0
Cooper Creek (sometimes written as "Cooper's Creek") is the home of the Dig Tree, a large, old coolibah. It marks the site of one of Australia's most tragic stories of miscommunication resulting in death.
Burke and Wills were two explorers who, with a huge party of men and supplies, departed Melbourne in August 1860 to cross Australia to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north and back again. Burke was an impatient leader who was keen to cross the continent quickly, so he made several bad decisions. One was his decision to leave part of his party first at Menindee, then again more of the party at a depot at Cooper Creek. Burke then raced ahead in the heat of mid-summer to cross to the Gulf and back again, with just Wills, his second-in-command, and two other men, Gray and King.
The men who were left at Cooper Creek were to return to Menindee if Burke's small party did not return in three months. Travelling to the Gulf and back took over four months, and along the way Gray died. The men spent a full day burying Gray's body. When Burke returned to Cooper Creek, he discovered a message carved on a large coolibah tree at the depot. The tree became known as the "Dig Tree" because the message gave instructions to dig for the supplies the other men.
Burke made another mistake when he left the Dig tree to try to reach the police station at Mt Hopeless, 240km away. he did not leave any reply message he had seen the first message on the Dig tree, so when a rescue party returned to Cooper Creek, they found no sign that anyone from Burke's small party had been there. Through a series of misundertsandings and lack of communication, no rescue party ever reached Burke and Wills. King was saved by local Aborigines, and it was he who relayed what had happened to the other three men.
In September 1861, the cache beneath the Dig tree, was dug up, and only then was found the evidence that Burke and Wills had been there, had eaten the rations, and had headed for Mt hopeless. Had the cache been dug up earlier, Burke and Wills' movements could have been tracked and the tragedy avoided.
What else can I help you with?
When was The Judas Tree - Jonathan Creek - created?
The Judas Tree - Jonathan Creek - was created on 2010-04-04.
Tell me about maple trees in Ohio?
Well there is a well known maple tree in Ohio which is the red maple tree which can be found in woodland areas and along creek sides
Where does a willow tree grow best?
By a pond or creek
Was Katie Holmes on One Tree Hill?
No she was on Dawson's Creek.
What is the tree that Japan is famous for?
The Sakura tree or the Cherry Blossom is the tree that Japan is famous for.
How does one decorate a Western Christmas Tree?
To decorate a western Christmas tree, a person would have to use western themed decorations such as spurs or cowboy hats. Lots of ideas for decorations can be found on Cactus Creek Daily. There is also useful guide on wikiHow about how to decorate a western Christmas tree.
In 'On the Banks of Plum Creek' is the Christmas tree decorated with candles or presents?
presents,,,
What are the ratings and certificates for Jonathan Creek - 1997 The Judas Tree 4-8?
Jonathan Creek - 1997 The Judas Tree 4-8 is rated/received certificates of: Australia:M UK:15 (video rating) (2010)
Who found the petrified forest in Arizona?
The first European-American to document what is now Petrified Forest National Park was LT Amiel Whipple of the US Army, who led exploration of the area in 1853. He named the arroyo in the northern part of the forest Lithodendron Creek, which means Stone Tree Creek.
How do you use sycamore in a sentence?
A sycamore is a type of deciduous tree. The sycamore tree grows near the creek. The bark of the sycamore tree flakes off in big chunks.
What happened to the Tree house restaurant in Cave Creek AZ?
terarest blew it up
What is Enid Blyton's famous story about a tree?
The Faraway Tree
