DESERT SECRET

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1933, Page 2

DESERT SECRET

HUNT FOB GOLD BEEF

NEW AERIAL ADVENTURE.

TRAGEDIES RECALLED

•SYDNEY, January 5

Belief was general at the news that the aeroplane which was reported missing in Central Australia this week reached civilisation after a silence which, had extended over five days. Remarkable ingenuity was displayed by the pilot, H. Baker, after his machine had been overturned. He effected temporary repairs with the slender material that was on hand, but even so the machine would not rise with its full load, and he had to 4 leave behind, in the desert, one of his comrades. Nevertheless, he was able to avert another tragedy in the hunt for mysterious gold reefs in Central Australia* The heart of Central Australia is the site o 7 Lassetter’s gob? reef, a legendary formation of rich ore, which numerous parties have failed to find, and which finally claimed the life of its discoverer in 1931. Mr L. H. B. Lasset-tor found the reef while prospecting 30 years before. It is believed that he found it again on his last expedition, but lie died in the desert with his secret. Mr Errol Coote, a pilot engaged by Central Australian Gold Exploration Company, loft for Central Australia last year in a Moth plane, and on November 7 it was reported that he had bemii missing in the desert for seven days. On November 8 news was received that he had been found, having lost his wiay in returning from a. reconnaissance in an endeavour to locate Lassetter, who had gone ahead ■;ome months before with a string- of camels. CRASH BY AEROPLANE.

Some time later Mr Coote’s plane crashed and lie was severely injured. The Central Australian Company then sent out a new. Moth, with Captain W. L. Pittendrigh and Air S. J. Ha-mre, a geological' engineer, to Hbila, to join a motor-truck and party. Captain Pittendrigh left Alice Springs on December 20, 1931, and nothing 'more was heard of him until he was found by Flight-Lieutenant Eaton on January 11, 1932. Messrs Pittendrigh ind Harare had become lost, hut found a water soak, and camped alongside, waiting for rescue and existing on grass and grubs. Mr Eaton dropped food and water bags, and they were later rescued by Mr Taylor, a mechanic, and a land party. After the failure of Messrs Pittendrigh and H-arare to find Mr Lassetter the land party returned to Alice Springs. Air La.ssetter was later found dead by Bob Buck, a prospector, and from his diary it is believed that he waited at the reef for his associates, who were following sealed orders, which were supplied by the Sydney company. Finally, his food ran out, and when his camel bolted he found himself stranded iu the desert, meeting a party of aboriginals when at the point of death.

Hundreds of miles to the north Messrs Keith Anderson and H. S. Hitchcock died in 1929 ias a result of a forced landing while flying to Wyndliam to participate in the search for the Southern Gross. Mr Anderson left Mascot on April 7, and he was reported overdue at Wyndham four lays later. The search continued until the bodies were found on April 22 by Lester Brain, a Queensland pilot. EVAPORATION OF WATER. Hopes of finding water in the Australian desert are very slender inleed. Dry creek beds might yield some, hut the odds of finding sufficient to drink are a thousand to one against. Evaporation is terrific. Four gallons of water in bags will last only two aays. The water is just drawn up into the air, and there is no way of keeping any in reserve. If it is placed in tins it boils, asi the heat is terrific. It must be kept in bags, and the bags are useless in the fight against the rays of the sun.

The tragedies and near tragedies chat- have marked the search for the Lassetter reef are not likely to deter other adventurers. The search for gold will go on.