THE RESCUED CASTAWAYS

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11667, 12 September 1916, Page 5

THE RESCUED CASTAWAYS

MAKING GOOD RECOVERY.

WILD’S DESCRIPTION OF LIFE ON THE ISLAND.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. London, Sept. 10, The Daily Chronicle’s correspondent at Punta Arenas says;—The party rescued from Elephant Island are making good recoveries from their They will arrive in England at the.end of October, , Wild gives a vivid description of life on Elephant Island. The lint was constantly flooded, and bad to be baled nightly. The only hot meal'was served at dawn, taking the shape of penguin fried fin blubber. For lunch there were biscuits and raw blubber. Afternoon was-apent in exercising on a track one hundred yards long. Dinner consisted of penguins’ breast and Bovril, This was- greatly enjoyed, as was half digested fish found in seals’ stomachs. The men smoked grass from the padding of boots in pipes carved from wood and birds’ bones.

Wild decided, failing relief arriving by the end of October, to try to reach Deception Island, where whalers came in summer. Biscuits, sugar and sledging rations were reserved lor this. The jiarty went to bed at 5. 30 and took turns to read aloud the Bible, Encyclopaedia Britaunica, and leading authors. The first question asked the rescuers was: “When was the war over.”