FIGHT FOR LIFE IN THE SOUTHERN WILDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2884, 23 September 1916, Page 10

FIGHT FOR LIFE IN THE SOUTHERN WILDS

_—_* RETURNED SOLDIER'S GRIM EXPLOIT SIXTEEN DAYS ON FIVE DAYS' RATIONS By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, September 22. Tho Orepuki correspondent of the "Southland Times" gives Jn, graphic description of a hard fight for. life which R. Cargill has just passed through in an endeavour to got through on tho overland track from Puysegur Point. Cargill is one of the Main Body, returned from Anzac, who was sont down six -weeks ago in indifferent health, and was returning to •offer his services again. Ho states that he never had such a fight for his life —not oven on Gallipoli—as he has had to pass through lately. Ho left tho lighthouse on September 5, with five days' food, which, under ordinary circumstances, is ample. All went well the first day, and he was rejoicing in the walk and in the splendid track, which was much injprovod by the Government last summer. That night the snow came, making it impossible to start for a couple of days, and then, when ho did l start, what a scene!' The bush was down everywhere, • the track was absolutely covered up, and the telephone lino was down from end to end. Asked why he did not turn, back at this stage, being only one day from the point, he replied: "Because I am not the turning sort, and, also, I did not know what was ahead, or I could not havo got back quick enough." Foodiess and Trackless, After his food was done, which was several days before reaching Big River, he seems to have only a hazy idea of what happened. It was continual olimbing over logs and finding means to cross swollen creeks, which had all become raging torrents. Ho can remember orossing two by .hanging on to a. telephone wiro which was down. Ho had spent night after night under trees, not being able to reach the linesmen's hut. At ono hut he came across some old flour, which the linesmen havo since told him was "crawling." However, ho made a feed on Hour and' water. At another place he got a fish and ate it raw. Aftor this his sufferings were severe, and he has not much recollection of anything until found by linesmen Donaldson and Smith. By this timo he was unable to give any clear statement, as he had been out 16 days, and must have plugged along for days iu this state. At the time of his rescue he was done, hut he had managed to get within about 15 miles of open country at Blue Cliff. Cargill expresses thanks to Donaldson and Smith for all they did fojr him, as they had gone through a most trying day themselves before coming across him. He says ho knows ho would not have won through but for them.