A NIGHT IN THE BUSH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 118, 16 May 1912, Page 7

A NIGHT IN THE BUSH.

UNFORTUNATE ENDING TO A ~ DAY'S OUTING.

On Sunday night (says Tuesdays Nelson Colonist) Mr Robert Allaa, of the Auckland Clothing and Drapery Company, met-with a serious accident on tho hills «*t the back of Enns" Glynn while returning from a walkin»- expedition in company with three young ladies. Misses Bogle, Hunter, ■and Robertson. Following his usual custom, Mr' Allan went for a. tramp on the hills on Sunday, and knowng that the young ladies mentioned (wl-o are employed in his establishment) had similar intentions, he told them that if they were at the "third house" on the old Dun .Mountain tramline, at half-past nine, .he would have breakiV.st ready for them. The young ladies "reached the place at the appointed time, and Mr Allaa. who makes a:practice of. carrying a cooking outfit, with him when on these; exciirsiojiisj hud a. meal ready. After breakfast and a rest the p...rty e proceeded to travel, along the or'^.t of-the ..'dividing range between Brook Street and the Roding River in tli* direction of Bishopdale, it being their intention to make the Brook Valley 'again by. w;.:y of the Enner, Glynn spur. • The morning was beautifully line, but in the afternoon a. heavy !Vj> oame down,} enveloping the hills, anJ darkness coming on early, travelling became very difficult. The country in this locality is perplexing, and the gullies are rough,' and this did m■*. c<M to the pleasure bi the trampers. Evidently taking a wipng spur,' th 3, .party in' endeavoring to come b.'i-;k to the' Brook spur got into the guT?y at tho back of Enner Glynn. About )• o'clock Mr Allan,-who was -leading the way,''.'suddenly disappeared, an.l tho girk heard him sliding down wh^i proved, when daylight "came, to he !• steep slate face. They were frightened to move for fear of going ovvir tl;e same place, but on calling put to him Mr Allan'replied, th:;it he was hu-t They were powerless to act, and there was nothing to dp but to spend a.-lqn£ vigil on. the brink of the face until ■daylight.' Mr Allan's moans could lie heard during the night by the watch ers above, and itwas evident that h-: was aeriously injured. At the fir.;*1 bre.°-k of denvn the young ladies went, to ld:i «:sdist?Mice, and it was found that -Mr. Allan was lying; at the foot of a steep giv'.yei face, having failed a distance? of :;bout twenty or thirty feet. 'Although the extent of ).m injuries could not be ascertained, it was seen tln-.t he v/.jis badly cutabour the face and. he*:.!,, and two of .t'ii-3 young .]sidi«:i, Misses' Bogle' , .-,nd Robertson, roiiiaine'J with him, while Miss Hinvtru1 mada her w»iy' back to 'the resci'voir for .assista-noe, the ca.rotnker's house bo'in'.; readied at 7.1'"1 No mesra. however, could be '-ont to town untiLjho lek'phor.s exeh.i ago opened at 8 o'clock, ■■the. -caretaker's house being coimepted-. with- the Firrf Brigade station only when the ox change is closed, and as there is tki omq living at the-Fire.-Brigade station it way useless;to'ring up sooner. H s mv • over, at 8. o'clock, Mr J. Stone (tlio caretaker) telephoned to. : the. police, diid Constables; Townsend, McGregor, nn3 Falconb.ridge.j, with the .'imbalance, proceeded to Brook Street. The constables, were joined by Messiv L. Sheather and A.. Anderson, o! Brook Street* both of whom have n thorough knowledge of the country

Dr. .Gibbs, ".who had been' summoiifv.],.' also joined the paity, and guided i.-v Mr "Stone- they''readied the pl:(,?e' Where Mr-Alhya had fallen, after aii arduous tramp. Dr. Gibbs did wh.t av'ks possible, for Mr Allan, .".nd morphia had' to .be- tidministered 7i.0----fore he coukVbe placed on'a. stretchor, The. travelling' oil the return jouvnoy :w ivery rough,. and lendered inor- 1 difficult by tlie : care tlnat hadl to oo ■exercised- in carrying the injured man, but he was eventually brought into. .Brook Street, and conveye-.l i<. M_iss' Hiirkness's private hospital i;i Manuka Street. Great credit is 11 n•• donbtedly dv© to the lescue party uv the capable and careiul .maiinc-r iii which they handlet! the injured1 man over the rough country. .On examination it was found that Mr Allan was suffering 'from, severe "'cuts and bruises about the head/find chest, and sever.; 1 ribs were broken. Fortunately ther^ were no indications, of a fracture of the skull. The young ladies, beyond being thoroughly "worn- out, 'we little the worse for their unpleasant

experience. When the party ff-.iled to return •■;; Sund.-iy ovoning considerable unxiety \YiUi folt, arid it was generally tho'.iybt tliiit the girls had tired, and were tin able, to make honie. At about t«.n o'clock Messrs B. Laiie and F. Hunter went to the leservoir and made h>quiries, but Mr Stone' was unnb'e tc give any information. Mr' Hunt.v; then returned to town and took ny.t lamps and a tramping outfit. 'In company /with Mr Lane he went oot as far as the ''third; house," but finding .no trace of the party they re turned to town at 5 a.m. yesterday morning. When word was received that his sister was at Mr Stone's, jVOHunter took .out coats, etc., for tho girls. He then attempted to locate the other piwt-y, but could not find them, so waited on ,tlie top of tlio Brook spur and assisted to carl-y M' Allii-n down.

The young Ir.dies speak A^oiy highly of: the-kindnesses shown them by Mis Stone.

'On inquiry last night it was learn: that Mr Allan w;:.s progressing so'vcl' as could be expected.