LOST AND FOUND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3602, 16 April 1886, Page 4

LOST AND FOUND.

Mr D. M'Kenzio, a member of ono of the rcscuo parties which recently left Qucenstown m search of Mocßrs Dewar and Keith, ha 3 forwarded the following additional information to the Southland News : —• The searoh. party went, back to the " futtah" -where Air Webb had lost his dog, and stopped a night there. They left some toast m a " billy," and went away m the morning to continue the search. Delwar and Keith' arrived there that day. The' sufferings they went through were fearful. They left Kinloch with only tlireo days' provisions, .trusting, to their gun arid dogs for supplying thorn with birds, &c. When about a fort-t night out the nipple of their gun burst, and their dogs (collies) were useless. What they did catch they devoured themselves. The weather wus very severe, a>-.d to this fact Mr Dewar ascribes all there misfortune, as thny could never see the country for mist. On the morning after a terrible night's rain, Keith broke down. Dewar thought a day's rest would put him right; but his legs and hands began to swell, his sight fuiled him, and:ho was getting.delirious. For seven days'Dewar coaxed and dragged him along, till at last" they came within 200 yds of; the "futtah," when Keith.broke down 1 completely. Dewar dragged him along tho best way he could, and after great trouble they arrived, and! to Dewar's great joy he found the toast. He oried to Keith that they were saved; but he was so far gone that he did not respond. Dewar forced some inttf his month'; and ho ate two or three mouthf uls ravenously, and then sank again. No one arrived the following day, and Dewar began to get hopeless. He thought their only chance was to kill ono of their dogs, and this ho made up his miifd to do next day if no ono turned up. On tho, third day, after getting to the " futtah," he was preparing to kill the dog, and revolving m his mind whether ho would knock him on the head or fry to " knife " liim when one of tho relief party —Mr Butement —arrived. At first Dewar thought his sight deceived him, and he says he put his finger m his mouth to see wh'effier he was "asleep or-not. Mr Butement came withia a .few yards of him. The first thing Dewar said was to ask if he jiad ; any •" tucker," and he.Unnka now Mr-Biite- ' ment must have thought bo was a regular Bavage. The party brought Dewar 'to , Kinloch on Wednesday aftornoqn m a very shaky condition, bnt affer getting' on tho boat he was quite cheerful and related his experiences with pleasure. Mr Webb, a Martin's Bay Bettler, acccompaniod'; him. When the rescuo party reached tho " futtah " Keith was quite helples* and delirious, and could not recognise any of tlfe party. After making gome soup from kakapo birds, they gave him a few mouthfuls, and he begau to revive. Some of the party stayed with him, and Dewar thinks it will take three weeks before they can bring him to Kinloch -a distance of about 3'J n.iles. When the Mountaineer was near Qneenstown the passengers gave oheor after cheer, and a party of sportsmen on board fired about 130 shots. All the inhabitants of Queenstown turned out, and it could easily be seen that Mr Dewar was one of their most popular citizens. Mr Dewar thinks they made a great mistake through Keith, who acted as guide', keeping to the high ranges instead of the.Valleys. ...... •