STRANDED MOTOR PARTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 December 1937, Page 8

STRANDED MOTOR PARTY

TERRORS OF THIRST SYDNEY, December 23. A graphic story of the harrowing experiences of three men lost in the desert near the border of Western Australia and Northern Territory was told at Mount Isa (Western Queensland) by Mr. W. Dillon,

organiser for the North Australia Workers’ Union. v Dillon was stranded 45 miles from Mentejinnie Station with two unemployed men, whom he picked up in his car at Birdum. Mr. Moray, general manager for Vestey’s Estate, arrived on the scene and promised to send held to repair the disabled car. He was assured that Dillon’s party had plenty of food and water, but it was discovered after he had gone that the water drum, filled at the last

bore, had leaked dry. An attempt was made to drain water from the radiator, but one man scalded his hand, and most of the water* was lost. Dillon’s two companions decided ,to search the dry creek for water when Moray’s help failed to arrive. They did not return. Dillon lighted spinifex fires through that night. Next, morning, realising that the position was getting desperate, he went in the direction taken by the men. After walking all day and sending up smoke signals, Dillon returned to the car. Although tormented by the pangs of thirst, Dillon would not make for the bore 20 miles away, as he knew that if he did the men would perish. Next morning he left the following message at the car:_ “Mates lost. Unable locate them. Making to bore. Will leave sign at bore if arrive. Will

carry water in endeavour to find missing men. He then made a detour, working toward the bore in a final effort to locate the men. Picking up tiacks in the dry creek, he followed and found a tobacco tin with a message scratched on it, which read, “No water. Lost. No hope.” A little later he found the two men in a state of exhaustion, and then began the trying ordeal of attempting to reach the bore, seven miles away, with one of the men in a state of collapse. The men almost succumbed at the bore from a surfeit of water.

The same night engineer Burg and Constable Woodcock arrived at lofT b i Ore ’n-u Ving read the message left by Dillon, and told the men they had given up hope, as the message was dated, “Dawn, Tuesday,” instead of “Wednesday.” All the men apparently recovered, but one wS « “Scotty died later °in Wyndham hospital.