Nicholas Thomas Chappel

• Birth Notes

  In the Parish Baptism registry at Cornwell, his name was spelt as Chapel
  Baptised: 28-Jan-1873 at Trewellard, Cornwell in the parish of Pendeen.
  
  

• Death Notes

  Qld Death Cert No. 1887 / C1869 states that the death of Nicholas Thomas CHAPPELL was registered in country Queensland, in 1887. His father's name was recorded as Nicholas CHAPPELL and his mother's name was recorded as Ann Nixon Richards CHAPPELL (nee Williams).
  
  Qld Death Cert No. for...
  Nicholas Thomas Chappell
  Event date: 19/02/1887
  Event type: Death registration
  Registration details: 1887/C/1869
  Mother: Ann Nixon Richards Williams
  Father/parent: Nicholas Chappell
  
  Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld.), Monday 21 February 1887
  "INSPECTOR MELDRUM informed us last evening that a young fellow, named Thomas Chappell, was drowned on Saturday afternoon whilst trying to cross the Burdekin River at a place three miles below the bridge, known as Hamilton's Crossing. Inspector Meldrum sent out two policemen yesterday morning, but they returned in the evening without finding any trace of his body. Mrs. Reardon, who resides at the crossing on the opposite side of the river to which the horseman entered it, witnessed the whole occurrence, and saw the man carried down the current. A man, supposed to be Kelly, was with Chappell, but as far as Mrs. Reardon could see, rendered the drowned man no assistance ; probably he could not swim himself. It is strange, however, that he did not go round the bridge and give Mrs. Reardon information of the casualty."
  
  Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld.) - Tuesday 22 February 1887
  "THE body of Thomas Cbappel, the young fellow who was drowned in the Burdekin on Saturday afternoon last, was found about three miles below Hamilton's Crossing and brought to the morgue at Charters Towers.
  The man who was with the lad at the time of the occurrence, and whose name is Michael Allen, and not Kelly as stated in yesterday's issue, said he tried to persuade young Cbappel not to attempt to swim the river. Chappel however, ventured to cross, and Allen, being unable to swim, could tender no assistance. An inquest will probably be held on the body."
  
  Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld.), Friday 11 March 1887
  "A second inquiry was then held into the death of Thomas Chappel, who was drowned in the Burdekin River on the 20th February last.
  Constable Callinane deposed : On the 20th February went to the Burdekin to search for the body of Thomas Chappel, who was supected as being drowned there ; did not find the body on that day ; went down again on the following day (21st) and saw the body half a mile below Hamilton's crossing ; the body was in the water fastened to a stump with a fishing line; Michael Allen and George Reardon were with me ; had the body conveyed to the hospital morgue; saw Dr. Mohn examine the body.
  William Gregory deposed: Deceased was my brother-in-law; he was working for Lavery at the Burdekin; saw deceased's body after being brought up in the train; deceased was 18 years of age ; and was a stockman for Lavery ; dont ' know how he came by his death.
  Dr. Mohn deposed: Remember examining the body of a lad on the night of the 21st February at the morgue ; the body was in a decomposed state; considered his death was caused by asphyxia by drowning; could not say about the age of deceased.
  The case was then adjourned."
  
  Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld.), Wednesday 30 March 1887
  "Inquest of Death TUESDAY, 29TH MARCH.
  (Before the P.M. and Michael Miles, Esq.. J .P.)
  THE inquiry into the death of Thomas Chappel, who was drowned in the Burdekin, on the 19th of February last, was resumed.
  Michael Allan, deposed: Am in the employ of Edward Lavery; remember 19th of February ; deceased, a black boy and myself were returning from Bosworth, and were looking for cattle to take with us; when we got to Hamiltons crossing, deceased wanted to cross the river there, but I told him it would be better to go up to the bridge; the lad was about 17 years of age; deceased went to the river on horseback; told deceased not to cross, as the river was too high; deceased said that he would cross; I could not swim; the black boy had gone on to Fanning Downs Station; I went to the river and told the deceased, as he was so determined, I would see him over; told deceased that I could not swim; deceased went into the river and was up to the saddle flaps when he again called to me to come on; tried to persuade him to return; the river was running very strong; deceased would not come back, but again said "l am going over;" when deceased had got 10 yards in the water the horse was then swimming, the horse seemed as if he wanted to come back, but the deceased pulled him to go on; called out to deceased "to let the horse come back, as both he and the horse would get drowned;" the horse then started rearing, and deceased pulled the horse over on his back; the horse then got free and started to swim back again; told deceased to catch the horse's tail; deceased said he would not do so, but would swim to the other side, saying, it was not far; the deceased was being carried down by the current; called to him to make for the side ; deceased was a good swimmer; when I saw him last thought he was only 10 yards from the bank and about 30 or 40 yards from me down the river ; the current was very strong; did not see deceased come again to the surface ; reported the matter to Mr. Naughton at Fanning Downs Station; he and others came down and swam across the river; told Mr. Naughton the place that I saw deceased last when he told me he could not get there as the current was too strong; could not render deceased any assistance as I could not swim; deceased would not do as I told him; he was dead when I next saw him on the Monday following about 4 miles further down the river than where he attempted to cross it; have been away since four days after the accident.
  The inquiry then closed."