TRAMPER'S ORDEAL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 177, 22 February 1933, Page 5

TRAMPER'S ORDEAL

Missing Man Emerges from Tararua Bush FOODLESS FCmTtWO DAYS [Masterton, Feb. 21.-—The miss-: 1 inn Wellington tramper, Mr. A. O'Keefe, who became separated from his three companions when a bank of mist suddenly came aoyvn j on them on Mt. Bannister, behind Levin, on Sunday, walked out of . the bush at Mt. Bruce at 4.30 this afternoon.

In spite of haying been without food for nearly'6o hours, and having waited right across the Tararuas at tme of the less accessible section*! of the range, „Mr. O'Keefe was little the worse for his experience, although his arms and legs were .iom-vwhai cut about as a result of forcing his way throagh the scrub; Well and Quite Fit Speaking to a reporter, Mr. O'Keefe declared himself well and nuite fit. , He; rhiad become separated from his felldw-tramocrs, ho said, in a thick mist at 9.30 a;m. on Sunday. He had endeavoured to locate the party, but nt 2,30 p.m. had Riven this up as a toad Job, and tried to'make his own way-out. Adopting the old trarapers' rule /of following running l water, he. • struck down, a creek and followed ' ! this down throughout Sunday and ,1 Monday until it finally widened out into the Ruamahunga River. . This he - followed down this, morn - ing. until he reached the homestead 4 of Mr. L.J. Matthews at Mt. Bruce. The weather, he said, was fortunately fine, and he hart been able to obtain a little sleep. He had had no food, however. Mr, OKeefe was very hospitably received by Mr,, and. Mrs. Matthews, and .left for Wellington to-night. ! Recalling of Search Parties iThe 'police at Masterton and PaT- ; : merstori North were- immediately j ( communicated ' with and the search j ' parties out from Levin and Palmer- j B»on';North will bo recalled. - # j The Wairarapa Tramping Club had made arrangements for a search to b« carried, out tomorrow from the Wairarapa side of the Tararuas, lieving that it was ' very likely Mr. O'Keefe would drop down from Mt. Bannister and-endeavour to-make his way, out down the Ruamahunga or Waingawa Rivers. : The 'region in which Mr. O'Keefe was 'lost was that in which Messrs. i Diederich and Scanlon went through such a severe ordeal about fives years I ■ ag0.,,. ' . • j