James Whelan
Bluff Pioneer Cemetery Devonport
A man named James Whelan, better known as “Jimmy the cocker,” aged about 70 years, who lived in a hut by himself on the Appledore Estate, has been missing since Wednesday. On Thursday Superintendent Scott and others made a search, but without result. Yesterday a more systematic examination of the locality was made by Constable Nielsen assisted by R. and B. Smith, J. Stack and G Hearps. They went carefully through all the undergrowth and swamps in the neighborhood, where it was likely for the missing man to be, but could discover no trace of him. The Hon John Henry, it may be mentioned, generously provided the necessary refreshment for the search party. Whelan is known to be very feeble, besides suffering from impaired eyesight and it is believed that he has wandered about aimlessly, fallen down exhausted and died in some lonely spot.
The North West Post 20th May 1899
Burial location unconfirmed
A pathetic instance of canine faithfulness has arisen in connection with the discovery of the missing man from Appledore. Every other means having been exhausted in the search, Miss Thomas resolved on Saturday morning to take her dog with a party that was going out, believing that it would in someway be an assistance. After a time Whelan’s dog ran out of the bush to the other animal and just as quickly disappeared. It returned again and again, vanishing each time. The party then followed the dog and at last came up to it standing by the dead body of its master. There the poor brute had been, literally true to death, for three days, without food and in the cold wet nights.
The North West Post 23 May 1899