WITH THE BLACKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 September 1924, Page 5

WITH THE BLACKS

WOMEN FROM DOUGLAS MAWSON

STORY BY NATIVES

BY CABLE—PRESB ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT MELBOURNE, Sept. 4. The Minister, for Home Affairs has received an official ■ message supporting the statement that women from the missing vessel Douglas Mawson are still alive. The message states that three Arnheimland natives stated that they had recently seen two white women, a mother and her daughter, alive amongst the Arnheim tribesmen. A report from Darwin says that a black boy from the scene of the wreck of the Douglas Mawson brings a- story of four men in a motor-launch, who landed from a wrecked steamer. Finding ,the locality unsuitable they put to sea again and the launch capsized, all being drowned. Of the other survivors who reached the shore all the males w r ere speared by the blacks while asleep, and two women were taken captive. The boy declared that he had seen these w'omen alive about a week ago. One member of the rescue expedition, accompanied by several natives, has gone to the locality where the women are supposed to be captive, with a view to negotiating for their release. Failing friendly overtures the expedition will proceed to search the country. Further unofficial messages from Darwin strengthen the case for the Douglas Mawson women being found alive. The news is mostly from native sources, but is so categorical in detail as to make it probable that it is founded on fact. According to the stories various attempts at escape were made by the captives, but were frustrated bv the cunning of the captors.. One rumour, which, • however, is regarded in official circles and by those acquainted with tribal customs of the blacks as unlikely, is that both women have given birth to half-caste children.

WOMEN UNDOUBTEDLY ALIVE. Received Sept. 5, 9.25 a.m. DARWIN, Sept. 5. Official confirmation has been received by the Administration of the Northern Territory 1 that both the Douglas Mawson women are alive at Bradshaw’s Inlet. A police party is proceeding immediately to Arnliein Bay to. bring the women back. The authorities, who were at first sceptical, now have no doubt that at least one child was born of the elder woman not long after landing, and therefore it is white, and not a half-caste, as rumoured. The women are Mrs Willett, aged 35, and her daughter, aged 14. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.