Those Dundonians who visit the Oval Park to play cricket, soccer or hockey would have noticed a drinking fountain that stands, irritatingly obstructing traffic flow,just off the entrance.
Some of those people who might have nearly run it over may have been curious enough to get out of their cars to read the inscription on the fountain, and wondered about the circumstances that led to the fountain being erected. The inscription states –
“Harry Hearn.
17 December 1933.
To commemorate the gallantry of his wife who risked her life in saving a boy from drowning, well knowing that her husband had lost his life in the same endevour”.
So, then, who was Henry Wellsman “Harry” Hearn, and what were the circumstances of his death and subsequent gallantry of his wife? Well, old timers will be well aware that his father, Henry John, owned Hearn’s Hotel, now sadly derelict, in Hattingspruit.
The second of four children to Henry John Hearn and Mary Stubbs, Henry (nicknamed Harry”) Wellsman Hearne was born on 2 August 1894. He married Norah Gladys Beatty (previously Piasecki) on 16 January 1924 in Dundee.
Harry died “in tragic circumstances”. The report was published in the Northern Natal Courier of 22 December 1933
“It appears that a European boy got into difficulties while bathing in a dam on Mr Hearn’s farm, and on the alarm being given by his son, Mr Hearn ran to the dam and plunged fully dressed into the icy cold water to rescue the boy. It is surmised that the shock caused heart failure for Mr Hearn failed to re-appear.
Mrs Hearn, who had followed closely on the heels of her husband, then plunged fully dressed into the dam and succeeded in bringing to the bank the boy, who soon revived”.
Mrs Hearn contacted the Hattingspruit Police, who searched the dam and located her husband’s body after some time.
The Inquest, which was conducted before Mr G Whittaker, Assistant Magistrate, was reported in the Courier on 5 January 1934.
Mrs Hearn stated that her son James, aged 9, and a friend, Percy Sander (also aged 9) had gone swimming in a dam close to the Berkenheim farmhouse. She and her husband decided to follow them as they were somewhat wary of the children swimming on their own.
Her husband had left the house before her, and about halfway to the dam her son came running up and told her that Percy was experiencing difficulties. She rushed down to the dam and saw the boy struggling in the water, but there was no sign of her husband. She then rescued the boy and brought him to shore.
The same edition of the Courier also reported that a public subscription was being sought to erect some kind of memorial to Mrs Hearn’s bravery.
By 4 May, a drinking fountain costing 40 Pounds had been erected in King Edward Park (now the Dundee Oval).
Harry Wellsman Hearn was buried in the Dundee cemetery.
It’s a great pity that no-one saw fit to record Mrs Hearn’s full names for posterity.
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