LIVED ON PARROT SOUP

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3940, 25 March 1930, Page 2

LIVED ON PARROT SOUP

MEN LOST IN AUSTRALIAN BUSH

Aeroplanes figured in an absorbing search for two prospectors lost in the mountainous country m the vicinity of Bathurst, in the western districts of New South Wales. The planes succeeded in their object, dropped food near the starving men, and were able to guide a relief party to the spot where the exhausted prospectors were lying in a rough shack they had made on the banks of the river. Norman Job and Walter Case were the prospectors concerned, and they were reported missing ten days previously by two mates. The latter had tramped into Bathurst to get supplies, and while they were in the town the heaviest storm for years broke over the district, sent creeks swirling 20ft over normal levels, and made conditions difficult even for hardened bushmen. When the two men with the supplies went back to the camp in the mountains they found that it had been washed away by the rains, and there was no sign of either Case of Job. It was only after six days had elapsed that planes were sent out to reconnoitre, and after some hours ol searching one of them located the two men on the banks of the \V inbnrndale Creek. Flying low over the trees, the pilot dropped a bag ol supplies, plotted the position on his map, and was able next day to lead the relief posse to the spot. The graphic story told by the rescued men indicates how. simple it is to he lost in the Australian bush, though only a few miles from habitation. , When the storm broke on the llmrsday Case and .Job retreated to their camp, but were soon alarmed by the rising creek. In an hour it was 2011 over its banks and lapping at their door. , - X1 . In blinding ram and with gieat trees crashing down all round them, they abandoned camp and climbed up the hillside. Vivid lightning that accompanied the storm split trees in their vicinity, and their climb lor safety was a nightmare experience. As darkness closed in they cut branches and made a rough shack. But the force of the storm tore their shelter from them and they spent an exhausting night in the pouring rain. Next morning it was clearer, and they decided to make for the nearest homestead. Their camp, they had found, had been washed away, but their lack of bush experience sent them in the wrong direction, and by nightfall they were hopelessly lost in the ranges. The all-day tramp through the scrub over rocky ground had worn through their boots, and they were barefooted, hungry, and disheartened. Food supplies, meagre enough from the first, were negligible by now, and their position was desperate. They existed that day and the next on a diet of blackberries. They had sufficient hnshcralt to make for the highest point in their vicinity. This was an ordeal in itself, for the steam from the drying mountain sides produced weakness and exhaustion. From their elevated position they could see no sign of habitation; but they decided to make lor the creek, which was their only hope of salvation. At least it afforded a certain water supply. It took another day to get there, and when thev arrived they had just enough strength leit to build a rough shack from the boughs ol trees. All food had gone by that time, and in their weak state neither could go hunting. They took potshots at rabbits, which abounded, hut failed to score a kill. Eventually one ol them brought down a parrot, and this they cooked in water to make a weak soup. “It was like manna,” they said, “ and on it we lived until we heard the aeroplane droning overhead.” Job was lying in the shelter, too weak to drag 'himself out; but Case summoned up the last of his strength, built a fire, and waved a blanket signal, fortunately the airman saw it, flew low, iVid dropped the supplies that kept them alive until relief came. When brought into Bathurst their foot were cut and swollen, and both looked emaciated, though they had been missing then only six days.