LOST IN THE BUSH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2139, 29 January 1880, Page 3

LOST IN THE BUSH.

The travelling reporter of tlio “ Bendigo Advertiser” writes: ‘‘About Christmas time a case of being lost in the Malice occurred to Miss Lunge, a young lad) r about 20 yenrs of age, daughter of a selector residing at Little Lake. It appears that she, feeling unwell, left her home for a walk, reading a book, about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and. being deeply interested in what she was perusing, wandered out of sight of the house. On finding this she experienced no great alarm, and turned quite unconcernedly to go as she thought in the direction of her home, but after travelling some distance through the scrub without seeing any signs of civilisation, the alarming suspicion that she was lost Hashed • upon her mind. She made some marks and started in adiffernt direction, but found she came back to it again, thus showing, as is common with people in similar situations, that she was travelling in a

circle. She tried again, and again Avith a like result, until at last she found an old fence, and Avisoly resolving not to leave it. Notwithstanding her terrible position she retained her presence of mind, and in Avalkiug along selected the softest ground, so as to leave a good trail for the search parties Avhich she was sure AA'ould be sent for her. She also made a covering of leaves for her head and shoulders —having left home bareheaded—to keep off the glare of (he hot sun, and at intervals made small heaps of sticks to guide searchers. She continued this until night, following the fence all the time, avlicu she sat down exhausted, hungry, and thirsty, to satisfy the cravings of Avhich she sucked Malice IcaA'es. During the night she heard two different mobs of wild cattle, and two packs of Avild.dogs. On daylight reappearing she continued folloAving the fence and looking A'ainly for Avaler, (lie Avant of which now occasioned her much suffering. At one, lime she came to a gate iu the fence but observing there was no track through it, left a heap of sticks near it and passed on. About 3 o’clock iu the afternoon, or 21 hours from leaving home, she , heard a commotion of animals’ hoofs close by, and was terrified thereat, thinking it was another mob of wild cattle coming on her, hut before she could see what it was, heard a Avelcome voice utter the words, ‘thank God, here she is.’ This was Mr Forster overseer of bake Mecran station, in charge of a search party, calling out to the person, nearest him —a station-hand named Connelly. They' fortunately' had a Avatcr-bag with them. When found she was nine miles away From homo in a straight line. The general belief is that had she followed the fence in an opposite direction she would have never been found alive, nor if she had entered the gale previously mentioned. The searchers state the various marks she made Avero of great assistance.”