HELPLESS ON THE RANGES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2336, 29 September 1881, Page 3

HELPLESS ON THE RANGES.

The following story of suffering and fortitude such as is rarely read of is from the “ Wakatip Mail ”:— W. Pain, who is a young man about twenty-five years of age, was engaged on the Walter Peak Station poisoning rabbits. The hut which ho occupied alone was situated more than twenty miles from the station, in the neighborhood of the Ridge or Rough Peaks, and situated little less than 6000 feet above sea level. Of course, at that altitude it must always be cold, but at the time referred to—which was immediately after one of the extremely heavy storms recently experienced—the season was bitterly cold, and snow and ice abounded everywhere on one of the roughest pieces of country to be found in the Lakes district. About 11 o’clock on Monday morning, the 4th instant, Pain was blasting a fallen tree with dynamite, in order to procure firewood; and after setting fire to the fuse, he tripped when endeavoring to get away and fell. Meantime the shot went off, and some of the splintered wood struck one of his legs below the knee, and broke it in three places. Being entirely alone, and not the least prospect of a soul coming near, his only hope of saving his life was to make for a hut four miles lower down the valley, or rather gorge; and even here Pain says he had dreadful misgivings as to whether anyone would be in, as it was often unoccupied. However, ho ventured, and after crawling for eleven hours by the aid of his hands and feet, or rather foot, he reached the hut. An attempt was made to cross the river, but he was carried away and washed back to the bank. Mr Hassell, manager of the run for the New Zealand Loan Company, being fortunately in, a oooey brought him out to the other side of the river, when he was told of the accident and requested to got assistance, as the river being very high, Pain was afraid to ask him to risk crossing over. Mr Hassell at once proceeded down the valley to the homestead of Mr Withers, a well-known and respected farmer residing at Sunnysido, on the adjoining inlet to Halfway Bay. But the most marvellous part of the story is yet to come. Mr Hassell had of course to leave the wounded sufferer on the opposite side of the swollen stream, and, as may well be imagined, prostrate from exertion and suffering, perhaps 2000 ft below his own hut, and separated from it by a road, or rather country, difficult for oven a strong and healthy man to traverse. The undaunted fellow, however, knowing the danger of his position, and probably fearing the effects of the frost and snow, was not to remain idle. Ha commenced his return, and during that bitter night, and most likely far into the following morning, actually succeeded in dragging himself back to the place from whence he came. The country travelled through is the roughest of our rugged alpine regiono. Here ravines, and there rivulets, whilst everywhere, more or loss, were masses of stone lying about in the greatest confusion. Life is indeed sweet, but withal it was only his youth, undaunted courage, wonderful Eower of endurance, and almost euperuman strength which saved that of Pain, Mr Hassell, having brought the news down, returned to the hut of Pain, and other assistance arriving, theyoung man was conveyed on horseback to the side of the Lake and thence by boat to Queenstown, The 11 Mail ” adds Dr. Douglas informs us that Pain is progressing as wall as can be expected, but sufficient time has not elapsed to say how far he is likely to suffer from the effects of the above named accident. We are also informed that the broken leg is considerably smashed. One piece of bone has been taken from it, and an abscess has broken out above the knee. The skin of the other leg, and the bands are also much out about and somewhat bruised, from the efforts used in dragging. But, with youth in his favor, there is every prospect of Pain recovering his ■ former health, if not strength.