A CHILD’S ORDEAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 May 1928, Page 7

A CHILD’S ORDEAL.

LOST IN THE BUSH

AN AMAZING- ADENTURE

SYDNEY, April 20

While attending a picnic with her parents in the Peak Hill district. New South Wales, little Diana Johnston, lour years of age, made off with another child in chase of a rabbit. Her companion soon returned, hut not so Diana. As soon as she was found to i-e missing the picnic party commenced a search, as thorough and as systematic as the circumstances would allow. Dusk came and there was no sign of the child. -She seemed to have disappeared as completely as if she had teen swallowed by the earth, which had afterwards closed about her Darkness came. and a frantic mother and father tore wildly through ! the hush shouting and calling, while others went to nearby towns for assistance. At daybreak the next day motorcars arrived: from all over the district bringing searchers, and by nine o’clock there were 300 people scouring the hush. The search parties were properly organised, and the women carried meals to the men so that no time would he lost. All through the day rhe search went on; and ten miles irom the scene of the picnic the child’s hat was found late in the afternoon. A black tracker was summoned, hut owing to the footprints of so many searchers he was unable to rentier any material help. The searchers were mystified. At dusk that night a tired and worn <hi:d arrived at a homestead miles away and said that she had been looking for her mother “for such a. long time.” At the picnic she had taken off her shoes and socks, and her feet were sore and bleeding, and the few (lollies that she wore were almost torn from her back. She was soon cared or, and after her ravenous hunger and thirst had been partially satisfied she was returned to her home. As she gathered her baby in her -unis' her mother collapsed, hut re- \ i -ed when she heard the child sobbing on her shoulder. It was a dramatic scene, and there were few dry eves to witness the reunion. The child was put to lied, and although delirious ih rough the night had almost reco\ ered the next day.