Extraordinary Occurrence.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 450, 1 March 1890, Page 5

Extraordinary Occurrence.

HELPLESS IN THE BUSH.

WAITING FOR DEATH.

NO FOOD FOR. TWENTY-FOUR DAYS.

On Tuesday last information was brought to Constable McLeod, of Dargaville (says the local paper), that a man in an emaciated condition had just been found on the railway embankment about a mile and a-lialf from the township. He was suffering from intense thirst when found and water had been given him. He was too weak to stand. On reaching the spot the constable found the man to be in an almost dying state, and had him carried into the township and a little brandy and water given tosustain himuntilthedoctor, who was absent, saw the sufferer. The man’s name is James Maxwell: he is 50 years of age, of a rather spare habit, and about sft lOin high, brown hair and beard both deeply tinged with grey, bluish-grey eyes, with the pupil of the right eye considerably and, apparently, chronically distended ; aquiline nose, and good features generally, except that his face looks at present narrow and wasted and his cheeks hollow. The expression of hisface is crood and highlyintelligerit. His ordinary weight was 10 stone up to the time of his fast, but he now weighs only a little over eight stone. He is a native of Glasgow and has been 20 years in New Zealand, working latterly as a busbman. Before coming to this colony he was gold-

digging in Victoria for a few years. Previous to Saturday, 25th January last, he had been staying at Brown’s Temperance Boarding-house in Dargaville, and about noon on that day, his money being done, he left to go up the valley to a friend’s to start digging gum But we prefer to let the poor fellow tell HIS OWN STORY. “I left the boarding-house, Dargaville, on last Saturday tbreeweeks (25th January) to go up the valley. I had teen suffering from asthma. After walking about a mile and a half an attack of asthma came on and I turned in off the railway track about 50 yards into the bush and lay down. I had a blanket but no food. I felt down in my luck, as I had not been in any work lately. The longer I lay the weaker I seemed to get. Night came on and I still remained where I was, and all the next day and the next night I did not feel any inclination to move out of the bush. I then reflected that I was too weak to dig gum and that I might as well die where I was; so I RESIGNED MYSELF TO DIE. I felbafow pangs of hunger, but was not so hungry as I used to be when I missed a regular meal. The thirst was the worst; that made me crawl around a little to look for water. After the fifth day I found close to me about a quart of muddy water which I drank. Some days later I got to as much more and drank it, and that dried up the only two little puddles of mud and water near me. I was comfortable lying down, but got giddy if I tried to sit up, The days and nights passed on and then thirst seemed to devour me. I chewed the grass near me to get moisture from it, but it was too dry and bitter. Day by day I lay there thinking, thinking, expecting to die, and all through the long nights it was the same. The time passed slowly

and seemed so long I thought that the end would never come. The mosquitoes were terrible both day and night, but woree at night. I had to let them bite me, as I was too weak to move. I used to hear the train passing, and I often heard voices of persons walking along the track. I WAS TOO WEAK TO CRY OUT. My head was quite clear, and I suffered no pains except the tortures of thirst and from the mosquitoes. I was able to keep count of the days and nights. I put down each day in my pocket-book and also wrote a line or two in it occasionally—Yes, a sorb of diary. After twenty days I felt as if I was going mad from thirst ;

my tongue was dry and swelling, and I was suffering great pain. I rolled and crawled towards the railway line thinking I would find water. Even then I did not want to live—only to get water. How I managed to get over the 50 yards I hardly know. I didn’t do it all in one day. A Russian Finn came along the track and found me and got me some water which revived me. Then the policeman brought me back here to the boarding-house. I was lying out

TWENTY-FOUR DAYS WITHOUT A MORSEL OF FOOD, and had only a little thick muddy water twice to support my life. ’Tis wonderful how I lived, but it is quite true. lam better now as you see. lam not allowed to eat meat or strong food, only bread and milk, and tea, potatoes, or such things. I have no friends in the colony, only the men I used to work with sometimes. When I am right again I will try for a job. I did apply at the mills, but I fancy they didn’t think me strong enough for the work and they wouldn’t take me on. I wish to live now as I have had such an escape, especially if I can get some employment, as 1 will never be a burden to anyone. If the County Council has to pay my medical expenses and board for a few days, I will repay that out of the first money I earn. I had a good schooling in Scotland when I was young, but I have worked for my living from my boyhood up. I am not a drinking man nor yet a teetotaller.”

Maxwell, who is still weak, told his story in short sentences as he lay on a sofa, and our reporter afterwards obtained his pocket-book, from which we take the following : HIS DIARY. On the first page the names of the days of the week are written, beginning—Half Saturday, Sunday, Monday, etc., and repeated in order down to Tuesday, the 24th day of his fast or “starve ” as he calls it. The writing and spelling become much worse towards the last day. On the next page of the pocket-book the following appears :—“Starving, 3rd, 4th day very hungry at times, after that no craving for food. Felt very comfortable up to tenth day. Felt weak and shaky in my legs. Perfectly comfortable about my stomach. There is no pain or agony in starving as far as 1 have gone. I write this on the 10th day of my fast. If I don’t cave in to-night I will write more. Wednesday, comfortable but rather shaky. The mosquitoes here are terrible. Thursday, very comfortable when lying down, but very weak and shaky. Friday, feel rather empty, but not uncomfortable. Can’t stand up and giddy when I sit up. Saturday, don’t feel so bad.

HAD A DRINK OF MUD AND WATER. Sunday, fifteenth day of my starve ; feel pretty good, only very weak. I did not think I would have lasted half as long, I thought about five or six days would finish me. Monday, sixteenth day, feel rather weak and shaky. No craving for food. Feel a little hungry to-night. Tuesday, seventeenth day, and not dead yet. I am getting sick of this day by day dragging on. The day seem so long. I wish I were

dead, but it can’t last much longer surely'. • I feel very little worse than I felt a week ago. Wednesday, eighteenth day, getting weak ; don’t feel hungry. lam getting very restless at times; the mosquitoes are enough to drive me mad. I feel rather empty and rather hungry to-night. Thursday, 19th day, getting weaker. I feel rather empty about the stomach and could eat a little. lam getting very thin. Altogether I feel comfortable when lying down i I and could eat a little to-night. Friday, i 20th day, and not dead. I wonder how much longer this will go on. I. am getting very weak. lam sick of this and wish I were dead. The days and nights are so very long. I have no wish or craving for food. I could do a good drink of water. I feel a little hungry at times tonight. Saturday, 21st day, weak and empty. Feel a little hungry. Comfortable whilst lying down. I feel a painful craving about the stomach to-night and am not comfortable. Sunday, 22nd day. Bad in the middle of the night and last night thought I was going to die. Better this morning ; feel pretty good this morning. Afternoon,

feel very dry and would like a drink of water; must do without. Monday, 23rd day, very weak and thirsty. I will have to crawl out if I can and try to get a drink of water. I am choking. lam afraid I won’t be able. Crawled out part of the way. Could not reach railway. If I don’t cave in to-night I will try tomorrow. lam bad ; hungry and thirsty to-night. Tuesday, 24th day” (this part is indistinctly written and the words incomplete), “ Very weak but so thirsty, no hunger. I cannot crawl. I don’t think I can last much longer. I am very much astonished I have lasted so long. 1 wish it was over. lam very sick of it.”