Mr Stronach's Death on the Ranges.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 228, 24 March 1874, Page 5

Mr Stronach's Death on the Ranges.

We extract the following further particulars respecting the finding of Mr Stronach's hody on the Umbrella Ranges from the Southern Mercury : The utmost alarm existed in Switzers siuce Monday last owing 1o the prolonged absence of Mr Roderick Stronach, a stock-rider on Hyde Home Station. It would appear that deceased and his brother William left Moa Flat Station on Friday, 6th inst., en route for the home station. After leaving the Moa Flat about four miles they separated, deceased taking the upper ford track of Pomahaka across the Black Umbrella Range, in order to look for stray cattle. He should, have been hoine on Friday evening, but no alarm was felt uutil Monday, as it was concluded he might have made for shepherds' huts or the accommodation house at Pomahaka. On Monday evening, however, the people turned out. From thirty to forty horsemen have been on the Argyle and Umbrella Ranges until yesterday morning, when the body was found on the eastern slope of the latter range—the horse, with two hind quarters of mutton strapped to the saddle, and the dogs between the body and the horse. It is supposed by those who found him, that dereased, after crossing the Pomahaka ford, must have taken the wrong spur to ascend the mountain—two spurs rulining parallel for some miles from the river, almost alike in appearance—and the deceased not knowing the country, took the right-hand spur, which, after being traversed for sonu miles, becomes almost (isolated. It.would seem that here his horse ! must have knocked up, and deceased wandered | about on foot almost in a circle for hours, the I fog at the' time being dense. Evidently on i Saturday he killed! a sheep, and cooked and eat | a portion, and from his attempting to carry the hind quarters with him he had concluded he was lost for some time. The down.pour of rain ou Friday night, and wlveh continued all day on Saturday, the poor fellow having no extra clothing, the saddle-cloth excepted, must have rendered him almost powerless. It is surmised that for shelter on t'ie Saturday night ho crept in'o a sort of cave, where the overhanging rock afforded a sort of protection, and when asleep bad f iJlen forward on his hands,and face, exhaustion j having rendered biro helpless. Jn t.hiß position I he was found dead on Thursday, 12>b, about 8 I o'clock, by Mr Alexander Christie and a station j hand from Moa Flat, The utmost respect for I the deceased was felt throughout, the district, as j.by his urbanity of Wanner and j;erttle disposition ' he had rendered hiraeclf to all •who knew him ? ' general favourite.