1876 Johannah Catherine (Queeney) Brannock, parents John & Sarah Elizabeth in HAY, NSW - (Ref- NSW BDM 13088/1876). - she was drowned on the 2nd November, 1904, at "Guys" Crossing in the Tumut River at West Blowering, about 14 miles south of Tumut.
TUMUT. A sad drowning fatality occurred at West Blowering on Wednesday evening last at 7 o'clock Mr John Brannock, aged 22 years (contractor for the mail from Tumut to Yellowin), was attempting, with his sister Queenie, aged 27 years, to cross the Tumut River at a place known as Bridle's crossing. Mr. Charles Guy saw them approaching the river and waived to them to stop till he came down; but they signed back and rode straight into the then swollen stream.
The horses swam out, but the brother and sister were drowned and it is thought it will be some time before their bodies can be recovered.
The deceased ones were living with their mother and two single sisters at West Blowering. Mrs John Higgins is another sister, and their father and a brother and sister are away. The family at one time resided at Booligal. We tender the breaved ones our deepest sympathy.
Yesterday Constables Pye and Donnelly, joined by several residents of Blowering made a search of the river and in the afternoon word was received by telephone that the body of Mr Brannock had been found at what is known as Lambert's Flat, about 2.5 mile from the scene of the accident', in about 10ft of water.
The body of Miss Brannock is still unrecovered. John Brannock was the main support of his mother residing at Blowering. The funeral will take place tomorrow. Mr. W. Himsworth carries out the undertaking arrangements. - (Ref- Adelong and Tumut Express and Tumbarumba Post (NSW : 1900 - 1925)(about) Previous issue Friday 4 November 1904 Page 3).
BROTHER AND SISTER DROWNED. - Sydney, 3rd November.
John Brannock, a mail contractor, and his sister, were drowned at Guy's Crossing. .West Blowering, in the Tumuf district. last night. They were crossing the Tumut River on horseback to attend a dance, and were swept away. Charles Guy. who was some distance behind the Brannocks, heard the screams, but the night was pitch dark, and he could see no one in the water. On gaining the opposite bank, however, he found a riderless horse, and discovered another horse on an island in midstream. The crossing in question is rough and awkward, and .several persons have previously been drowned there. - (Ref- Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918)(about) Previous issue Saturday 5 November 1904 Page 5).
A DROWNING accident occurred last night at Guy's crossing, West Blowering, fifteen miles from Tumut. John Brannock, a mail carrier, aged 24, and his sister, were crossing the Tumut River, which was in flood, on their way to a dance. They were swept from their horses and are believed to be drowned. - (Ref- The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts (Barcaldine, Qld. : 1892 - 1922)(about) Previous issue Monday 7 November 1904 Page 6).
The Late Drowning Fatality at Tumut. —Our correspondent writes : — The Police have so far been unsuccessful in the search for the body of Miss Katherine Brannock, the sad drowning of whom was telegraphed for the last issue of the 'Banner.' Following a wedding at Mr. J. E. Bridle's residence, at Bowler's Flat, on Wednesday last, John James Brannock, aged 22 years, with his sister, aged 25, were crossing the Tumut River, at Guy's Crossing, Blowering to attend a social in the evening. The river, whioh was in a swollen state, due to that day's rain, had risen very quickly and the current rolled fiercely. As to how the accident happened can only be surmised, but from information to hand, Mr and Mrs Charles Guy were also travelling to the social some distance behind the couple.
They heard a woman's scream and the voice of a man, but on arriving at the bank nothing could be seen in the darkness. After a search, one horse was found riderless on an island midstream, and another with a side saddle misplaced, caught on a tree farther down the river. The next day the body of the young man was found about 2 miles below the spot where they entered the water, having caught on a log in shallow water.
A magisterial enquiry, held by Mr. W. J. Shelley, J.P., coroner, returned a verdict of accidental death by drowning. Guy's Crossing is noted for being very rough, deep and treacherous in flood, and necessitates travelling fully 100 yards up stream to reach the right bank. It was near this spot that young Thomas was drowned two years ago. also an Indian hawker and his horse, besides several other people years before. A number of people from Tumut joined a party of farmers and the Police in the search. - (Ref- Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1896 - 1939)(about) Previous issue Friday 11 November 1904 Page 22).
The Late Drowning Fatality at Tumut. — The 'Argus' reports- A large host of people have been busily engaged searching for the body of Miss Brannock ever since the fatal catastrophe happened by which she and her brother lost their lives by drowning in the Tumut River, at Higgin's Long Crossing, near Yellowin, on Wednesday night, 2nd inst.
On Sunday last and following Wednesday afternoon a large number of towns people joined the indefatigable Blowering and Yellowin searchers it being computed that there must have been about 200 people engaged in the search on the latter afternoon The errand proved a fruitless one, however, up till Friday afternoon last, when between 1 and 2 o'clock Mr. John Higgins, with a hook attached to a stick which he had been using ever since the discovery of the catastrophe, managed to grip the clothes attached to poor Miss Brannock's body, which had become entangled under the branches of a willow, a short distance from the bank and covered by about four feet of water. Mr. Higgins was following up a systematic search for all possible places and had climbed out on the willow to effectually examine all round it.
Mr. Wilkinson's telephone, which has proved a great convenience in keeping people posted up with progress made in the search, was quickly availed of to let anxious inquirers in town know of the discovery. The body was taken to a place of safety in the river, and left there properly secured until it was possible to obtain a coffin, which Mr. Himsworth expeditiously forwarded.
As a magisterial enquiry was held by Mr. W. J. Shelley into the circumstances of the death of the brother, after the body was found and as the sister's case was exactly similar to his, further inquiry was deemed unnecessary and an order for interment was given. - (Ref- Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1896 - 1939)(about) Previous issue Friday 18 November 1904 Page 22).
The sum of £54 Os 9d has been raised by subscription for the mother and family of John and Katherine Brannock, who were drowned in the Tumut River on November 2. - (Ref- Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907)(about) Previous issue Wednesday 30 November 1904).