THE MISSING EXPLORERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 244, 21 February 1911, Page 5

THE MISSING EXPLORERS

THEIR FATE IN DOUBT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Brisbane, February 20. A.well-known New Guinea explorer is of opinion that Mr. Staniforth Smith's party drifted out of the Fly River into the mountains, where food was scarce, and probably perished of exhaustion. DISQUIETING NATIVE STORIES. Received 21, 12.30 a.m. Thursday Island, February 20. Reports from Darn, New Guinea, point to the possibility of Mr Staniforth-Smith's party having been massacred by the natives. Two ketches, one in charge of the resident magistrate at Daru, are out searching. Natives who arrived at Daru on the 11th stated that search parties took all the native police and expolice from their villages. They were under the impression that they were going to fight the natives, who were reported to have killed Mr. Smith's party. The safety of Mr. Smith is doubted at Daru, as the question appears to be discussed amongst the natives as to whether he would be permitted to pass through their territory without hindrance. No authentic news has been received by the acting-magistrate at Daru, who, however, is inclined to believe the reports of coast natives, who got information from their wilder neighbors in the vicinity of the Papuan Gulf.