A DAY ON AN ISLAND.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15478, 4 January 1916, Page 2

A DAY ON AN ISLAND.

BOY SCOUTS HELD UP BY FLOOD

Three of a party of Boy Scouts, encamped ■on the banks of the Waimakariri, struck an experience approximated closely to "the real thing' which delights the hearts of boys to read about. They spent twenty-four hours on an island in the- river, from which they were unable to escape, owing to a sudden flood rising and cutting them off from the shore.

On Sunday morning things were normal as far as the river was concerned, and there was nothing as a premonitory indication that the unstable river would indulge in one of its vagaries. The three boys, whose ages ranged from 12 to 14, decided to explore one of the islands in the river, and found no difficulty in wading from the shore to the "pirate's lair." Once on the island they found much to interest them, and it was only when it was too late that they noticed that "an old man" flood had descended, and that the depth had increased by three feet. Two of the boys could swim, and possibly could have reached the shore, though the river was now running like a; mill race. They decided, however, to stay by their companion and set about to make themselves as much at home as their circumstances would permit. One boy had a pea-rifle, and with this a rabbit (was shot. To skin it and cook it in front of a fire was "all in the game." Some bushes on the island gavo them some shelter, and they passed a not uncomfortable night. Yesterday morning, at 4 o'clock, the river was still fairly high. The father of one of the boys had arrived on Sunday afternoon, and had attempted to throw some sustenance, in the shape of potatoes, to the boys. As the expanse of water between the shore and the island was something over four chains, the shooting, though good, was not good enough to result in all the potatoes landing. Some of them, however, did reach the boys. At 6 a.m. the river began to fall, and a start was made to get the boys to shore. Two or three clotheg lines were got, and an attempt was made to throw the end of one to the island, but the attempt was not successful. Ultimately one of the Boy Scouts swam •out with the life line, and the boy on the island, who could not swim, reached shore with its aid,.his two companions swimming close to him to give assistance if it were needed.

Back again in camp, after twentyfour hours on the island, the boys were the heroes of the hour, and after getting into dry clothes and consuming plentiful draughts of hot milk, they felt none, the worse for their experience.