Brunner Disaster funeral in progress, at Stillwater cemetery in 1896.

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DescriptionI decided to get my magnifying glass out again and have another look at this well-known image by James Ring of the Brunner Disaster funeral in progress, at Stillwater cemetery in 1896, which was attended by over 4000 people at the time.

They are standing around the edge of the mass grave as the coffins are carried down and placed in it for burial. What are the chances I would find my great grandma?
Not much, I thought. But I always wondered if this woman near the front corner, really one of the clearest captures of any of the women in the shot, could be her, Elizabeth Barnett (at the time Teward, nee Young).
But until a few weeks ago, I simply didn’t have enough photographic evidence for comparison having just one portrait of her in her late 30s.
However now I do, and armed with a photo of her at 18 years old as well, yes, I am now convinced it is her. It even looks like she is wearing the same black dress from her wedding photo 6 years previously.
One thing that hasn’t changed is poor manners and you’d think that big galoot standing right in her way and blocking her view would have let a poor grieving widow step in front of him to see her husband (John Teward) laid to rest. SMH. Whomever you are sir, you’re an absolute cad.
Original image courtesy of NZ Archives, ref PC4 12 96/9.PhotographerJames RingMap^[1]ContributorDarian Zam

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)StillwaterOrganisation (eg business)Stillwater cemetery

Category Information

Category TagCemetery

From Facebook

Date Created28th December 2024CommentsBarbara Macilquham
Brian descends from the Roberts family who lost 4 family members I think

David Howe
It is possible that he may have been watching his son or brother being interred Heather. Hard to say, but i think there may have been a reason for him to be standing there.

Rob Lunn
In modern times it would be incomprehensible to loose that many men and boys from the same district in the one hit The said cad looks like a miner of the period and could have even been part of the recovery effort who knows in the cumulative grief of the time manners may have been overlooked

Jennifer Pope
Two family members died in this disaster and are head to head in the grave … both as protectors.

Tania Wilmott
Does anyone know where the Deniston Mine and Waiuta Cemeteries are please?

Anne Honey
I wrote a paper about the disaster and was appalled at the compensation paid to women to raise their children.

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Brunner Disaster funeral in progress, at Stillwater cemetery in 1896.

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