ACCIDENT AND SUFFERING IN THE BUSH.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 617, 30 December 1869, Page 1 (Supplement)

ACCIDENT AND SUFFERING IN THE BUSH.

The report of a riding accident, followed by the endurance alone in the bush of three whole clays of terrible bodily su fie ing comes to us (says the W(uj(\a Wagga Express), from the Burrabogie station. Early on Sunday morning a lad 'of about seventeen years of age was endeavoring to run in a horse from an out-of-the-way part of the Bnrrabogie run, on which he was employed In driving home the animal he came upon a mob of wild horses, conspicuous amongst which was a savage entire, who suddenly charged down upon him, and hurled him from the saddle. The shock he sustained in falling was so severe that his consciousness lyft him, and when, after a long interval of time, his senses returned, he found that his thigh had been broken, and that miles away from a human habitation he was lying, parching with thirst, helpless, and disabled, alone in the bush. Collecting his thoughts, and remembering the difficulties that the people of the station would have to encounter in finding him where he then lay, and judging, as best he could, the nearest point at which he could reach water, he decided that the best course he could adopt for the preservation of his life would be to drag himself, if possible, to the water, and there await his chance of dis covery by the men whom, he felt sure, would belookingfor him. By slow, painful, and laborious efforts, the poor lad at once began to put his scheme in execution, and by dragging himself upon his elbows, contrived to move by degrees over the ground. The operation was, however, both painful in itself and the cause of great pain besides in the broken thigh ; and as he had to take frequent rests, the progress he made was but slow indeed. Monday, Tuesday, and We.lnesday passed away, and still, in spite of increasing weariuess, he dragged himself indomitably along, indulging in frequent rests, and during the -tours of darkness occasionally sleeping. Meanwhile, the people upon the station, who had been alarmed by his non-return, had all been scouring the bush ; and at last, on Wednesday evening, by one of the searching parties, he had the good fortune to be discovered. He was then in a terribly exhausted condition from the combined effects of pain, hunger, and thirst ; and, having travelled fully two miles from the scene of the accident in the way we have described, his elbows and arms had become perfectly raw. The first thing he asked for was a drink of water, and this he had no sooner been supplied with than he fainted away. He was at once conveyed to the station, and was there sparingly supplied with food. A medical man fortunately being at home, the broken limb was set, and the lad is now in a fair way of recover}'.