The Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 - 1954)(about) |
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Wednesday 16 April 1913
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Death of an Old Identity.
communicated]
Another old Braidwood district identity has gone tbe way of all flesh. On Monday, 31st March, at the age of 79, there passed away at tbe residence of his son, Angus, at Cattai, in tbe Hawkesbory district, Donald McDonald, a name widely known and justly honoured in every place it was his lot to
sojourn. Deceased was a native of Glengarry, Canada; and .Ralph Ootnor, the Canadian author, has depicted with marvellous power the character .Of the stock from whom he sprung. His family were well oonnected and highly honoured in their American home, and the history of Canada is well marked with the deeds and aspirations of his kin from the early days of the Hudson Bay Company
right down to cne present tune. The marvellous tales of wealth so easily acquired on the gold fields of California en ticed him at an early age to leave home and kindred, and many and rare were the tales he recounted of the life and dangers of the early Oalifornian days. Australia at this .time was almost a terra incognito to the average American, and only
for the bugbear of 'Botany Bay' for inoor rigible boys would perhaps have boon almost nonexistent. But the discovery of gold by Hargreaves and the marvellous tales of prodigious wealth to1 be had for the seeking soon spread across the Pacific, aod into every bole and cornrr of the world, and its echoes were heard amongst the hills of California by tbe hardy young Canadian and his mates, and tbe tempting bait was too much for resistance, and the Paciflc was faoed on board a brig, which now would seem hazardous and dangerous for a short coastal journey. Arriving at Sydney he secured employ ment for a few month; and then began hit mining life. Tbe fields of the north and west were first tried; and later Victorian fields were assayed, chiefly the Ovens and
Yacendandah, until the discovery of gold in the Braidwood district. Little River, and Araluen, and Bell's Creek were the scenes of his mining ventures here, and the deep cut ting of the granite bar at Bell's Creek will for ever stand as a monument of his mining prowess. With the decline of mining he engaged in the timber industry, first as manager for Mr. Tippet at Reidsdale, and afterwards as proprietor at the same place. Then followed a sojourn at Mogo, in the Moraya district still in the timber line, until failing health caused his retirement and he came to live with his daughter (Mrs Lynn Shepherd) on the haunts where be had spent his previous years. The vigour of the climate decided him to move to a more congenial home, and for the last 18 months of his life he lived with his son, as stated above. Deceased was a man of immense personal strength, as honest as he sun, and upright in all his dealings, taking deep interest in all manly sport and pastimes. and was a keen
politician. During the great floods of 1860 on the Little River his brawry was the means of saving several lives, and no danger deterred him or no call was unheeded in the cause of humanity. His family, all born in the district consisted of Malcolm (Woodbun) Angus (Cattai), Annie (Mrs Lynn Shepherd of Braidwood), Donald, Denis, and Alexander of Sydney, and Michael, of Forbes. His wife predeceased him by 12 years, and her remains were interred at Mogo. The funeral cortege was numerously at tended, and his remains were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery in the historic town of Windsor, the burial service being read by the Rev Ft. McDonnell, and the funeral arrangements carried out by J. Chandler, of Windsor