www.monumentaustralia.org.au
Joseph Mark RichardsPrint Page 
26-January-2014
Photographs supplied by Arthur Garland
The Monument commemorates Joseph Mark Richards who died whilst competing in the ‘Go-as-you-please’ race to
the pinnacle of Mount Wellington on the 15th of September 1903.
HOBART, Sunday. Quite a gloom was cast over the city last night and today when it became known that two sad fatalities had occurred in connection with the go-as-you please to the pinnacle of Mount Wellington, which took place yesterday. When the judges were returning from the pinnacle they came across one of the competitors, Mark Richards, who was lying prostrate on the track just under the organ pipes in an exhausted condition. He was immediately picked up, but after being carried a short distance expired before Constable Gadd's house at the Springs was reached. Later in the evening it was found that another competitor named George Harvey Radford was missing. A search party was immediately organised, which included the Attorney-General, Mr. L. Rodway, and several members of the police force. The party scoured the mountain the whole of the night, but without success. However, shortly before 8 o'clock this morning, Henry Albert Brown, who formed one of the search party, and one of the competitors, found the body of the unfortunate man just off the track, near the Fern Tree, with one foot apparently fast to the fork of a fallen tree. The deceased was lying on his back, as if he had fallen in that position exhausted. Radford was 19 years of age, and the only son of his widowed mother, who resides at New Town.
In connection with the death of Richards, Mr. J. W. Beattie, who was up the mount professionally, came across the deceased, who was then in an unconscious condition. Mr. Beattie at once sent a message to Constable S. C. Gadd at the Springs, who speedily came to the rescue, and improvised a stretcher with the aid of two blueys and saplings, on which Messrs. Beattie, Tapping, Andrews, Gadd, and another placed Richards, who, however, as previously stated, expired about half a mile before the Springs were reached. Richards was 32 years of age, and married. He leaves a widow and one child, who reside at Sandford. Many of the competitors were very thinly clad, and the weather was of an exceedingly rigorous nature. The men were dripping with perspiration when they reached the pinnacle, and the cold was so intense that their clothes were frozen on them. An inquest will be held tomorrow. The promoters of the race had a committee meeting tonight; and ascertained that all the other competitors were accounted for. There were all sorts of wild rumours as to some of the other competitors, but there is nothing to justify the reports.
Examiner (Launceston, Tas.), 21 September 1903.
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the pinnacle of Mount Wellington on the 15th of September 1903.
HOBART, Sunday. Quite a gloom was cast over the city last night and today when it became known that two sad fatalities had occurred in connection with the go-as-you please to the pinnacle of Mount Wellington, which took place yesterday. When the judges were returning from the pinnacle they came across one of the competitors, Mark Richards, who was lying prostrate on the track just under the organ pipes in an exhausted condition. He was immediately picked up, but after being carried a short distance expired before Constable Gadd's house at the Springs was reached. Later in the evening it was found that another competitor named George Harvey Radford was missing. A search party was immediately organised, which included the Attorney-General, Mr. L. Rodway, and several members of the police force. The party scoured the mountain the whole of the night, but without success. However, shortly before 8 o'clock this morning, Henry Albert Brown, who formed one of the search party, and one of the competitors, found the body of the unfortunate man just off the track, near the Fern Tree, with one foot apparently fast to the fork of a fallen tree. The deceased was lying on his back, as if he had fallen in that position exhausted. Radford was 19 years of age, and the only son of his widowed mother, who resides at New Town.
In connection with the death of Richards, Mr. J. W. Beattie, who was up the mount professionally, came across the deceased, who was then in an unconscious condition. Mr. Beattie at once sent a message to Constable S. C. Gadd at the Springs, who speedily came to the rescue, and improvised a stretcher with the aid of two blueys and saplings, on which Messrs. Beattie, Tapping, Andrews, Gadd, and another placed Richards, who, however, as previously stated, expired about half a mile before the Springs were reached. Richards was 32 years of age, and married. He leaves a widow and one child, who reside at Sandford. Many of the competitors were very thinly clad, and the weather was of an exceedingly rigorous nature. The men were dripping with perspiration when they reached the pinnacle, and the cold was so intense that their clothes were frozen on them. An inquest will be held tomorrow. The promoters of the race had a committee meeting tonight; and ascertained that all the other competitors were accounted for. There were all sorts of wild rumours as to some of the other competitors, but there is nothing to justify the reports.
Examiner (Launceston, Tas.), 21 September 1903.
Location
| Address: | Pinnacle Road, Pinnacle Track, above The Springs, Wellington Park, 7054 |
|---|---|
| State: | TAS |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -42.907803 Long: 147.241392 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Tragedy |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 19-September-1903 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 19-September-1903 |
Dedication
Front Inscription
Source: MAThis Cenotaph
Is Erected Near
The Spot Where
Joseph Mark
Richards
Died Whilst
Competing In The
"Go-As-You-Please"
Race To The Pinnacle
19th Sept. 1903
Erected By The
Hobart Walking Club
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au
