Mornington misadventure 1892

by PAUL DAFFEY

A FEW months ago, the Mornington Football Club took a chance when it held its mid-year ball on a boat on the Yarra River. In the lead-up to the function, dark jokes were made about the poor turn-up at training after the club's previous foray on to water.

On that occasion, more than a century ago, 15 members of the Mornington Football Club died when the fishing boat in which they were travelling capsized off Pelican Reef, a few punt kicks from the Mornington pier. The tragic passengers were returning from the club's match at Mordialloc. All this time later, their deaths continue to inspire sadness and intrigue.

Neil Taylor, the president of the Mornington Historical Society for two decades, presented a paper on " the football disaster", as it is known in the region, on its centenary in 1992. His findings are considered the definitive word on a tragedy that is commemorated with a marble column at the intersection of Main Street and The Esplanade.

In 1892, much of the land off Mornington's main thoroughfares was taken up by farms and orchards. Players also found work as timbercutters and blacksmiths. With a population of 900, Mornington was a village compared to neighbouring Melbourne, which had a population of 500,000, but the club managed to field football teams with enthusiasm and not a little talent.

The main talents were the three Caldwell brothers, sons of the Reverend James Caldwell, minister at the Presbyterian Church. On the weekend of 21 May 1892, James Caldwell returned from Tasmania and William Caldwell returned from his medical studies in Melbourne. The Caldwells were among those who eschewed the regular journey to the football by train or horse and cart, preferring to accept the offer of teammate Charles Hooper, a fisherman with great pride in his boat Process.

Hooper fitted his boat with a racing sail to speed up the journey. The party of 15 arrived at Mordialloc pier in good time, with only club captain Tom Coxhell having succumbed to seasickness. Coxhell emerged from his uneasiness to lead his team to a draw.

After the final siren at 5.30pm, the players dropped in to the Mordialloc Hotel to say hello to the publican, who had owned the Grand Hotel in Mornington for many years. The excursion to the pub gave rise to rumours that the players were drunk when they set out on their return journey. Neil Taylor said such rumours were false. "There is no evidence whatsoever," he said.

Charles Hooper was later reported as ordering a lemonade and sarsparilla. Ten of the 15 were teetotallers. The boat left Mordialloc at 6pm, leaving no time for a drunken spree. The journey home was expected to take at least two hours.

At 9.30pm, the small party waiting on the Mornington pier began to grow anxious. One prominent member of town set out for Mordialloc in his horse and buggy to trace the footballers' steps. By daylight, the entire coast between Frankston and Mornington was being combed, while yachts and fishing boats were checking the waters.

Before long, the upturned hull of Process was found. One body, that of 19-year-old shop assistant Alfred Lawrence, was found with it. Those waiting at Mornington knew to expect the worse when Wanderer, the yacht that towed Process back to shore, made its way towards the pier with its flag at half-mast.

Later that morning, Reverend Caldwell began his morning service despite labouring under the news that three of his sons had died. It came as no surprise when he was forced to abandon the service. The rest of his day was spent walking along the beach.

Much of the town fell into a similar fugue. In an area with 900 people, the loss of 15 of the finest young men was bound to bring devastation that would affect everyone. Little wonder the town became known as Mourningtown.

Neil Taylor said foolishness played no part in the accident, which killed all on board. Charles Hooper was a capable and steady sailor; his boat was simply the victim of sudden squall. It didn't help that the load was too heavy. Neither did it help that few of the footballers could swim. "It was death by misadventure," Taylor said.

The twist of fortune in this tragic tale belonged to captain Tom Coxhell. Having failed to find his sea legs on the way to Mordialloc, Coxhell gave up his spot on the boat to George Milne, a father of four, for the return journey and caught the train. Coxhell went on to live until 1957, when he died at the age of 92.

Years later, Danny Coxhell, a descendant of Tom, would paint the Mornington house of Neil Taylor, presenting an ideal opportunity to build on Taylor's research. Danny Coxhell told Taylor there had never been any mention in the family of drink or undue daring on the boat; the accident was just one of things, not uncommon in its era.

In 2003, the Mornington Football Club is as strong as any in country football. The Bulldogs are to take on arch-rival Edithvale-Aspendale in the Mornington Peninsula league's second semi-final at Dromana tomorrow with stars such as Simon Goosey, the renowned spearhead who last month booted his 100th goal for the eighth consecutive season, and a host of young midfielders.

If the Bulldogs win, they will go through to their seventh grand final in eight years, with only a one-point loss in last year's preliminary final preventing an unbroken run. With such a record, there appears little chance of them finishing all at sea.

Mornington footballers who died when fishing vessel Process sank off Pelican Reef on May 21, 1892

Charles Allchin, 20, architecture student, caught train to Mordialloc and boat after game.

James Caldwell, 21, oldest of athletic brothers.

William Caldwell, 19, medical student, renowned footballer.

Hugh Caldwell, 17, builder's apprentice, coat later found at Sorrento.

William Coles, 23, blacksmith, coat found at Mount Eliza.

John Comber, 31, newly arrived fisherman from Geelong.

James Firth, 17, apprentice wheelwright, strongest and heaviest in team, body found at Mount Eliza.

William Grover, 25, builder, married with child.

William Grover junior, 17, bank clerk.

Charles Hooper, 35, fisherman, married with five children, enthusiastic footballer.

Charles Hooper junior, 13, son of Charles, body found at Rosebud.

John Kenna, 18, telegraph operator, body found between Frankston and Mornington by Thomas Caldwell, brother of tragic Caldwell brothers.

Alfred Lawrence, 19, assistant in father's grocery store, body found in Process.

George Milne, 36, labourer, married with four children, joined Process for return trip.

Charles Williams, 23, carpenter, first game with club, commemorative shield is on family grave at Mornington cemetery.

This article first appeared in The Age on 6 September 2003

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