THE PAPUAN EXPLORERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 267, 21 March 1911, Page 5

THE PAPUAN EXPLORERS

NARROW ESCAPES OF THE LEADER'S. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, March 20. Later details show that Mr. Staniforth Smith's party reached Thursday Island early on Friday, but owing to the St. Patrick's Day holiday had to wait till next day to get news through. The explorers had a great reception. It transpires that when the party had nearly reached the mouth of the Kikori river they were met by one of the relief boats in a very exhausted condition after their long and rough travels and the scarcity of food. When the raft went over the rapids the three white leaders had narrow escapes, as they were carried a long way down the river, Mr. Smith scrambling out on one side, and Messrs. Pratt and Bell on the other. It was five days before they were able to rejoin one another. Eleven native carriers were swept off the raft, and never again seen. They lost all supplies, tents, and records of the journeys. Their only food was a little cocoa recovered from the wreck. Yams, taro, and sago were gathered en route. They were frequently compelled to stop to recover strength and gather food. They shot some pigs, but refrained from eating much meat, for fear of sickness. Another trouble was that they had no means of lighting a. fire. Pratt Had a box of matches, which was wetted when he was plunged into the river. After some days the matches were dried, and they got a light. In order to save the few remaining matches, in case of emergency, they carried a piece of burning wood for thirty-four days wherever they went. After reaching the relief boat, which was sent out by the resident magistrate at Goaribari, they carefully dieted themselves, for fear of illness after the long fast. Only the three whites came on to Thursday Island. The native members of the expedition were left at Daru.