MAROONED

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1933, Page 6

MAROONED

NIGHT JN OPEN. EXPKIM ENOK OF SHOOTINGI -OM T.

Four .Young men, Messrs ]). Grouioivy, 1. nock, o. Lih.can ana r. mc..iiciis hutl an unpleasant e..-

perisne-j m the bi.:,n in i.i.j, Upper IvoD.tahi on E-nister Sunday anu u,.Jowing days. The party kit on Sunday, April 19th., on u shooting expedition in*, the hills On tlie- Moutlay they crossed the middle branch of the ivckatalii river, but. heavy rain

set in, and tlie stream was soon a roaring torrent .preventing their recrossing the stream, 'they stayed at ;« hut owned by Mr L. Kemp, on the Monday night, and tlie Hood continuing they made their way lower down intending to return home, but were

caught on an island between two streams, and weic unable to retrace their steps owing to tlie rising flood waters. One of the party, P. Diedriclis, swam the river fully clothed, in an effort to get assistance and after a hard tussle was .successful in crossing arid made his way down to the residence of Mr Mark "Wallace, where the plight of hi,-* comrades .was am

nounced. A relief party -waij at once Arranged for and left next morning at dnybieak. ...... In the meantime the, other three young men had a rough experience in the open, the night being.a very,.wi d and boisterous one . (Easter Tuesday night) with. only, a small blanket to. cover them from the rain, and no food.

’file relief party, next morning could not cross the middle branch owing to the flood and l.i 1 to god some\six miles further up to cross by way of a wire suspension bridge, and then come down the other side some. 8 or 9 miles, the men being found at Kemp’s lint, enjoying a meal from a sheen that they had been forced to Kill for food. The icturn journey was made by the same course and was a very • rough and i rduous one, owing to the weather and Hooded conditions. Ultimately they arrived hack at Mr Mark Wallace’:; residence after 7 o’clock at night, weary and worn.

Mrs Wallace had arranged for a hot meed arid .supplied hot baths and a change of clothes which was- greatly anprorinted. Tit? men felt the effects of their exposure but with one execution are now fully recovered, one suffering from the effects of neuritis in his ank’es.