Kith and Kin

So many stories of ancestors and relatives are mentioned in the newspapers of the past. During April 2020 for the A - Z blog challenge, I am listing the types of stories or information I have found in newspapers with examples for each letter of the alphabet. My clippings include a variety of articles about relatives of my children's ancestors.

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 Perhaps one might find a Knighthood in an awards list or a shocking Kidnapping retold in the news. My story is about the Kindness of Kin in sad circumstances.

Edward John Payne was an elder brother of Grace Walmsley Payne; she was a gt-grandmother of my children.  He was born in Queensland in 1889 while his father pursued the glimmer of gold. He was the third child in the family, Florence was born in New Zealand then Natalia in WA. Wanderlust brought the family back to Ballarat in Victoria where his father returned to study at the School of Mines.  Norman was born in 1892 followed by Grace in 1893. By 1902 when Francis Leo was born, it appears that most of the family were living in Adelaide. 

By 1915 Edward, known as Ted, was prominent in musical circles in Adelaide with several mentions of his fine voice in newspaper reports. In June 1915 he made an appearance at the St Patricks Literary Society presenting an impromptu speech on "The Influence of Music in Adelaide," (1) He went on to become an active member of that society through 1916 and 17. He was a leading member of the choir of St Laurence's Catholic Church at North Adelaide. It is likely that it was through these circles that he met Kathleen Hourigan whose father Frank was also in the choir. Edward and Kathleen married in 1917 but ill health beset him in his early 40s and he died in 1934.

1934 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 24 January, p. 14. ,
 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36472773

He and his wife Kathleen had borne three children and it was their young son David who took on the burden of trying to provide for the family with a job as an apprentice at General Motors Holden.

One year later tragedy struck

1935 'TWO DEAD IN KIRKCALDY CROSSING SMASH',
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 27 February, p. 19. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37269719

TWO DEAD IN KIRKCALDY CROSSING SMASH
Third Victim In Hospital
CAR CRUSHED BY ENGINE
Frantic Warning Too Late
Two persons, a man and a youth, were fatally injured, and a woman seriously injured, in a shocking level-crossing smash at Kirkcaldy at 5.45 p.m. yesterday.
The victims were:— DEAD David John Payne. 15. apprentice, only son of Mrs. Kathleen Payne, widow, of Hughes street. Woodville; John Arthur Kearns. 32. saw doctor, of Coombe road. Allenby Gardens. INJURED Mrs. Christina Doreen Keams. 31. fractured skull, gashed leg. and shock, in hospital, condition serious. Although the crossing gong was ringing, and the locomotive bell and whistle were sounded, Kearns, who was driving the car along Kirkcaldy road towards the beach, apparently was not aware of the approach of the train until the car was only about 15 feet from the line. He was then warned by the frantic waving of a cyclist, Harold Rogers, bowling green employe, of Surrey street, Kirkcaldy. and was seen to make a desperate effort to swing the car clear of the line.  

Manoeuvre Too Late 
The manoeuvre was too late, however, and the buffer of the locomotive (which was travelling bunker first) struck the bonnet of the car. The car was then caught against the step of the engine and carried 40 yards before it was jammed into an almost unrecognisable mass against the Kirkcaldy station platform. After the car had been squeezed between the train and the platform for 10 yards, the train came to a stop. The victims were found lying close together clear of the line on the left side of the first carriage. Mrs. Keams. who was conscious when picked up, was thrown under the platform about two yards from the line.
Payne, who was killed instantly, and Kearns, who died three hours later, were lying just clear of the train wheels, between the line and the platform. Wire-netting on the opposite side of the platform had to be torn away to enable the station agent (Mr. K. O'Brien) and Messrs. H. Rogers and C. Smith, of Seaview road. Kirkcaldy. to carry Mrs. Kearns from under the platform. She was able to give the names of the victims, and to say—"We did not notice the train coming." She and her husband, who was semi-conscious, were lifted on to the platform. and after treatment by Dr. Peters, of Grange, were hurried in a railways ambulance to the Adelaide Hospital Kearns died at 9 p.m. of injuries to the head and chest. Payne's body was taken from Kirkcaldy to the City Morgue.
Mrs. Payne, whose husband died only about 12 months ago, was notified by the Woodville police of her son's death. Kearns was formerly a prominent footballer, playing in the league for West Adelaide for some years. More recently, he played for Underdale. Kearns and Payne were employed by General Motors-Holdens.  

Waved A Warning 

"When the driver of the car saw me waving, I saw him pull desperately at the wheel trying to turn the car clear," said Mr. Rogers. "Only another few yards would have enabled him to do so. The step of the engine seemed to act as a claw, holding the bent car for about 40 yards until it was crushed against the platform. It seemed to me that the brakes of the train were applied about the same time as, or just before. the impact. Their screeching and the grinding against the platform could be heard half a. mile away." Mr. Rogers said that he was cycling along Kirkcaldy road, towards the beach, with his two-year-old daughter on the front of the bicycle, and his son, Howard, aged four, on the rear carrier.
 "About 50 yards before I reached the crossing, I heard the gong sounding,"' he added. "Near the line I saw the train approaching some hundred yards or so away. I turned across the road and stopped with my back to the crossing, about five yards from the line. It was then that first I noticed the approach of the car. It did not occur to me at first that it was not going to stop."
Rupert Victor Byrne, with Robert George Lane as fireman, was driving the train of six carriages from the city; it was due at Kirkcaldy at 5.46 p.m.. Constables Chilman and Tilka, of Henley Beach, took charge immediately after the crash. Bystanders assisted in gathering up the fragments of the car, which were stacked at the side of the line.

The coroner decided there was no need for an inquest, but the head of the Safety Council recommended that gates or wig-wag signals be installed on the crossing to prevent further accidents.
David was buried alongside his father just 13 months after his father's death.

Kindness

How sad for this family but kith and kin gathered to help.

1935 'Concert to Aid Bereaved Family',
News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), 1 April, p. 3. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128823795

One hopes the concert brought some comfort to the stricken family along with much needed funds.
Kathleen Payne, wife of Ted and mother of Imelda, David and Grace died in 1974.

1.1915 'LITERARY SOCIETIES.', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 25 June, p. 7. , viewed 13 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166426298

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin