THE PAPUAN EXPLORERS.

Southland Times, Issue 16691, 21 March 1911, Page 5

THE PAPUAN EXPLORERS.

JETHEB DETAILS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright). SYDNEY, March 20. Later details show that Mr Stanl’forth Smith's party reached Thursday Island early on Friday; but, owing to St. Patrick’s Day being a holiday, they had to wet till next day to get news through. The explorers had a great reception. It transpires that when the party had nearly reached the mouth of the Klkorl River they met one of the relief boats. They were in a very exhausted condition as the result of their long and rough travels and scarcity of food. When the raft went over the rapids the three white leaders had a narrow escape from being carried a long way flown the river, Mr Smith scrambling out on one side, and Messrs Pratt and Bell on the other. It was five days before they were able to rejoin one another. Eleven native carriers were swept off the raft and never again seen. They lost all their supplies, tents, and records of the journey. Their only food was a little cocoa recovered from the wreck, and yams, taro, and sago gathered en route. Frequently they were compelled to stop to recover their strength and gather food. They shot some pigs, but refrained from eating much meat for fear of sickness. Another trouble was that they had no means of lighting a fire. Mr Pratt had a box of matches, but they were wet when he plunged into the river. After some days the matches dried, and they got a light. In order to save the few remaining matches in case of emergency they carried pieces of burning wood for thirty-four days wherever they went. After reaching the relief boat, which was sent out by the Resident Magistrate at Goaribari, they cerefully dieted themselves for fear of illness after their long fast. Only the three whites came on to Thursday Island. The native members of the expedition were left at Daru.