DEATH IN THE DESERT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 276, 20 November 1908, Page 2

DEATH IN THE DESERT.

An interruption occurred in the overland telegraph line between Adelaide and Port Darwin a few days ago. The stoppage occurred between Katherine Station, sixty miles south of the terminus of the Pine Creek railway, and Daly Waters. The latter station is 1600 miles north of Adelaide. As soon as the trouble was located repairing parties were sent out from _ both stations. That from Katherine, in charge of Lineman J. Shannon, reached the seat of the trouble at a point about three miles north of Elsey Creek. There they found that one of the two copper wires which- form the overland system had been cut in three different places, and that the insulators had been smashed. About forty j'ards distant ftom the break, Shannon found a man lying on the ground in a dying condition.' The man was, wearing only trousers and a shirt. He was a swagman, and had been overcome by heat and thirst. He had cut the line in order that assist-

ance might reach him. Shannon did his best to revive the wayfarer, but unfortunately he had only a waterbag with him, and water proved _of little use when it came to a question of saving the life of a dying man. Soon after repairing the breaks Shannon lifted the "swagman on his horse, and with a black boy leading it, proceeded southwards in the direction of Daly Waters. After going about a mile the swagman, who had revived a little, .said suddenly^ "Stop, or I'll fall off." Shannon' jumped to the ground, and was just in time to catch the stranger as he reeled over in the saddle. A few minutes later the swagman died in the lineman's arms. The man had no valuables in his possession beyond a revolver, and there is nothing to establish his identity.