TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS IN THE BUSH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5360, 1 June 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS IN THE BUSH.

(From the Mv.Trv.nmdi Twines, May 1.) ■ ''Mr. , Keys, a butcher, of Quirindi, having purchased a number of sheep from Mr. Berry, a selector on 4d station, went, in company with Mr. Henry O’Brien, to bring the sheep into town. They , arrived in the neighborhood of the selection, and found that a fence had been erected across the old. track. Keys, whose horse went over the fence, proceeded towards his destination.'; O’Brien, unable, to get his horse over, followed, the line by the fence 'up the mountain for about a mile., Ho then gave up the idea of getting round the' fence, made an opening by strapping the' wires together, and led his horse over. Seeking i to 1 return to tho plain, he proceeded about 500 yards, when he fell about 6ft, over a ledge, and for fear of further accident he resolved to remain there for the night. In a short 'time, however, he thought it better to. make for the level • country in search of some hospitable roof. But within five or six yards of where he first fell he stumbled down a precipiceof 30ft. deep, and was helpless. Nothing faiore was known of him for three days afterwards, when he was found by a shepherd in the employ of Mr. Birntie lying at the foot of the precipice, his left hip and thigh broken, and perishing from thirst and hunger. Throughout v the heavy rains of Sunday, and the cold nights that intervened, the’wretched man had been in that condition, enduring excruciating pain and all the miseries of privation and exposure. For those three long days he did his best .to’crawl up and down the rooks, traversing a measured distance of; 210 yards ; pushing bis-injured limb before him with the aid of his hands and some sticks, and on one occasion forcing his way under tho fallen limb of .a sapling only a foot or so from tho ground. On the way he rolled across a nest of large soldier ants, aud being, unable to free himself from them, tho brutes swarmed over and stung him severely. The only approach to moisture obtained all the while was the juice from a few handfuls of grass which wore found and eaten the agonies of a burning and unslaked, thirst at length loading to this as tho only resource open. Considering the circumstances .of tho, accident, and the fact that during the whole of Sunday, and afterwards, heavy unceasing rain fell; it is a marvel that death did not end his suffering. As a final effort tho victim had to; set to work at the foot of on overhanging rock to excavato a large hole in the sand, and succeeded in removing almost sufficient to roll in, intending, ns ho says, to uso it for a grave; and so to protect himself from the birds, which in great numbers already hovered about him, as though eager for the prey. As soon as possible after discovery his position was made known to Mr, Berry, who, with a horse and cart, brought provisions, and the necessary conveniences for his removal. So distressing were bis sufferings, however, that ho could not bear removal in a cart, and a message bad .to,bo, despatched.to.Walhollow for a sofa and four , men to effect this more easily. While waiting for these Jp.be brought

the famished sufferer seemed to forget his trirtures in the desire to appease his, appetite, ami having, been gradually revived by stimulants, ate and drank with the greatest avidity that was provided. Splints were improvised, and the injured limb was bound as Well as circumstances allowed by his hospitable entertainers. Subsequently 111 - . Knowles was called in, when the necessary sur. ical attentions were secured, but the injuries are so serious that recovery will be attended with much difficulty.