LOST IN A SNOWSTORM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1614, 23 September 1916, Page 2

LOST IN A SNOWSTORM.

SIXTEEN DAYS IN THE BUSH,

Invercargill, Sept. 22. The Orepuld correspondent of the Southland Times gives a graphic description of a hard tight or life which Mr D. Cargill has just passed through in an endeavour to traverse the overland track from Puysegur Point. Mr Cargill was a member of tire Main Bod\ of t n New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and returned from Anzac. He uas sent down six weeks ago, in indifferent health, and was returning to offer his services again. He states that he never had such a fight for life —not even on Gallipoli as he has had to pass through lately. ■ Mr Cargill left the lighthouse on the sth inst., with five days’ food, which under ordinary circumstances is ample. All went well the first day, and he was rejoicing in the walk and the splendid track, which was much improved by the Government last summer. That night snow ('nine on, making it impossible to start for a couple of days, and then, when he did start, what a scene met his eyes! The bush was . down everywhere, the track absolutely covered up, and the telephone line down from end to end.

Asked why he did not turn back at this stage, being only one day from the Point, he replied: “Because I am not the turning sort; also, I did not know what was ahead, or I could not have got back quick enough.” After his food was done, which was several days before reaching Big Diver, Mr Cargill seems to have only a hazy idea of what happened. It was continual climbing over logs, and finding means to cross swollen creeks which had all heroine raging torrents. He can remember crossing two by hanging on to the telephone wire, which was down. He had night atjer night under trees, not being able to reach tin* linesmen’s hut. At one hut he came across some old flour which the linesmen have since (old him was “crawling.’' However, he made a “feed” of (lour and water. At another place he got a fish and ate it raw. After this his sufferings were severe, and he has not much recollection of anything until found bv Linesmen Donaldson and'Smith.

By this time Air Cargill was unable to give any clear statement, as he had been out sixteen days, and must have plugged along for days in this state. At the time of his rescue he was “done,” but he had managed to get within about fifteen miles of open country at Blue Cliff. Mr Cargill expresses thanks 'to Donaldson and Smith for all they did for him, as they had gone through most trying days themselves before coming across him, and for the trouble they took and the kindness shown. He says he knows he would not have won through but for them.