SAWMILL CAMP COOK'S ADVENTURE.

Shannon News, 25 October 1922, Page 3

SAWMILL CAMP COOK'S ADVENTURE.

[ 1 TWO NIGHTS IN BUSH IN RAGING GALE. RESCUED ON TUESDAY MORNING. h anxiety was felt at Arapeti when it became known that the cook at the sawmill camp, Mr Bailey, was lost in the bush. It appears that he left camp on Sunday morning to go into the bush to join Robert McCullough and' David Hill, who had gone there to repair a log hauler. He remained with them and had dinner.

a went in by, way of the tramline. After dinner he left to go home to cook tea, and McCullough went with him a short distance to> direct him on to the track which led out on to the road near the old top camp. That was the last seen of him. When the other two men returned: home and found he had not arrived at the cookhouse, they came to the, conclusion that something must- have happened, and they then went, back to the bush to look for him, and finding no trace they reported the, matter to Mr Finlavson, the canteen officer. The latter and a. number of others then searched the bush until 12 p.m., but could find no trace or sign of the missing man.

In the morning another party went out to search, but without success, and the matter was then reported to the police by Mr ,T. Cherry, electrical engineer at Mangorei. Constable McGregor immediately proceeded to Mangahao and with a party of eighteen others searched the bush all day on Monday - in pouring rain and a howling gale, whch was anything but pleasant, but failed to - get any trace. On Tuesday morning after the whistle had gone at the top camp, cries could be heard for assistance from some distance down the Mangahao River, and a party set off immediately to Investigate, and found the unfortunate man in a' weak and exhausted condition under a precipice on the banks of the river, which prevented him getting past. They at oncel set to work' to get him out of his perilous position, and removed him to the top camp, where he was later attended by Dr. Evans, who ordered his removal to the Palmerston North Hospital. % In conversation with Constable McGregor on arrival* at- Shannon, he confessed to being “a. regular duffer” in the bush. He got off the track and wandered about until dark the first day endeavouring ita find his way out. He had got down to the river, where he camped all night. He had fallen down in one place and cut his head. In the morning fir© worked his way up the river. His reason for that was he had observed some, wooden wedges and an old coat floating dowii he stream. He swam the river in' one place, but was carried down a considerable distance. He then worked his way up on the opposite side of the river to the spot , where he was found, andf was unable to get any further. He did not feel like risking swimming the river again. He had remained there all night until being picked up in the morning. He stated he had been wet through all the time, and had no food since midday on Sunday

When found Mr Bailey, who did worthy service in the war and still bears its marks, showed signs of having had a rough time, his hands and feet being all scarred by fighting his way through the rough country.