["Accident at Wallaroo", The South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA), Monday 25 August 1884, page 6]
ACCIDENT AT WALLAROO.
[By Telegraph.]
Wallaroo, August 24.
A serious accident happened here last night about 9 o'clock to Captain Osborne, of the barque Verulam, through falling off the new jetty near the shore end on to the rocks. Three of his ribs were broken and his breast bone was injured. Captain Osborne had been on board his vessel seeing everything right before going home, and when he landed on the jetty it was very dark. He was walking on the west side of the jetty, and was keeping a light on shore in view. Within a hundred yards of shore the jetty suddenly curves to the left, but no guardrail or any protection is placed, and Captain Odborne walked over, falling some 12 or 14 feet on to the rocks. He was so much hurt that he had no strength to call for help, and consequently lay through a heavy shower of rain for nearly an hour, when his groans attracted the attention of two sailors on a vessel at the jetty. He was conveyed home and attended by Dr. Gosse. It will be a week before the captain is able to sit up. The Government are greatly to blame for having such a structure without a guardrail or lights. The Marine Board have been frequently asked to have lights placed on the jetty, but have refused, doubtless on the grounds that the Wallaroo jetties are under the control of the Railways Department. Not long since a gentleman walked over the old jetty in the same way, but on that occasion he fell into the water. Great sympathy is felt for Captain Osborne.
