TRAMPERS SAFE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 April 1927, Page 8

TRAMPERS SAFE.

“BUSHED” FOR TEN DAYS. THEN REACH FARAIHOUSE. By Telegraph—Press Association LEVIN, April 28. The 1 two Wellington youths, Desmond Scanlon and Roy Diedrich, who essayed to cross the Tararau Range from Levin to Masterton, and who had been nnssing since Good Friduy, came out ejf the mountains unaided this afternoon. ' The lads had not been heard of for twelve' days, and as they had provisions for four days only, they were thought to have perished, as since Easter Sunday the mountains had been veiled in rain and fog. One hundred and fifty bushmen and experienced mountaineers had been searching for them for the past week. Tho lads stato that they got as far as the Alasterton side of Alount Dundas (4944 feet), reaching The Pinnacles ml Easter Sunday. Then fcg came down, and they decided to turn back, but lost their way in the mist. They spent three days in a trench under a mountain. Their food then consisted of two onions, one lemon, a tin of salmon, and ten potatoes. They made an effort to find the route again, but could not, and spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday under an overhanging rock, rationing their food. On Sunday the fog lifted for a little while, but descended again thicker than ever, and the lifts gave’ up hope, being ton exhausted to go a few yards for water. Next morning it was still raining, but the weather cleared, and they struggled on, coming at length to tho Afansrahao river, the valley of which hitherto was thought to bo impassable owing to precipices. They made the passage down the river, Scanlon falling 20 feet down a waterfall, but being unhurt.

On Tuesday they reached an avalanche clearing, and there found provisions cached hv search parties, which undoubtedly saved tlicir lives, as then they only had six potatoes left. On Wednesday, though, wealc and weary, the lads pushed on, and reached the. forks of the Ohau river, down which they found a way to open country, where they were picked up and taken to a farmhouse. Diedrich and Scanlon were little the worse for their experience. Their return caused great surprise, as they had no tent, and the weather had been bitterly cold for ten days, rain and snow falling on the ranges, and fog enveloping them continuously. BOYS REACH HOAIE, By Telenraph—Preas Aaaoelatlon. WELLINGTON, April 28. Roy Diedrich (20) and Desmond Scanlon (18), who left Wellington a fortnight ago to-night for Levin to cross the Tararua Range to Alasterton, and for wham search parties have been out for the past week, returned to Wellington at 7.15 to-night. Beyond appearing a little wan and tired, they appeared to bo remarkably well. They knew their bearings throughout, but were afraid to move in case they should got lost. Although for the last two days they ate only an onion, they had ten raw potatoes with them, but. their matches were wet and they could light no fire. Neither felt any ill-effects from their fortnight in the open. They wero wet through from Easter Sunday until they obtained a change to-day. Sometimes they could not sec a yard in front because of sleet.