Family in Peril

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 10, 13 January 1936, Page 10

Family in Peril

NEAR DEATH FROM THIRST ■ • SYDNEY, Jan. 9. After travelling by -motor-cycle and side-car more than 2000 miles, from Newcastle to within 26 miles of Cloncurry, Queensland, Mr. F. Davis, his wife and their three daughters nearly perished of thirst almost within sight of Mount Isa.

At Mac-kinlay they were told that thero was an abundance of water on the road, and in consequence did not trouble to carry - more than one water bag, which’ was quickly emptied. In order that his wife and family might have water, Davis denied himself a drink and soon became light-headed and semi-delirious. When within 20 miles of Cloncurry he set off to try to find water. His wife noticed that ho was walking in circles-and undressing himself as he walked. With her eldest daughter, aged 16, she brought him back to the side-car, where he collapsed. The family thought he had died, and Mrs. Davis, leaving the three girls, herself set off in search of water, climbing hills' and running down gullies, where she thought water might be. She, too, collapsed several times, but the thought of her family back on the road impelled her to go forward. Several times the distracted woman thought she saw water, but was dismayed each time to find no more than a white rock.

After traversing several miles Mrs. Davis saw a hut in the distance and, though at the point of exhaustion, managed to attract the attention of Mr. Watson, owner of the hut, who carried her some hundred yards to the building. She could , not speak for the best part of an hour. ' Small quantities of water were given her, and bit by . bit she was able to tell her story. Watson quickly placed water on his utility truck and, with Mrs. Davis, raced ''back to the remainder of the Davis family. After travelling some distance they found tho eldest girl lying in the middle of the road. She was placed in the ear, and when the side-car was reached the two twin daughters were folding a tent over their father, whom they believed to bo dead. Watson resuscitated the eldest girl, and after half an hour aiso brought Davis round sufficiently to enable him to travel. Ho then made for Cloncurry, where the whole family received attention. The eldest girl had to be artificially fed, but after several days in uospital she was discharged.