An Unpleasant Adventure.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6298, 4 July 1895, Page 1

An Unpleasant Adventure.

(Mt. Ida Chronicle). Mr J. Stuart of Upper Kyeburn, had a rather thrilling experience last week. He and his son, a boy about 11 years of age, have been rabbiting lately at Grpen Gully, some five miles or so at the back of, the Burster. They intended to return homo on Saturday, the 15th inst., but owing to the snow coming on they decided to remain where they were until it cleared up. As they were so long in returning their friends began to get anxious, especially as they were badly provided with provisions. Accordingly, on Friday (21st inst.) Messrs Monk and Phillip Brown decided to go over to their camp, and see how they were getting on. They started at daybreak, thinking to get back the same night. After getting part of the way up the Burster the snow got so deep that they had to let their horses go home and proceed on foot. In some places tho drifts were 10 or 12 feet deep, and as they neareclthe top they had to cross some of them on their hands and knees. So slow was their progress that in spite of their early start it was about o o'clock when they reached the hut known as GufhVa store. The effected an entrance without any difficulty, and found an old wooden, box inside which they knocked up, and roughly shaped into showshoes. They then decided to press on to Stuart's camp. On going outside, Messrs Andrews (manager of Kyburn Station) and Brown (shepherd), who were bound on the same errand, appeared in sight, and by the time they got a cup of tea it was thought to be unwise to go further till next day. At dusk they heard some dogs howling a distance away, so they went outside and coo-ed, andreceivinga reply, Messw Monk and P. Brown went in the direction of the sound, and met Stuart, his son, and a Chinaman. When they reached them Stuart was dead beat, and fell down exhausted. The Chinaman (whose camp was two miles nearer than Stuart's) was not so badly knocked up, while the boy was quite fresh. This was due to the fact that he could walk on the top of the snow, while the men sunk to the top of the legs at every step. Stuarfc and his son had made two previous attempts to get through with their horses, but it was impossible to do so owing to the depth of the snow. As their provisions were done, they decided to attempt the journey on foot. The snow in some places had drifted to a depth of 20ft, so the difficulty of their journey can be imagined. Their troubles were not yet altogether over, for they had to pass the night in a hut on the top of the Burster with half a blanket between seven, and only a very small fire. As they had expected to be home the same night, they had taken nothing more in the way of eatables than a small lunch, but fortunately there happened to be in the hut a little sugar and tea, a few potatoes, and,a small piece of bacon. By moving about they all—with the exception of, Stuart, 1 , who was pretty badjfor some time—managed to put the , night through passably well. Next morning it was snowing; -but about eight it cleared up and they started for home, and although the journey was they arrived there safely. At the foot of the hill they met nearly the whole of the male inhabitants of Kyeburn, who, thinking when theydicl not turn uptho previous evening that they wore lost, had : turn/ouVfb'lobk for"them:' "' ! r