PAPUAN EXPEDITION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10193, 21 March 1911, Page 5

PAPUAN EXPEDITION

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph

LATER DETAILS.

ONE OF THE RELIEF BOATS MET

(Received March 20,10.20 a.m.)

SYDNEY, March 20.

In connection with the Papuan expedition later details show that Mr Staniforth Smith and party reached Thursday Island early on Friday, but owing to St. Patrick's Day being a holiday, had to wait till next day to get nerts through. The explorers had a. great reception. It transpires that when the party had nearly reached the mouth of the Kikqri river tti'ey met one of the relief boats. ' : '

They are in a very exhausted condition on account of their long, rough travels and a scarcity of food. NARROW ESCAPE.'

When the raft went over the rapids, the three white leaders had a narrow escape. They Avero carried a long way down the river. Mr Smith scrambled out on 'one side and Messrs Pratt and Bell: on the other. . Tfc was five- days before they were able to rejoin the party..,, .Eleyen native carriers .were swept off -the raft "and never again seen, 'The parity .lost all supplies, tents, and records of the journey. ' ' The only food left was a little cocoa, recovered from the wreck. Yams, taro, and sago were gathered en route.

The party were frequently compellbl to stop to recover their strength and gatheY food. They shot some pigs, but refrained*'• from eating much of tire meat for fear of sickness,. . ANOTHER TROUBLE.

Another trouble was that there were no means of lighting a fire. had a box'-of. matohes! but they -wem. wetted when he was plunged into the river! After some davs they were dried and the party got a light. In order to I save the few remaining matches for a case of emergency, the party carried n piece of burning wood for thirty-four , days'wherever they "went. "'

CAREFUL DIETING! •''.*

After reaching the relief boat which had beensent out bv the* Resident Magistrate, at Goaribari, they carefully'dieted themselves ror fear of illness after their long fast. ... Only three.whites came on to Thursday Island. The native members of the expedition left at Daru.