Black painted wooden frame contains pencil drawn picture entitled "RUSSIAN JACK Barrowmen 1892 & 1893 / B. Head 22/2/66". Russian Jack features in Spencer-Compton's The Barrowmen of the West Australian Outback: "[He was] a strong man of giant frame and possessed of almost uniform good humour. His name was soon a famous one right throughout the whole Kimberley region, because of his success and prowess with an unique and indeed primitive form of transport. On one occasion he overtook two older diggers, both thoroughly "done up" and famished; with a thirty mile dry stage ahead. They had no strength left to carry the swags (with all their worldly possessions rolled within); and practically no will left to continue the struggle. Jack solved the problems by piling the two lots of stuff on top of his own on his barrow and plodding on to the next water-hole - the weak and weary ones following after. On another occasion there was a sick man by the wayside, exhausted beyond all hope unless he got to water and a chance there to rest and recuperate. Again the gear was loaded on the big barrow AND the sick man as well; Jack wheeled the big load to the water - and safety for his passenger. Russian Jack was known later on other goldfields in Western Australia - always with the same qualifications of great strength and good humour under the rough exterior; and a frequent extension of the strong helping hand for men in need." There is a photograph of Russian Jack; this drawing is obviously taken from it. This item was found in Egan Street, along with many others, packed and brought to Perth to be accessioned by PGB in 1989. It was previously accessioned by Tim Hobson as GMM 153 and was not considered suitable for the collection in 1974.
Department:
History DepartmentCollection
History Collection
Collection Item Data
| Accession Number: | H1990.197 |
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| Accession Date: | 17 May 1990 |
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Material
| Wood/Wood | Paper, glass, wood
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Measurement
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