A TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1921, Page 12

A TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

OLD MAN GOES BLIND. TWELVE -DAYS WITHOUT FOOD. Masterton, Feb. 5. Suffering from the effects of starvation, and totally blind, James Harvey, about 63 years of ago, now lies in the Masterton Public Hospital in a critical condition. It appears that Harvey, who is well known in the district as a casual farm laborer, was unable to obtain employment either at Masterton or at Tinui, about 30 miles distant. Having failed in his object at the latter place, he walked back 15 miles or so to Blairlogio, whence he attempted to cross-country to Flat Point, on the East Coast. While on his way to the coast his sight suddenly began to fail him. Realising his terrible plight, and that his only hope of safety lay in reaching some frequented locality, he pressed on as far as he could. At last he reached the beach, and, fortunately, found a deserted whare in which he was able to rest. Soon afterwards he became totally blind. The only food in Harvey’s possession was a little bread, and this was soon exhausted. He remained about a week in the whare, but at the end of that time was forced by hunger to crawl abroad iri search of some kind of nourishment. Simply by feeling his way, he managed to keep to the beaten track, which ho was afraid to leave lest someone should pass by without seeing him. Gradually weakness overcame him and he could go no further. He lay out on the ground for several days, until he was discovered on Friday last by two station employees. He was then utterly exhausted, having taken practically no food for twelve days, and it was with some difficulty he was removed to Flat Point. The Masterton police were immediately communicated with, and Constable Phillips brought the unfortunate man in to town about midnight. Very little is at present known about Harvey’s antecedents, but he is understood to be single and without relatives ja th» Domini?#. j