AN ISLAND EPIC

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1928, Page 1

AN ISLAND EPIC

A LIFE SACRIFICED. MELBOURNE MAN’S NIGHTMARE JOURNEY. SYDNEY, August 9. The tragic death in the Now Hebrides of Mr Angus McPhail, a young -Melbourne surveyor, first suspected of haring been murdered by tbe natives, lias been cleared up by the arrival in Sydney of bis partner, Mr C. Dalton, and by letters received by Mr McPhail’s r relatives and close acquaintances. Pieced together they tell an epic story of, heroism and adventure, so much so that over McPhail’s grave might be written the epitaph: “Greater love has no man than this, to lay down his life Ifor his friend.”

Messrs Dalton and McPhail were engaged by the Condominium Government of New Hebrides in a survey of tlio island of Mnlekula. They were together with natives in a most isolated section for four months, when, owing to the failure of the steamer connexion, their provisions ran out. Dalton went down with fever. The only planter in the vicinity was also short of food, and he could not keep the full party. Taking a few natives, McPhail set out for Bushman’s Bay, 30 miles across wild country. He reached his objective all right, hut had to go through a nightmare owing to the treachery of the natives.

In a letter to a Melbourne tfriend be stated that ho suspected that the natives were taking him in the wrong direction. Before many hours bad passed he was certain of it, and he grew very uneasy, because of the curiosity he aroused in the native villages. A couple of natives showed distinct signs of insurrection, so he decided to disarm the police hoys. He told them plainly what would happen if they did not niter the route. They eventually obeyed and his progress for three days after that was made with the natives i„ front of his rifle. For two nights he was not able to sleep. He had to keep himself awake with his gun across his knees. If he had dozed for a minute he might have been killed. Apparently he arrived at Bushman’s Bay in a weak condition, but after only a short spell he set out again for the camp of his friend, laden with food and medicines. Mr Dalton waited for a fortnight, but McPhail did not arrive. What actually happened on that return trip is not yet definitely known, and probably never will he known. r McPhail, with his system weakened, was evidently attacked with blackwater fever, and lie managed to get back to Bushman’s Bay. Ho d*ed there in the Mission Hospital a few days after he wrote recounting Ins terrible experiences. Thus ended at 28 a life that was full of promise.