LOST IN THE BUSH. A Sad Narrative

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 87, 31 January 1885, Page 5

LOST IN THE BUSH. A Sad Narrative

Black all, says a correspondent in that far Queensland town, has just been the scene of a most tragical occurrence. George McKenzie, aged 20, nephew of Mr James McKenzie, a local storekeeper, arrived in Blackall a few months ago from Aberdeen, Scotland, intending to assist his uncle in the storefceeping business. On Sunday, December 7, Mr" McKenzie suggested, that as some mats of sugar, which had been brought from towa across the river (or rather the place where the river ought to be) were uncovered, and rain appeared imminent, it would be advisable to cross over and cover them up. George started oil, wearing merely a singlet and covering for his body, the day being exceedingly hot, and accompanied by a poodle-dog. At the latest George should have been back by 4 o'clock. Not arriving, Mr McKenzie walked across to the selection,and found the sugar duly covered, and the tracks of his nephew apparently leading back from the river. Thinking his nephew had gone to a neighbouring paddock to hunt kangaroo rat*, he went home. George not returning home that evening, the trackers were got out and started early on Monday morning to find the lost youth. The tracks led along the river for a short distance, then w ent out toward the plains, and were eventually lost on a sand-hill, which had been swept clean, and thetiacks obliterated by Sunday's dust storm. Besides the police, several private parties were out scouring the river channels and neighbouring scrubs. The trackersreturinmg to town unsuccessful, a large party was formed and started out on Monday night, circling the plains and carefully examining every clump of timber. Fires were lighted at intervals, at eacli of which was placed some food and a bottle of water. Guns were also fired to attract attention. The party returned to town at 4 o'clock on Tuesday morning, unsuccessful. Hopes of finding the young man alive were fast diminishing ; it was known that no water holes were in that part of the country, nothing but dry, arid plains, clumps of shelterless timber, sand-hills, and empty gullies. The heat of Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, was something terrific, hot winds blowing all clay withiierco dust stoim. Before daylight on Tuesday morning Constable Ryan and his trackers were in the saddle again, and cast about to lind the trail. Later in the day Mr H. Fell found them leading in the direction ot the terrible Malvern schrub, where many poor fellows have already lost their lives. The tracker " Ahck " \us then enabled to tollow the trail tolerably easy, though in some places very indistinct footsteps ap peared in the sand, where the dustiiad been swept clean by the Mind, The tracks were followed through several wire fences, then across Borce Creek until they came quite close to some sheep yards. The trail then wended in a zigzag fashion almost parellel with the Malvern road through some scrub, just through which the place where the poor fellow had lain down on Sunday night. Near this place was found a button, which had evidently come off his clothes. It being then dark, the track could be no longer followed. The party were about 14 miles from Blackall,and having no food or water, returned to town. After procuring fresh hordes the party started out again and followed the trail at daylight. They were joined by several people with necessities. They had not far to go. The tracks soon showed signs of one fatigued, and wended from side to side. At intervals the lad sat down, and evidently pulled his fcocks and shoes off and on. Presently the party came across three fires, lighted at distances of about half a mile apart, and at the last of these the party came across Monday night's camping place. On the party went ; they came across poor George's hat, then a little further on the tracks came to an end, and the lad was found quite dead. The body was dressed wirh the exception of the hat. The dog, which had followed him throughout up to now, had wandered off into a patch of gidya scrub close handy, but was not found. The party carried the body three miles to the Malvern road, and a portion went into town to convey the sad intelligence, and to procure a conveyance to bring the remains in. Upon the arrival of Mr Kelly with the terrible news, the townspeople with one accord put up their shutters, and mourning was goneral. The conveyance with the corpse arrived in town at 8.15 on Wednesday night. The poor fellow had a painful look of fear in his face, and had quite a dried appearance. His sufferings must have been intense before giving up his struggle for life. The tracker says he probably died at 4 p.m. on Tuesday; but experienced bushmen believe it must have occurred as early as 10 o'clock on thai day. The funeral took place on Thursday, December 11, at 11 o'clock, and was the largest known in Blackall. The cortege comprised 68 persons on foot (including 25 Oddfellows, of which body deceased was a member), besides a large number of vehicles and horsemen. The saddening event had cast such a gloom over the community that we could not rejoice at the splendid rains which had fallen. Would that they had yisited us a couple of days earlier, and saved n- life which gave so much promise of usefulness. George was interred in the cemetery in the grave adjoining the last resting place of a young man named Wallace, who died the other day from the effects of bathing in a waterhole when heated, combined with eunstroke.

For a convict who learns that ho has just inherited a fortune of eighty thousand pounds and a splendid estate to resolve on the spot that he will, on the expiration of his term of imprisonment, live an honest life seems somewhat strange. To live dishonestly with such a fortune would be as difficult as unnecessary. The Frenchman who recently made the above vow must have been a trifle excited over his good fortune. — " Society."