MAROONED ON AN ISLAND

Evening Star, Issue 19064, 6 October 1925, Page 11

MAROONED ON AN ISLAND

MAN'S TRYINK EXPERIENCE. [Special to the ‘ Star.’] PALMERSTON N., October 6. To be marooned on an island for twenty-one hours, with a rising river threatening him, was the experience of a Manawatu Gorge road employee during the week-end. Dave Woods decided on Sunday to take his horse and dray to the island below the gorge bridge to collect a load of drift wood. The river at the time was sufficiently shallow to allow of a , comparatively safe crossing, and, landing on the island about midday, Woods commenced to explore. He left the horse and dray for a time while he searched the island, which at low water is of quite considerable dimensions. In the meantime the horse thought it was time to go home, and, without waiting for orders, made for the shore. The river at the time was beginning to rise rapidly, and when “ Robinson Crusoe ” discovered that he had been deserted by his “ Man Friday ” a fairly heavy fresh was running in the river, and too great ft risk was involved in attempting to swim ashore.

The men in camp at the gorge were surprised just about dusk to see the horse and dray returning, minus both its load and the driver, and, scenting trouble, they hurried towards the island, only to find that the rising river and the coming of the night made rescue a matter of extreme danger. Woods was hailed across the waters and acquainted with the position. He then had no alternative but to make the best of it for the • night. Heavy showers during the afternoon and evening made matters uncomfortable, and no little anxiety was caused by the fact that the river was still in a nasty mood. A most cheerless and uncomfortable night was spent, and the morning was gladly welcomed by the lonely islander. An soon as day broke two members of the gorge staff got busy, and secured a boat, but owing to the Hooded state of the river it was found necessary to launch it from as high up as the railway bridge, and the downstream journey was by no means a joy ride. The rescuers had three narrow escapes from capsizing, being caught once in the willows under the bridge, where they had a most uncomfortable five minutes. On coming abreast of the island the difficulty was finding a landing, and the men were compelled to drift down about twenty chains before they could land. Fortunately Woods was found to be little the worse for bis outing, although wet through all night. It was just on 9 o’clock on Monday morning, twenty-one hours after ho landed on the island, when the marooned man set foot on shore again, much to the relief of his wife and children, who had spent an anxious night.