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LOECHER/ LOCKNER Albert – d 14 Jan 1895, age unknown, buried at Bummers Creek on a flat about 1 mile from the road between ‘Chain of Waterholes’ and Waiti Kauri, about 30 miles North East of Leonora, grave marked by a gold panning dish with inscription by punching holes in the metal,  died in the bush 14 Jan 1895

A prospector who died of thirst within 2 ½  miles of a chain of water holes, making the tragedy particularly distressing. Norman K Sligo was called in reference to the Mount Malcolm suicide and stated that the bearer of a letter to the police was from Errol, the mate of the deceased, Albert Lockner. He desired it to be known that Errol spared no effort either to find Lockner. Sligo delivered the message he carried to the local Sergeant having met him at the donkey rocks about 120 miles from Coolgardie.

Sligo said that there was not the slightest doubt, but that the case was one of suicide. This was the conclusion arrived at by Messrs, Robert Harriet and Paul Dixon, who assisted in the burial of the deceased. The rumour of murder was set about by those anxious despair, the dead man's reputation. Although why a man should be blamed for taking his own life when mad with thirst, they did not know. But they forgot the effects such as statements might leave upon the living.

RYAN John – d about 10 Nov 1898, 28yrs, 5 miles from Bummers Creek on the side of a rocky range and breakaway, buried 26 Nov 1898 by Johh Murdoch near Malcolm at Bummers Creek, Witnesses: Frederick TRAIFFO and Fred PAVY, Born: 1870 in Kokitika, New Zealand, Father: John Ryan, Cause: Perished in the bush for want of water, Reg 1498/1898.

West Australian 29 November 1898, page 5

DEATH IN THE BUSH - A MINER'S FATE.

Constable Pearce and a native tracker returned on Friday night, having discovered the dead body of a miner named John Ryan, who was reported last week to have been lost near the Black Chief. As will be remembered, Constable Pearce, accompanied by a native tracker, went out immediately after the matter was reported to the police, but they returned unsuccessful. On Wednesday last, one of the missing man's mates came into Malcolm and reported that he and some other prospectors in the locality had continued the search and had succeeded in finding tracks, where Ryan had drawn a broad arrow, showing the direction in which he was travelling, attaching his name and the date.

On the following morning Constable Pearce and the tracker were sent out to complete the search, and they discovered Ryan dead. The tracks alluded to are within a very short distance of the missing man's camp and the theory arrived at is that at the time he drew the broad arrow he had been travelling a considerable number of hours in a circle, and the weather being very hot he was just on the verge of delirium. Dr. Healey went out Saturday and held an inquiry.