Karl Wendt

c.1890 – 3/9/1952

Listed in the SA Directory 1939-1952,
Prospector, Coober Pedy

Information from the Coroner’s Report

Aged about 62, Karl Wendt had lived at Coober Pedy for about 20 years and had been an opal prospector in early years but later had done nothing but lived on charity of other people who gave him gifts of money and food. He was an eccentric character and did not talk to many people or mix much. He lived in a dugout owned by Vic Williamson, where his body was found in an impoverished state, his death thought to be due to malnutrition and tuberculosis.

Information from “Opal Men” by P.Vin Wake

During the great 1919-1920 strike of miners at Broken Hill, some of the unemployed went to Coober Pedy to fill in time. During this period many staunch Labour men regarded Russia as their spiritual home and were of the opinion that the real cure for industrial troubles was to “take over the mines and factories, like the Bolsheviks did in Russia”. This led to the men from Broken Hill being known as “the Bolsheviks”.

One day Tom Brady, a man from Broken Hill, bought a parcel of opal from Karl Wendt, who then had a few drinks. The whiskey went to his head and he became convinced that Tom had defrauded him. He picked up his rifle and headed for Tom’s dugout, announcing that he intended to shoot him.

Fortunately, a man whom he met on the way managed to calm him and led him home. As they walked away, Tom informed everyone within hearing that there were “ too many of these bloody Bolsheviks round here”.

Ever since that day the shallow valley at Coober Pedy has been known as Bolshevik Gully.