AIR-WRECK SURVIVORS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1937, Page 9

AIR-WRECK SURVIVORS

ONE MAN MAY LOSE.LEG

ANXIETY FOR SOME

SEARCHERS

(United Press Association—By Electric Telesraph—Copyright.)

BRISBANE, March 1.

Cutting their way through ■ heavilytimbered mist-swept mountain country, rescuers this morning reached the wrecked Stinson airliner found yesterday in ranges 50 miles from Brisbane, taking restoratives, and food-to the exhausted survivors of the crash, Mr. J. R. Binstead, of Manly, and Mr. J. Proud, of Sydney.

Dr. N. A. Lawlor, a member of the party, fears that it may be necessary to amputate Mr. Proud's fractured leg because of infection caused by flies.

A second party taking stretchers for the survivors and coffins for the dead followed the first. Drizzling rain and heavy clouds impeded the searchers.

Both survivors are in the last stages of exhaustion. Mr. Binstead is so weak that he had obtained his last supply of water'from the creek-.a mile off and had told his fellow-survivor that he was unable to make the trip again. The vessel he used to obtain the water was a thermos flask which belonged to the chief pilot, Mr. Rex Boyden, and which he salvaged from the charred airliner. '

Mr. Bernard O'Reilly, who found the wrecked aeroplane and its survivors, related yesterday that when he came upon the survivors, Mr. Binstead cried out: "Come down here and let's shake hands with you." Mr. Proud weakly exclaimed, "And me. too." ' O'Reilly gave them all his sandwiches and refrained from discussing the fate of the other occupants of the aeroplane, which was all too plain to him. Miss Rose O'Reilly, sister of Mr, Barnard O'Reilly', is a trained nurse. She, along with her mother and a woman friend, set out on horseback for the scene. She hopes to be able to give assistance to Dr. Lawlor should he decide to amputate Mr. Proud's leg, in which case two days may elapse before the patient can be moved. The rescue party with the survivors and the dead is not expected back from the crash until tomorrow. Reports from the small hamlet of Hillview, which is nearest the scene, state that a large number of unofficial searchers arrived today and began the ascent of the mountain. Some are without coats or provisions, which ■ is regarded as very risky, as the countryis very wild and likely to baffle the most experienced bushmen. A number who had intended to return tonight are unaccounted for, giving rise to anxiety.