LOST ON THE TARARUAS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2442, 17 June 1922, Page 4

LOST ON THE TARARUAS.

TWO AWFUL NIGHTS,

HUNGRY AND HALF FROZEN,

After. ; the arrival of Mr Allan Bollons in Wellington, when he had recovered somewhat from the excitement of his return to his home, Mrs Bollons kindly allowed him to tell his story to a “Times” representative. The reporter went into the room where he was resting before undressing and talcing to bed. He was enjoying the grateful warmth of the fire. His'feet were bandaged and sore, not so much from frostbite as from the abrasions caused by the hard walking and struggling through the bush and over the rough ground. He is fairly tall, but slightly built, and had made a wonderful recovei-y after such nerve-racking experiences, but care is being taken against a relapse. The story which Mr Allen Bollons related to the “Times” reporter is as follows: —

“My friend James Kime was on leave and said he was going to make a trip over Mount Hector to Otnki. He had been over two or three times before, and I had made it once before, wheh I met with Kime and two other friends a year ago last Christmas. When I knew he was going I obtained special leave so that T could accompany him. We cauglr the 7.30 a.m., train on Thursday to Woodville, and then commence*! our tramp. We called at Basset’s hut about 11.45 a.m., where we had a. bite and a brief rest. We then pushed on to Tauherenikau hut, which we reached at 5.30 p.m., and as it was very cold and almost dark, we stayed there for the night. We had our overcoats and blankets and were comfortable, having a food supply for about two days or so. The weather was not too good on Friday morning, so we-did not start out age in until 0 o’clock', and we could see it was foggy higher up. We went right on to Alpha hut the last before going over Mount Hector. ’ We stayed Friday night at the hut, and started again at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. We intended to go straight over Mount Hector so that we could reach Otaki in the evening, and if possible catch the 8 o’clock train back to Wellington, or, if the weather was bad, to stay the night at Otaki and take the Sunday train so that I could get home Sunday night as I told mother. For five hours we walked on after leaving Alpha hut. It was hard going, with snow r on the ground, and we gradually got into fog. The fog began to get thicker so that w 7 e could not see our way, and there was a bitterly cold south-east ivjnd blowing, so we decided to turn back. HOW THE TWO PARTED.

“For about an hour we kept on the return track together. We were feeling somewhat exhausted, and decided to reduce our packs, which we did, only retaining the food and blankets. After proceeding a little further Kime, who is a good stayer but not a fast walker want.ed-'me to go on ahead and get help. I refused to leave him for a time, but a little while later I agreed to cut along to the Alpha hut and get a fire going while he followed on. He had his top coat and the food, and I had the blankets in my pack. Shortly after leaving him the -fog became so thick that I could not see my way. The track bends somewhere there, and I must have taken a wrong spur. When I found I was wrong I continued to the bottom of the valley until I struck the river. A NIGHT BY THE RIVERSIDE. “It was getting late then so I rolled myself up in my blankets and laid down by the riverside for the night. On Sunday morning I tried to follow the course of the river, until I struck a place that I could not pass. I turned back and went on until I reached the spot where I had passed the previous night. I stayed there for the next night. I ad practically no food, having left Abe main supplies with Kime. All I had was a little milk in a bottle, a small quantityfbf bovril and a little brandy. I stayed there- for the Sunday night, and on Monday it was still pretty thick with fog. I thought the best thing to do would be to try and get back on the track again, so gbout f) o’clock I began to push my Atoy up through three or four hundred feet of thick bush. I reached flie: old track about noon and made my way-back-to Mount Alpha hut, reaching it in (lie afternoon.NO TRACE OF KIME.

“I looked round but could see no ■trace of Kime, or that he had been p the hut since I left him. I could ; uot tell what he had done, whether he had gone over the Otaki side, gone back the way we had come, or .if he had gone down a wrong spur. As the afternoon was well advanced > 0;O(] 't was very cold, I decided to -’•stay at the Alpha hut for the Monday night. I had a few -matches, but they were wet, no food and no blankets, for it was very hard work climbing through fife bush and I was very exhausted g-Hid could not carry them. T had "not slept any of these nights by myself, although I had rested. It took me over three hours to climb that spur and my feet were very sore. I started at 9 o’clock on Tuesday morning. from Alpha hut, and after _a . very slow walk, and not feeling too good, I reached Tauherenikau hut in the evening.

FOUND EMERGENCY-RATIONS. “In the hut I found some emengenc.y rations which are kept there, .and I diad a meal of sardines and spieed beef. I then got into a bunk and wrapped myself in an old sailcloth which was damp and cold. It was about 11.40 ff.m. on Tuesday

when the rescue party arrived, including Mr Vosseler, Mr Wilson, and a chap from the office. They had blankets and food, and I soon had a warm meal, after which I had some sleep. I felt much better in the morning. Two of the party remained with me while the rest of the party went off to look for Kime. We left Tauherenikau hut about 7 o’clock in the morning, and reached the farmhouse near Basset’s hut about 1 o’clock. They gave me hot bread and milk there and the .farmer brought a horse along to meet us, so that I rode for the last spell. The motor car was waiting just below and we made the journey straight home. My feet are sore, ; but I think it is more from walking than frostbite. lam feeling much better now although I expect I shall feel the reaction presently. I should like to hear some good news about my friend, for I cannot imagine what has happened to him. “I am feeling a bit weak, but I had practically nothing from Saturday morning until Tuesday night, and nothing hot until the rescue party found me. 1 think I should have been dead if the search party had been delayed for another day.” GRAVE FEARS FOR FLUE'S • SAFETY.

So ends Allan Bolton’s story, which will be read with the greatest sympathy by everyone, for it is hard to realise how narrow an escape from death he has had, lost on the mountains alone in a thick fog, and wandering in a dense bush. Still no news of his young friend, and the gravest fears are entertained for his safety. The two members of the search party declined to state their names to the “Times” representative, saying they would prefer any report to * nine from the leaders of the expedition. The two search parties are pushing on with their search and hope soon to be able to send through some news. \ APPRECIATION.

Special appreciation was expressed of the efforts of Mr Vosseler and Mr Fife, with their parties, Mr McGregor and Mr Cummings, of the P. and T. Engineers, in organising the search; Mr Milne, of the P. and T. Department, for similar help, and also many others.