The Phelan family gravestone in Hokitika Cemetery tells its own story. Ellen suffered through the deaths of four children between 1874 and 1878. In 1878 she was admitted to the asylum.
RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT
Assault. — John Phelan was charged by his wife, Ellen Phelan, with having assaulted her by kicking her. She asked that he might be bound over to keep the peace toward her. There was no evidence to sustain the charge beyond that of the complainant, his Worship declining to take the evidence of a girl, their child. The husband stated that his wife suffered from delusions. After cautioning the defendant as to his conduct in future, his Worship dismissed the case. -Kumara Times, 30/5/1878.
John had been convicted of assaulting Ellen three weeks prior to the above.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE SLUDGE CHANNEL.
- — — WfM [kumara times, july 6.] Jr
After a comparatively long immunity from any fatal mining accidents on this goldfield, it is now our painful duty to record one which occurred yesterday afternoon, at Mr Matter's new shaft at Larrikins, in connection with the construction of what is known as the Kumara sludge channel, by which the lives of two men well known in this district have been lost. The "shift" of miners, consisting of Denis Phelan, John Phelan, James Phelan, Philip Cummins, and Henry Brown, descended at the usual hour, four o'clock yesterday afternoon, and at once proceeded to commence work. From what is known at the present time, some of the men when the accident occurred were in the longer drive 44 feet, and some in the shorter one on the opposite side of the shaft, which is driven about eight feet. In the long drive a false set was left in ready for the main set to go up by the shift these men relieved, and it is conjectured that this set must either have been displaced or broken, as within a few minutes after the men commenced work, the whole of the 44 feet drive and about 15 feet of the shaft suddenly collapsed. Mr Maher, the contractor, who fortunately happened to be present, immediately gave the alarm, and hundreds of willing miners at one responded to the call of assistance to their fellow men. On a man being lowered down into the shaft by the cage, which being at the poppetheads at the time was intact, it was found that the shaft, which was originally 130 feet deep, was filled up with gravel for nearly 40 feet, but the voices of some of the imprisoned men could be distinctly heard, who, on inquiry proved to be James Phelan, Cummins, and Brown. The other two brothers, Denis and John Phelan, could neither be heard nor accounted for by their imprisoned mates. Meanwhile Mr Maher had requested the crowd of miners present to decide on some definite plan by which the rescue of the unfortunate men should be attempted, as the suggestions were numerous on all sides. This was at once carried into effect, and a couple of good practical miners soon had a large number of men organised into shifts of two hours each. On an examination of the shaft it was considered necessary to batten it from the top as far down as possible, so that it might hang in case another run took place when the ground was removed below. This was at once commenced, and when finished the work of removing the stuff beneath was proceeded with. Shortly before 10 o'clock the men in the shaft were most agreeably surprised to see Brown, one of the five men imprisoned, come out from among the debris, he having effected his escape so far by crawling up between the crossed timbers, and gaining on the run, as it were, step by step. He was immediately sent up, and, beyond the fright, appeared none the worse for the accident, as he at once disappeared, and thereby avoided all the numerous inquiries he would have had otherwise to encounter. It was then ascertained that the remaining two men, although in close proximity to Brown's place of confinement, were separated from him by timber and debris. Steadily all through the bitter cold night the work of release progressed. About half-past 8 this morning it was reported by those in the shaft that one of the men would be sent to the surface very shortly; and medical assistance was immediately sent for in case it should be required, as the imprisoned men were known to be very weak and slightly injured. Drs Acheson, Clarke, and Keiran were soon on the ground, but it was 11.45 before the cradle appeared at the head of the shaft with James Phelan, supported by one of the working party. Although greatly disfigured by the gravel, and in a very weak state, Phelan did not appear to have sustained any serious bodily injury. Stretchers and mattresses being in readiness, he was at once placed on one and removed to the Kumara Hospital. After the release of Phelan the working party at once commenced to extricate Cummins; who was held down by three cap-pieces, which required to be sawn before his removal could be effected. But although held down, Cummins was in no way daunted, as he worked most energetically in attempting to free himself by removing the gravel within his reach. Shortly after three o'clock Cummins was released, but it was at once seen he was very badly injured about the feet, both of which are severely crushed.
The deceased men, John and Denis Phelan, were natives of Ireland, both being married men, the former leaving a wife and five children, and the latter a wife and three children, to mourn the loss of their bread-winners. By a strange conglomeration of circumstances, of the five men who composed the shift that went below yesterday afternoon, four went down for the first time, Denis Phelan only having been in Mr Mailer's employ previously.
At the present time, although it cannot be definitely ascertained what caused the accident, there appears to be not the least blame attributable to the contractor, as it is unanimously admitted that Mr Maher let no expense stand in his way in ensuring the lives of those engaged in his employment, by every means in his power. The bodies of the two deceased men will in all probability be some days before they are recovered, as the work is of the most dangerous nature, and requires the greatest care to be exercised by those engaged in their extrication. -Grey River Argus, 8/7/1880.
In the 19th century, treatment for the mentally ill was sparse to non-existent. Mental illness was thought to be heritable and many patients were ignored or forgotten. I have no idea whether Ellen's family visited her. She died after 42 years in Hokitika's Seaview mental hospital.
DEATHS
PHELAN — At Hokitika on Jan. 17th. 1920, Ellen Phelan, native of Eppin, Victoria; aged 73 years. R.I.P. -Hokitika Guardian, 19/1/1920.
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