This photo is the family of Ellen Jones. (Mother of Gordon Douglas Haig Withnall).
She is the baby in the front.
This photo is clearly taken very soon after the death of her father Enos Jones. He died in an accident on a steamer in Dunedin. Ellen was just six moths old.
The others in the phot are her mother and siblings.
Mother: Ellen Green
Siblings: An older boy and girls whose names I do not know and Hannah and Charles.
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| Ellen May Jones later in life |
Below the photo is an excerpt from the Newspaper about Enos' death. His parents emigrated from England to Canada.
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| Ellen Jones (nee Green) and Children Circa 1885 |
Excerpt from Otago Daily Times 8 January 1885
"An inquest regarding the death of Enos Jones who was killed on board 'Iron Age', on Tuesday morning, was held in the Imperial Hotel, South Dunedin, yesterday, before Dr. Hocker (Coroner) and Jury. George Cook, engineer on board the Iron Age deposed that the deceased entered on his duties as stoker on the 3rd. On the morning of the accident, they spent up to dredge under easy steam and stopped to putts in tow (I have no idea what this means). The vessel had scarcely enough way on and the signal easy ahead was given. While in the act of stoking the engine, witnesses saw the deceased's head under the lever and cried out, " The fireman's underneath the engine!" He immediately shut off steam and the engine, which had just gone half a turn, stopped. On going below, witnesses and the Captain saw the man lying under the beam. He evidently came in by the stock hole, lost his footing and slipped just as the engine was starting. The deceased had no business in the room and had been told to keep out by witnesses on the deck. Richard Hebert, Master of the steamer had somewhat similar evidence. His opinion was that the deceased, being on hand and very willing, had taken advantage of the stoppage of the steamer post himself up (to make himself more knowledgeable) regarding the machinery. He must have been under the lever when the engine started and jammed him under it. Witnesses did not think he could have slipped and fallen under the lever. The accident was no doubt due to his own ignorance. David Pennian, who has been several months a stoker on the Iron Age, deposed that he had never found any danger in acting in that capacity. Helen Jones, wife of the deceased, stated that her husband was 31 years of age, a native of Ratherhan England. He had 5 children. G. M. Barr, engineer to the Otago Harbor Board, was not sworn, but on his opinion, being asked, he stated that the Captain's explanations was probably the correct one, regarding the cause of death. The deceased had a very good character from his previous employer (Mr. Graham) of the corporation Gas Works. The jury, after a verdict of accidental death, remarking that no one was to blame for the accident
Funeral notice: The friends of the late Enos Jones are respectfully invited to attend his funeral, which will be at his residence, Fox St., South Dunedin, today (Thursday) the 8th inst. At 3 o'clock, for the place of internment to the Southern Cemetery. On January 6th, 1885, accidentally killed on board the steamer Iron Age. Deeply regretted, son of Enos and Sara Jones, born in England 1854, 31 years of age."
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