ATE TADPOLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21242, 24 January 1931, Page 17

ATE TADPOLES.

HOW LOST FLYERS LIVED.; GRASS ON MENU. " (Fbom Oue Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 15. Tadpoles, boiled grass, two malted , * milk tabloids, and water—bow is that for a menu over 21 Says? It was on such a menu that-Captain W. L. Pittendrigh and Mr S. J. Hamre, of Sydney, existed when they - were lost -in Central Australia. The men* were on a flying ’ - expedition for the Central Australian Gold Exploration Company, when their plane was forced down because it had run short of petrol. Their adventures emphasise the danger of flying in the little- ’’ known parts of the continent, and one* more direct attention to the inhospitable nature of the country. The men disappeared, on December 29,. * when they left Alice Springs for the little known Ilbilba, 350 miles away. - ' They were unable to locate'their destina--, tion, and decided to return to Alice Springs. They flew in a wide circle in an endeavour to locate their position, 4-4 and to their great alarm they discovered that they were quickly .running out of* < ■ petrol. The country over which they were flying was all desert hills and valleys, with nothing resembling a track of any sort. Still they, had to land and they did eo in a valley. The machine was brought. down without damage, but Captain Pettindrigh declares,; that the position is euch that it will not be possible to fly the machine off. When'the . men were found they were weak from/;'exhaustion, and they had to receive medical treatment. ' v \ c For nearly three weeks at least four aeroplanes searched for the missing airmen. The Australian Air Force joined in the search, sending three planes under the command of Flight-lieutenant Eaton, who has figured, in many episodes concerning lost flyers in Central Australia. Captain Pettindrigh told Flight-lieu-tenant Eaton that, he and Mr Hamre left Alice Springs at 10.15 a.m. on December 20, and at 2.30 p.m., having failed to locate Ilbilba, they flew in a large circle,-and then set out for Alice, . Springs. It was soon clear, that the petrol supply had almost given out, so they were forced to land about 30 miles north-west of Mount Zeal. . • They had to. leave the plane almost immediately in' search of- water, and because there had been recent rains they were successful. To this'they owe their lives. They had walked 30 miles before they discovered water that was fit to drink. The day after the official search began a plane flew over the lost men, but ; no ground signal had been prepared, and they were bitterly , disappointed when they were unable, to attract attention. A ground signal was prepared after that and . fires. were kept burning. It was a great' relief, to both men to realise that an organised search was being made for them.- They felt that if they could only sustain themselves until the ground had been systematically covered they would be found safe and sound. And so it proved -to be. Actually they were discovered by. two planes on the same day.' Both secured provisions and dropped them from the air. The flyers explained that during their search for water they proceeded slowly, resting and conserving their strength as much as possible. The : water supply wasjust about finished when' it was replenished by another rain storm. Is it any wonder that the men consider themselves lucky to be alive to-day? ,- -.-•••