LOST IN THE SHOW

Evening Star, Issue 21824, 13 September 1934, Page 5

LOST IN THE SHOW

ONE MAN PERISHES COMPANION RESCUED. Tragedy recently overtook two men, each more than sixty years, who were missing in the snow on the Mount Monda track, beyond Fernsbaw, Victoria, with little food, littlo clothing, and no shelter. One of the men, Andrew Robert Robertson, aged sixty-four, retired farmer, of Ilcalesvillc, died at noon on Sunday, August 19. Just before he died he heard a search party'calling in the distance. His companion, Harry

Albert Cardwell, of Caulfield, was found tbe same afternoon in dense forest and snow. After he had been revived he said: “ You have come too late. There is only one of us left. Poor old Rohby is gone.” The two men set out on the rndaj morning to walk over the Mount Honda track, travelling by service car to the point where the track leaves the road. They were seasoned walkers, and little anxiety was felt when they did not return on Friday night. On Saturday morning a search party was ionnedThe police also formed a search party, but. although both parties searched until darkness fell on Saturday night, they found no. trace of the missing men. Tbe search was continued before dawn on Sunday morning, and because of a report that a smoke signal had

been seen from the direction of tbo mountain an aeroplane from the I'.sscudon Aerodrome was sent out, hut tha search was fruitless. Several miles from the track, in dense forest and snow,'the search party received a weak reply to their calls. The party followed the sound, and discovered Cardwell. He was in a pitiable condition, and was so weak that he could tell the party little of what had occurred except that the two had missed tha track and had wandered in the scrub, seeking desperately for a track that would lead them home. Mr Robertson is said to have known the Mount Honda track “ like the palm of his hand.” The track is not well defined in parts, and many walking parties have been lost temporarily upon it.”-