Obituaries Australia

We are requested to report the death by drowning of a very respectable young man named Joseph Ashton, who was in the employ of Mr. Laurie, of Rawdon Vale. It appears that Mr. Laurie, on the morning of 24th March, sent his son John Laurie, and Ashton, a distance of about three miles, to mend some fencing that had been washed away by the recent floods. During the day Ashton had occasion to proceed to some other part of the run, on the other side of the river, and upon his return in the afternoon the river had rose, and was again running very strong, from the effects of a thunderstorm higher up. Young Laurie called out to Ashton not to cross; but the poor fellow seemed to think nothing of it, and dashed his horse into the river, when he was immediately swept from his saddle, and carried down the rapid stream. A young woman, Mrs. John Monaghan, and Mr. John Laurie, were the only parties that saw him drowned, and they both state that they could render him no assistance. Diligent search having been made for the recovery of the body by many of the neighbours, headed by senior constable Finlay, of Stroud, it was ultimately found on the 30th, having been washed down a distance of between two and three miles. The body was carried back, and decently buried.