LOST IN THE BUSH

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1929, Page 3

LOST IN THE BUSH

VICAR’S ORDEAL.

•RESCUED IN EXHAUSTED STATE

INVERCARGILL, Aug. 5

The Rev. J‘. A. Dawson, vicar of the parish at Tapanui, had a .nost unenviable experience; ..on Saturday night, when lie became lost and was compelled to spend a very cold night in the open in wild bush-cov-ered country witli-snow alb round-. His absence’caused great a'rixiety amongst :liis friends, but to the relief of tlie'residents of tlie whole district the missing • cfergyman;WaS'found by u search party ■on Sunday and 1 returned to home, apparently none the Worse for his adventure.

Mi* Dawson set out in search of deer shortly after 1 o’clock on Saturday afternoon ill company with Mi* Charles Rowley, of the State" Forest Service staff, and Mr Hisson-, a young man •from Wellington, who is at present visiting Tapanui. Proceeding into the tiush country they sighted about 12 deer in Brandy Gully and separated in order to stalk them, but they did not’ succeed in bringing any down. Mr Dawson followed the deer over the ridge, and Mr Hisson -last saw him at about lialfypas.t ; foiir.L. 'Messrs Rowley, and Hisson then worked their way back to Tapanui’ to replenish' their 1 stock of cartridges. They returned to- the gully, but did not--see- any,; further sign of Mr Dawson. They finally''reached the township shortly before midnight, and reported .to Constable Blamires that their companion was missing. A good deal of anxiety was felt by the local people 'coheerriihg'Mi’ Dawson’s plight', and' it Was' suggested that a search party should be organised immediately. It was thought, however, that little co’iild be done in the dark, ,and that the searchers would themselves be in dAnger 'of becoming lost also l . In' the morning a large- party, of, ..about 40 men-, organised by Constable Blamires, left Tapanui at about 9 o’clock and reached the top of the ridge, where Mr Dttwson was last seen.. At halfpast 11 Mr Hisson pointed out Mr Dawson’s tracks in- the snow and the search party split up into small groups, working in different directions. The main body, led by Constable Blamires, worked down tlie Rankleburn Creek, and other parties penetrated further and climbed the. ridges on the lookout for signal fires. In the meantime Mr T, M’Donald, who lives .some miles down the Rankleburn, had been advised from Tapanui, and with Messrs A. Chapman, F. Elder, and other residents of the neighbourhood worked up,the creek to meet the other party. These three men had separated and had agreed to fire shots on reaching Cattle F.at to denote .their whereabouts. , Mr Chapman was first to reach the appointed spot, and lie fired a shot. Mr Dawson, who was by now in an almost exhausted condition, was resting nearby, and lie immediately called out.' Mr Chapman’s party at once took liim back to Mr M’Dbnald’s home, where he was given food' and a hot bath, and lie soon recovered his very good spirits and claimed to be none the worse for his trying and unenviable experience.

Mr Dawson stated that when he realised he was lost lie set about making a fire, but as all the wool in the vicinity was wet; and he had only 12 matches, this was impossible. He had also lost all his cartridges, except one; He suffered a good deal from intense cold’, and the considerable quantity ol snow all about added to his discomfort. In addition, he had practically no food. A.part from liis unfon/unate plight of being compelled to spend the night in the open Mr Dawson was not in great danger of becoming permanently lost, as' he was wise' enough to follow the creek downstream, aim’ would liave reached inhabited country before long, provided lie did not meet with an accident or become exhausted.

' The news that the missing clergyman had been found was received in Tapanui with’ feelings of relief on the pari of the whole of the residents of the town. Mr Dawson is exceedingly popular with the uliole community and liis absence from the usual service on teunday caused a great deal of anxiety among the congregation.