John Madden

J. B. Henderson, 'Eureka Stockade Riot, Ballarat, 1854'. Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales (SSV2B/Ball/7)

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

THE EUREKA STOCKADE,

INTERESTING REMINISCENCES.

Mr. W. G. Madden writes as under:

As the Eureka Stockade Jubilee is now attracting a good deal of attention, I would draw your attention to the fact that Geelong is represented at the celebrations in Ballarat by Mr. Henry James, aged 78, of Geelong, an old Stockader. He found things a "bit slow" at the sports there on Saturday, and created some diversion by singing "The Death of Nelson." My father, Mr. John Madden, of the Geelong railway, is also in Ballarat at present, being granted a free pass by the Government. His father, Wm. Madden, arrived in Victoria in the ship Mangertun in 1852, and was living with his family at the Black Hills, near Ballarat; for about two years previous to the riot. He and his two mates. Patsy Gettings and John Hines (both of whom were, afterwards killed by his side during the fight) had two rich claims on the Eureka Lead. On the Saturday night they went into the Stockade, and next morning (Sunday), they were attack ed, the soldiers attacking in the front, and the mounted police at the rear. Wm. Madden cut his way out through the ranks of the police, and escaped to the bush, where a trooper followed, and with drawn sword called upon him to surrender. He said, "No, I won't surrender; get you away to the right, or left before I fire," with that bringing his gun to his shoulder. The trooper wheeled round and galloped of.

We have our grandfather's gun now. On reaching his house he told his sons, John and James, of what had occurred, and they went and inspected the Stockade, and saw the blacksmith, who made the pikes, and a Portuguese, who used to sell sherbet, etc., lying dead. Mr. Madden senr's shipmate, Luke Sheehan, was wounded, and was afterwards sentenced to be shot. Mr. John Madden re members seeing the stone thrown by Mr. Gullan, and the burning of the hotel. He took a ball away from the skittle alley, but had it taken away from him by a man to throw at some one. He is now living a good time in Ballarat, where he has met several shipmates whom he had not seen for nigh 50 years.

Obituary

John Madden, aged 70, of Ballarat East, was killed at the Madame Berry Company by a fall of earth yesterday. A year ago a son of the deceased was killed in the Sulieman Pasha mine. Madden, in 1851 [sic], fought with the insurgents at the Eureka Stockade.

FATAL MINING ACCIDENT. ALLENDALE, Wednesday. A miner named John Madden was killed by a fall of earth in the Madame Berry No. 1 shaft at a quarter past 6 o'clock this morning. It appears he had occasion to stow a quantity of reef, and finding one of the " dogs" in the way, he took his pick and removed it, when two sets of timber came down with a crash. His body was recovered in about an hour. The deceased, who was close on 70 years of age, has worked in the mine for nine and a half years, and his home is in Eureka street, Ballarat East. Constable Ferguson has removed the body to the Durham Ox Hotel pending an inquest. Later. A magisterial inquiry was held this afternoon by Mr. D. M'Grath; J.P. Evidence was given by deceased's mate, John Andrews, bearing out the statement made that the cause of the accident was due to deceased having released the dog. Charles Setwart, mining inspector ; Joshua Peart, and Patrick Hegarty, tendered evidence of an unimportant nature. The magisterial finding was that deceased met his death accidentally by a fall of earth.

Further Reading

Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.

External links

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Caption, Reference.