Ernest McDonald

Ernest McDonald was a young man who drowned in a Redan quarry.

History
McDonald was drowned in one of the Redan quarries on 13 February 1901: "BALLARAT. FOUND DROWNED. Ernest M'Donald, aged 21, a resident of Cobden-street (now called Bell Street), Redan, was found drowned on Thursday in Ryan's quarry hole, Pleasant street. Deceased left home on Wednesday night for the purpose of going to Lake Wendouree to fish, taking with him a rod and line. As he had not returned home at a late hour an alarm was raised, and at midnight the rod was found near the brink of the quarry hole, while at daylight the body of M'Donald was discovered in the water. It is thought that in taking a short cut by the hole to the lake his foot struck a boulder, and, falling over the bank, he was drowned while in an unconscious condition. Deceased was employed at the woollen mills." "DROWNING FATALITY AT REDAN. A YOUNG MAN’S SAD FATE. VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH. A somewhat mysterious drowning fatality occurred on Wednesday night in Redan, the victim being a young man named Ernest M‘Douald, aged 21 years. It appears that M'Donald, who resides at Cobden street, Redan, with his widowed mother, came home at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday from his work at the Woollen Mills, where he was employed in the drying department. He said that he was going up to the lake fishing, and taking his rod and bait, left the house. He had not returned at 9 o’clock and his mother be coming anxious, sent his brother to a neighbour named Patrick Donnelly, who went put to search for him, which he did up to 2 o’clock yesterday morning with out avail. Donnelly reported the man to the police as missing, and then went out again to look for him, and this time found his rod and hat lying on the bank of a quarryhole in Pleasant street. He in formed Constable Hooley, and together with that officer and Messrs Joseph Harvey and J. Cremmins, proceeded again to the hole. Constable Hooley worked round the banks of the hole, while the three men sounded the centre. The work was not by any means pleasant, as the hole is a receptacle for dead dogs, cats, fowls, and all kinds of debris. Alter dragging for about two hours, Hooley recovered the body of McDonald in about five feet of water. The body was quite stiff and cold, and the man had evidently been dead some hours. It was removed to the residence of his mother, and the occurrence reported to Mr W. Dickson, P.M., who ordered a magisterial enquiry. It appears that deceased was a very temperate man, and it is thought while fishing for perch, which are said to be plentiful in the hole, he fell in, and was drowned, as he was unable to swim, and the banks are exceedingly steep."

"THE INQUEST. Last night a magisterial enquiry was held at the Redan police station by Mr R. M. Sergeant, J.P. Evidence was given by Mrs Jane M'Donald, a widow, mother of deceased, who stated that she last saw him alive at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday, and he then said he was going fishing at the lake. He was in perfect health, and not subject to fits. The quarry was in the line in which he would be travelling for home. William M'Donald a brother of deceased, stated that his brother had no troubles. There were no marks of violence on the body. His watch was in his pocket, and it had stopped at a few minutes after eight. The quarry was a very dangerous one; there was a narrow track between the fence on a residence area occupied by Mr Mason and the quarry, which was ten or twelve feet below. There were five or six feet of water in the place, and it was possible that deceased was travelling along this track and fell into the water. Patrick Donnelly stated that he had been called by Richard M'Donald to go and search for his brother. Witness went to the lake, and searched for some time, but without result. Yesterday morning witness went to the quarries, and at about 6.45 found the rod and hat in the hole. The rod was standing up in amongst some rocks, and was baited. The hat was floating in the water. Witness searched for the body without success, and then the matter was reported to the police. Constable Hooley subsequently found the body. Deceased was a healthy and temperate man, and not likely to do himself injury. Joseph Harvey gave corroborative evidence. A verdict was returned that deceased met his death by drowning, but that there was no evidence to show how he got into the water."