CAMPBELL ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 30, 4 August 1931, Page 11

CAMPBELL ISLAND

MAROONED MEN BACK

STOCK LEFT UNATTENDED

(By Telegraph.) . (Special to "The Evening Post.") DUNEDIN, This Day. An interesting story of island life and the hardships caused by lack of proper food is told by Messrs. John and Arthur Warren, who, with Messrs. Harry Warren and A. Spence,'were brought to Bluff on Sunday night by the steamer Tamatea after a lonely, stay of two years on Campbell Island. . . . Mr. J. Warren arid his nephew Arthur took over the island from a syndicate in 1926, Mr. A.' Warren travelling there in December of that year and Mr. J. Warren following a year later. Regular yearly steamer visits were made until August, 1929. Since that time, however, the'four men, until tho Tamatea '& visit, had been\ completely; out of touch with the outside world. In 1926 there were 3000 sheep on the isL.nd, but the number has increased to over. 4000. What their fate and that of the 16 head of cattle on the island is to be is at the moment uncertain. Nobody has been left at the island, and it is probable that it will remain deserted unless arrangements can ba made for regular steamer visits.; : The Tamatea brought back 124 bales of wool and skins, as well as over 100 sealskins, which are stated ?abt to ba worth a great deal st the present time. Before the Tamatea went to tha island great uneasiness was being felt for "the safety of the men. The last steamer to call had taken provisions for a year. It now transpires that ber fore the year was up the men realised that rationing might be advisable. As time went on it became necessary t» mix tapioca, rice, sago, and split peas, which were ground as finely as possible, with flour, and this was used for tha making of bread. Gradually the proportion of flour in the mixture was reduced, until in November last supplies of flour ran out. . As the months passed the stores of food became less and less, and from April until relief arrived, a period of over three months, the men lived entirely on tea, mutton, fish, and the. flesh of a variety of shag found on the island. . : \ ..'', ■.. ... ' \. ■.• :-. In the* early stages of the rationing' period the men's'health" was seriously, affected, Mr. Harry Warren suffering' worst. , ■'.''. ' . •■■. -...- According to Mr. Arthur Warren, it was "touch and go" for some time, arid; it was only due to the men's wisdom in.' rationing by degrees that they were able to accustom themselves to their sparse diet. . ■ ■ . ' ■■ ■ • . Meals on the island had never bee* elaborate, but the last few months provided hardships which severely taxed the strength of the party. They realised that there was no escape, from ;their position until a vessel ar». rived, and by adopting a cheerful outlook they lived a more or less contented life. ; In fact, they becariie so. accus-; tomed to their diet that John Warren, considers they, could have, existed for some considerable time longer.