William Bracefell

USC185_0002
Bracefell helped rescue Eliza Fraser

Brisbane, 1842: Explorer Henry Stuart Russell claimed that former convict and bunda, William Bracefell, who returned to Brisbane with him from Wide Bay should be given credit for rescuing Mrs. Fraser six years ago. He said that too much credit had been given to John Graham for his part in the rescue when the most dangerous part was undertaken by Bracefell.
Mr Russell who has just returned from Great Sandy Island, which he has renamed Fraser's Island, after Captain James Fraser who died there, claims that Bracefell who was living with the Aborigines in
the area at that time, led Mrs Fraser to a place where she could be rescued by Graham.
Mr Russell said that Graham had obviously maximised his own role in order to obtain a pardon but he had also elicited Bracefell's aid with the prospect of getting him a pardon.
Bracefell by stealth got Mrs. Fraser away from the hostile blacks at the Tin Can Bay bora- ring and led her by a devious route on a long nocturnal walk to Lake Cootharaba where he sought out kinsmen of Graham, for further assistance.
All went according to Graham's carefully conceived plan with Graham's "relatives" performing well at the lakeside to assist them.
Bracefell said that it would have been impossible to rescue Mrs. Fraser from Tin Can Bay due to the hostility of the natives. When Bracefell had sought her assurance that she would report favourably on him, she renounced him, saying that she would complain of him.
He had felt compelled to return to the tribe for his own safety.

USC295_0002
They wanted to see if it was suitable for free settlement, particularly grazing. They picked up WANDI (escaped convict Bracefell) at Noosa, and he showed them the way across the Wide Bay Bar into Great Sandy Strait.