thomas Donkin Chisholm it appears that he had been accused and again acquitted of a similar crime of obtaining money by false pretences previously in 1854. He had been living at a hotel in Sydney, conducted himself as a gentleman but when a cheque that he had paid his bill with was presented to the bank the bank said that there was not enough money in the account. When Chisholm was approached he said that he would pay money in from another bank account. The hotel keeper then learned that a number of other people were in the same position, eventually it was taken to court, and one cheque was even to be found to be dated months before the Bank had even opened. Despite this, he was acquitted.

AN UNFORTUNATE PUB CRAWL

On the 26^th of April 1856, Thomas Jones observed three men entering the Blenheim hotel for a drink. One man was a very tipsy Arthur James Adlam, a publican from Kanmantoo.  The second man was Henry Ellis who was less tipsy, and the third was an un-named man with a wooden leg who did not seem to bear a very good character but perhaps this was just a matter of 1850s typecasting. The three men stood at the bar to order drinks.  When the man with the wooden leg borrowed 5s from Adlam, Thomas became suspicious and went to fetch a police officer, thinking that maybe Adlam was being taken advantage of. Adlam tried to pay for his order, but discovered that the Blenheim did not accept cheques at the bar, so pulled out his money to pay.  I can just imagine Adlam, a picture not uncommon in pubs today, tipsy and pulling all of his money out of his pockets. He stuffed his notes into his friend Henry Ellis’ hand to mind as he searched for the correct money. The Blenheim’s bartender James Simpson Stevens noticed Henry Ellis hand over to Adlam a £1 note and stuff the others into his own pocket, joking that maybe he should look after them. Adlam asked for them back and some crumpled notes were handed over. The drunk men finished their drinks and left to go on drinking at the Southern Cross Hotel. The man with the wooden leg went his separate way. At the Southern Cross, Adlam realised he was missing a £20 note, so they returned to the Blenheim to see if it had been given to the bar. A man named Charles Hill accompanied them. Thomas checked his takings but found the highest bill to be £10. The bartender James Simpson Stevens informed Thomas that he suspected that Henry Ellis may have pinched the note earlier. Thomas confronted the man and accused him of the theft. Henry replied that he would be happy to subject himself to a search at the police station. Thomas made the observation that he might lose the note on the way to the police station but as Detective Francis Percy had just walked in, perhaps he would be willing to be searched in the private parlour. When they entered the parlour Stevens (bartender) called out to Thomas, “he has slipped the note onto the sofa!”. Sure enough under Henry Ellis’ hat and stick on the sofa was the £20 folded up into a tiny little square. Henry Ellis said “There now you have got the money – now let it drop. “ For God’s sake give him back the £20, and have done with it; it was only done in a drunken spree. I was not aware I had it on my person till I felt it in my pocket, and I threw it on the sofa. If I had known I had the note on me I should have given it up.”

The Case went to trial, with several witnesses; Thomas Jones, Arthur Adlam, James Simpson Stevens, and Constable Percy. There were also witnesses called testifying to the good character of the accused Henry Ellis.  The jury, in the end, found a verdict of not guilty. However, the judge ordered that “the expenses of the witnesses be paid, except for Adlam. The judge declared he “would never allow the expenses of a drunken prosecutor.”

CLEARING THE TAP ROOM

Late in 1856 just a week after little Robert James JONES was born, Inspector Reid charged Thomas Rowlands Jones with not clearing his tap room at 11pm. When the matter went to the Police Court, Eliza Hart a former barmaid at the Blenheim and E.B. Gleeson a lodger at the hotel testified that the doors were always closed to the public at 11pm and drinks were only sold to lodgers after that time. The benefit of the doubt, this time, was given to Thomas Jones.

JUST A STICK!

On the 23 Nov 1858 a man named Michael Lennon/Leonard was placing a horse and gig in Gilbert’s yard next to the Blenheim hotel. Thomas Jones came out and objected to his placing the horse and gig there. They got into an argument which soon came to blows. When Thomas Williams, publican of the Paradise Hotel saw Thomas punched in the chest, he rolled his sleeves up and shouted “Get out of the way and leave him to me!” .  Michael L. then picked up a stick, so Thomas Williams backed off. Michael, however, chased him and struck him on the arm, and then on the head. Thomas Williams described the stick in court as being a bludgeon but Michael described it as just a moderately sized walking stick. Michael L. was fined 5s by the court because there had been provocation and costs were divided.

View of Adelaide from West end of Hindley Street 1849.
State Library of South Australia B 2268

NEXT BLOG 

My next instalment will be about the Jones family in Kapunda.

1855 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 1 August, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207072162

1855 'WEDNESDAY MARCH 7.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 8 March, p. 3. , viewed 19 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49306137

1855 'LOCAL COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 6 September, p. 2. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49300895

1855 'ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 9 August, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207072474

1856 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS.',South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 21 May, p. 3. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49748217

1856 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS.',Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 1 March, p. 1. (Supplement to the Adelaide Observer), viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161257280

1856 'POLICE COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 3 March, p. 3. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49750554

1856 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 3 March, p. 3. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207089835

1856 'POLICE COURTS.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 8 March, p. 4. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161257414

1856 'GAWLER TOWN RACES.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 29 February, p. 2. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49753054

1856 'DOMESTIC NEWS.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 29 February, p. 2. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207089783

1856 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 1 March, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207089801

1856 'Advertising', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 6 May, p. 1. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207091765

1854 'CENTRAL POLICE COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 30 March, p. 4. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article30939887

Wikipedia contributors, 'John Rounsevell', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 November 2015, 21:01 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Rounsevell&oldid=690025009> [accessed 21 May 2016]

Evan Jones, 'Lindrum, Frederick William (1888–1958)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lindrum-frederick-william-7200/text12453, published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 22 May 2016.

1932 'LINDRUM.', Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), 14 June, p. 6. , viewed 28 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186485253

1856 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 16 May, p. 3. , viewed 29 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207092063

1856 'POLICE COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 29 April, p. 3. , viewed 29 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49749232

1857 'POLICE COURT- ADELAIDE.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 7 January, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207172149

1857 'POLICE COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 7 January, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49768505

1858 'ADELAIDE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 2 December, p. 3. , viewed 28 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49781981

1858 'LOCAL COURT—ADELAIDE.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 2 December, p. 3. , viewed 28 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article786058

1858 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS.',South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 4 December, p. 3. (Supplement to the South Australian Weekly Chronicle.), viewed 28 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88821133

The Jones family part IV: Music, Ice and Pineapples at the Blenheim Hotel

Blenheim Hotel, Adelaide, S.A. Hindley St., 1851.[i]

Borrow Collection, Flinders University Library.

Thank you to Jenny and Kylie for their assistance.

I mentioned in the previous post, that in 1855 Thomas and Theophila Jones had a baby girl. At the time I did not know the baby’s name, but luckily my 4th cousin Nick Haines contacted me with information transcribed from the Jones Family Bible. The baby’s name was Florence Edith JONES[i]. Thanks Nick!

The couple had three more children whilst living in Adelaide. Robert James JONES was born 14 Dec 1856 but sadly died when only two months old[ii]. On the 17th Jan 1858 they had a daughter Emily Agnes JONES, then on the 2 Aug 1859 they had another daughter Caroline Rowlands JONES. So by 1859 they had five surviving children, 4 daughters and one son, and had lost two little sons.[iii]

Under the patronage of Thomas, the Blenheim Hotel became well known for its musical evenings on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They ran a series of weekly excursions to Glenelg and opened billiard rooms. The Blenheim became well known for its lavish functions, wine, and cold drinks.

Ice! Domestic News, Adelaide Times 1856.[iv] 

Ice!

In 1856 the Blenheim began serving chilled and iced drinks. It was even mentioned in a Tasmanian newspaper that T.R. Jones at the Blenheim was serving ice. This made me wonder, how did anyone in South Australia get ice in 1856?

Ice, The Adelaide TImes  [xi]

Most ice in Australia in the 1850’s came from ice harvesting in the U.S.A. The ice was shipped in from Wenham Lake in Massachusetts, [v]., which was at least an 115-day journey by steamship. At Wenham lake, there was a large ice farm where the ice was cut into slabs and shipped all around the world. Wenham “Crystal ice” claimed to have special properties that kept it frozen for longer than other ice and marketed as being very pure and clean. Wenham ice was popular in England, but the need for ice in India and Australia was great. There were huge difficulties in shipping ice half way around the world, the length of the journey, temperatures crossing the equator, and the salt air would all melt the ice.[vi] This made shipping ice to Australia very expensive, and so was quite a luxury. Plant Ice began to be competitive by around 1858[vii] when Melbourne manufacturers The Patent Ice Company began exporting to other Australian colonies, and soon manufactured ice began to dominate the Australian market.

Wenham Ice Harvest.
Thanks to "Welcome to Wenham" http://wenham.essexcountyma.net/[viii]

Disney's Frozen has a musical scene dedicated to Ice Harvesting.

In 1857, the Blenheim really ramped up the luxury by offering not only ice but punch containing pineapple! They also on-sold ice to families and businesses.

Pine Apples,Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858)  [ix] 

I tried to find a recipe for Rhine Wine Punch, and I could find a few variations. It could have been based on the traditional German May Wine punch flavoured with Woodruff, but there are a number of Rhine wine punch recipes containing wine, brandy, tea, and fruit.

Classic Mixology has a May wine Punch
http://classicmixology.com/punches/may_wine_punch/1888
The Flowing Bowl, published in 1892 has a Rhine Wine Punch recipe on pg. 233. The Flowing Bowl

Glenelg

In 1857 Thomas Jones began running catered day trips to Glenelg via paddle steamer, complete with musical entertainment.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Excursion Trip to GLENELG We see by advertisement that Mr Jones, of the Blenheim , Hotel, has announced his first of a series of weekly excursion trips, to start on Sunday morning for the Bay. The route selected offers the greatest variety of objects of interest within the range of a day's excursion from the city, and the fares are so moderate, that no possible objection can be raised on that score. This trip will not only offer the advantage of novelty, but will be a decided improvement on any attempts hitherto made in this colony to cater for outdoor amusement. We may add that a first rate band has been engaged to give additional animation to the proceedings.[x]

Glenelg advertisement[v]

Sketch of the old Glenelg Pier with the Pier Hotel in the background c.1870. 
State Library of South Australia SLSA PRG280/1/44/508

Music

As well as the musical evenings held at the Blenheim in 1858 Thomas played what I think might have been a  Xylophone at the Victoria Theatre to a large crowd.  

“A solo performance by Mr. Jones, of the Blenheim Hotel upon the yElophone, was deservedly encored, but the instrument is scarcely adapted for so large a building.”[xii]

Billiards

The Blenheim Hotel had a Billiard room attached at the back it was large and well lit for the times and held competitive matches. 

There was a fire in the Billiard room at 10pm 24th Feb 1856. It had started in the chimney of the adjoining kitchen, and had spread to the skirtings and walls of the Billiard room. It was discovered early and with community effort, a good water supply and the assistance of two fire engines (the Cornwall and the “small but useful” engine of Mr. Nitchke) the fire was put out without too much damage.[xiii] 

By 1858 Thomas was advertising that he had the “Best billiard room in the Colony.”[xiv]

“SPORTING.-We are informed that a billiard match, for £50 a-side, will be played in Mr. Jones's billiard-room, attached to the Blenheim Hotel, between Mr. A. Lazar and a "crack'' player expected from Melbourne by the Havilah, immediately after the arrival of which vessel the match is to come off. The money has been posted on both sides, and the match will no doubt be one of unusual interest, and prove an exhibition of superior play not often to be seen. We understand that Mr. Jones has just purchased an excellent billiard-table, which will add to the attractions of his already very attractive room, and afford the means of accommodating even a larger number of visitors than at present attend his tables.”[xv]

For my next blog post I will have more on the Jones Family.

[i] Thomas Rowlands Jones Family Bible. Transcribed by Nick Haines in 1980s.
[ii] 1856 'Family Notices', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 15 December, p. 2. , viewed 27 Feb 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49759345
[iii] South Australian Birth Registration transcription. Genealogy SA.
[iv] 1856 'DOMESTIC NEWS.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 16 February, p. 2. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207089431
[v] Ice trade. (2016, April 22). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:37, April 24, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ice_trade&oldid=716491730
[vi] http://www.iceharvestingusa.com/crystalblocks1.html
[vii] Nigel Isaacs, Sydney's first ice, Dictionary of Sydney, 2011, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydneys_first_ice, viewed 24 April 2016
[viii] "Welcome to Wenham" http://wenham.essexcountyma.net/
[ix] 1857 'LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 25 February, p. 2. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207173378
[x] 1857 'LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 19 December, p. 2. , viewed 23 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207126256
[xi] 1857, Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 19 December, p. 1. , viewed 23 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page22713284
[xii] 1858 'No title', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 13 August, p. 3. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article782230
[xiii] 1856 'IMMIGRATION BOARD.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 25 February, p. 3. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49751727
[xiv] 1858 'Classified Advertising', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 9 September, p. 4. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article783138
[xv] 1859 'The Advertiser.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 20 December, p. 2. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1200382