LONG MOTOR TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19216, 4 January 1926, Page 9

LONG MOTOR TOUR.

WOMAN DRIVER'S FEAT. PRIVATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. [from our own correspondent. ] SYDNEY. Dec. 24 A journey by motor-car that has been described by competent men as the most hazardous and meritorious that fias ever boon performed by a woman driver is that of Mrs. Marion Bell, of Perth (Western Australia), who arrived in Sydney to-day after nearly 7000 miles of travel in little more than ten weeks, the most part of it being through the least settled parts of tho continent. Previous despatches have told how this intrepid woman motorist set out on her journey in spite of the warnings of her friends and officials as high as the Minister for Justice in Western Australia. It has already been told how she "flew in the face of Providence," dared all those risks, but a more comprehensive account of some of Mrs. Bell's experiences, as told to a newspaper interviewer at. Newcastle, will bear the keen light of detail. Mrs. Bell, by the way, is a native of New Zealand. She was born at North Auckland, where her family—her maiden name was Chaffey—resided. A Tribal Battle. Once Mrs. Bell, who is accompanied bv her 11-year-old daughter, ran into the end of h tribal battle, near Hoy Hill, in Western Australia, not far from the border of the Northern Territory. Hundreds of naked natives were hurling boomerangs and spears from opposing positions. Short stone knives rattled on hardened shields carried by the warriors. Mrs. Bell drovo her car as close as possible and the natives declared a truce while they gathered round the car. She distributed beads and sweets among them and received in return some of thenweapons. On another occasion when surrounded by a throng of too-curious natives at dusk, Mrs. Bell turned on the self-starter, switched on the lights, and with motor horn blaring, darted off swiftly—but not ?o swiftly as the thoroughly-frightened natives. Once, 60 miles from anywhere, the car encountered one solitary native carrying a bundle of spears. When the ca.r stopped, and Mrs. Bell called to him, the native would not come, but she ate a Mvcet from a box, and then offored him one. The native responded to this gesture of peace, and wanted to press upon Mrs. Bell the whole bundle of spears as a return offering. Privations from Thirst. Naturally Mrs. Bell suffered privations, especially from thirst.. In one dry burning district, mother and daughter were without water for two days. The area was drought-stricken and no rain had fallen for nine months. A few drops of water taken from tl?e radiator and mixed with a little brandy helped to quench their thirst. This very limited supply ran out, and the car came to a standstill. The travellers' plight appeared desperate. That night it rained. For 15 minutes it poured. Mrs. Bell spread a tarpaulin and caught sufficient to fill the radiator and slake their thirst. Then the rain stopped. Another adventure was with a bushfire. Near the Katherine River, Northern territory, * the car was beset by flames, and for six miles Mrs. Bell had to race through walls of fire and smok;e. The car was bogged on several occasions. Floods also added to tho handicaps of this cross-country expedition, and at a place so near civilisation as Coolangatta, cn the Tweed River, the boundary for some distance between Queensland and Hew South Wales. A dozen cars were lined up, waiting for the'waters to subside, but knowing that Mrs. Bell was pressed for time-, the Mayor of Coolangutta offered to tow her across by ,a horse. And tow.the car across he did. vn'th "the water up to the handles of trio doors. A, Simple Diet. The principal food of the travellers was bully beef, sardines, dry bread and water. Naturally, when she was the guest of stations and townships en route, Mrs. Bell- and her daughter fared sumptuously, but there were days on end * when they had to conserve _ their rations carefully. For a fortnight they were without butter. Living on such food and undergoing hazardous adventure's and nerve-trying periods of anxiety have had theii effect on Mrs. Fell and her face is now lined and sunburnt. When' she arrived at Newcastle, last, Saturday she was dropping from fatigue—she was so tired indeed, that she could not proceed to Sydney, as she had intended, the same day, bnt had to rest for four days. She intends to complete the journey to Perth by the southern route,' but as this is frequently used by motorists, the remainder of tile trip will be comparative child's play. If she does not go another yard, Mrs. Bell will have the satisfaction of knowing-that she has accomplished the greatest journey ever undertaken by a woman, and encountered hardships that wonld have tried the courage and endur- • ance of the bravest of men.