LOST IN THE JUNGLE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1931, Page 9

LOST IN THE JUNGLE

TRAGIC FLIGHT RECALLED. MATTHEWS AND HOOK. The tragic flight of Matthews and Hook, who crashed in the jungle of Burma when on their way from England to Australia,-was recalled by Mr. E. J. O’Reilly, harbourmaster of Labuan, Borneo, who arrived in Auckland by the lonic. Hook was left in a dying condition by his comrade, who managed to struggle to a lonely outpost for assistance. Although Borneo is some distance from, the scene of the disaster, news • travels quickly where there are few white men,.and Mr. O’Reilly heard details of the experiences of the expedition of relief, .which went from Rangoon to try. to find the body of Hook. “When Matthew’s struggled into the native village away back”' in the hills with his tale, of a smashed aeroplane and a dying comrade, the news did not reach any place from which an expedition could be organised for some time,” said Mr. O’Reilly. “But, when eventually the sick man got to Rangoon, the white residents of that city immediately subscribed a : sum of money sufficient to. get a. rescue party to the place which Matthews described in a vague way.. First of all, native trackers were sent out, but their efforts were unsuccessful, and much valuable time was lost. Then it was realised that the finding of the spot where the crash had taken place was to be no easy matter, particularly as the survivor was able to give, only a very .rough idea of where it was., .The services of surveyors and engineers, who had been through the country were then enlisted. “The story of how Hook was found dead, washed up. on a sandbank from a creek, has appeared .in the Press already,” added .Mr. O’Reilly, “but the anxiety with which the white population of Rangoon awaited the news is hard to imagine. When the time had elapsed which it. was thought would be necessary for the search party to find the spot, the whole city was keyed up to a pitch of anxiety and excitement. Though the. residents had little hope that Hook would be alive, they hoped against hope. Matthews was a sick man and, for the time being, was past worrying, Eventually, word came through that Hook’s body had been found just a little way from where the companions had apparently parted company. Hook had apparently staggered on for a little way,.and then, too weak to go further, had fallen into the stream and collapsed. His dead body was washed up a little further on. Matthews’ distress at having to leave his companion can readily be imagined, particularly as he knew that he was leaving a man whom he would never see again. The way in which he awaited the judgment of those whom he had told of his actions; was pitiful; and yet in the nature of things they could not blame him. • He said the last words of Hook to him were: ‘Go. You can do nothing here. I’m a “goner” anyway, and if you stay you’ll be too.’ It was the truth; Matthews himself just staggered in.” The area where Mr. O'Reilly is stationed is’ more or less in the route of those flying from England to Australia. Miss Johnson passed in the vicinity, while a squadron under Captain Cave-Brown-Cave, which flew from England, and made a tour of the islands roundthe Straits Settlements about September, 1920, actually called at Labuan, where Mr. O'Reilly has his home. .Labuan is an island off the coast of Bor-, neo.

“I was talking to flying men at Singapore,” continued Mr, O'Reilly, “and while to a man they, admired the true grit of Miss Johnson, they thought she had been exceedingly lucky.” . About the Singapore base Mr. O’Reilly would say nothing, nor would he discus's any political question. As a civil servant his mouth was shut, he' said. Before he had left, the Governor of Singapore had shown him a formidable list of the subjects he was not to speak about.

Mr. O’Reilly has .some 50 men under him —Malayans and Chinese—and it is his duty to watch the harbour and tlie coastal approaches to Labuan, which is off the coast of Borneo. Labuan is now 7 under the jurisdiction of the Straits Settlements. . .. ......