VICTORIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 271, 5 December 1861, Page 4

VICTORIA

The Continent Crossed. —Late oh, Saturday night information reached Melbourne from Sandhurst of the arrival there of a messenger—Mr. Brahe—from Mr. Howitt’s. searching expedition, with a despatch from that leader, conveying, the melancholy intelligence that Burke and Wills had perished at Cooper’s Creek, in the month of June last, of exhaustion from fatigue and want of proper food, and that a third member of the party (Gray) had died some time previously. The fourth (King) was found on the creek living with the natives, by whom he was treated kindly, and we are happy to say he is now restored to health. In his possession were the journals of the leader of the expedition and Mr. Wills’ maps and notes (which are now in possession of the Royal Society), which will show that Burke and his companions successfully : accomplished the crossing of the continent to the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria,' which they reached oh the 12th February. The chart kept by Mr. Wills shows that the party followed Stuart’s track to its farthest point, in latitude 24, when, finding the country to thenorthutterly impracticable, a course was struck direct east to to the 140th parallel of longitude, which they followed north, almost in a straight line to Albert River. They rested tlu-ee days at a point oh the river in latitude 17. 53, south, within the tidal influence, thus acomplishing the great feat of crossing the continent from sea to sea 5 and then turned back almost by the same route, travelling for the most part of the way. on foot, killin'* their horses and some of .their camels for food, and suffering much from hunger. They reached Cooper’s Creek on the evening, ol the. 21st April, the very day on which .Brahe and the depot party under his-charge leff ; the ’ Creek to return’ to" Menindie. A. small quantity of provisions hidden by the depot party was found by Burke and his companions, who, feeling .themselves'too-weak to travel' to Menindie (about 400 miles) made two successive attempts to reach the South Australian settlements, and were driven, back on both occasions by want of water. In these attemps the month of May was spent; the provisions that remained were rapidly becoming exhausted, the food which they were able to prepare from a native plant which they discovered, was insufficient in quantity to recruit their failing strength, and late in the month:of June—just as Mr. Howitt’s party began its journey in search of tile missing party making a last attempt to obtain succour for liiipself and ; Wills from the blacks ; and Wills alone in his hut, and about, the same time as his friend Burke, breathed his last, From June till the 15th -September, when .he. was found by Howitt, King, tlie last survivor of the party* . lived aniojigst the natives at CpApier’s Creek, - by whom he wp;s kindly treated.. He. was originally aj) soldier, and is a young, strong man. .Melancholy interest, attaches t-o the last despatch writ-

tjerr! ~by *Mr. • Rufke, -briefly lienrively announcing the succor he had and to the last lifics tra'ced despairingly by the hands of poor Wiils.

Mr. Burke’s ' last despatch was buried lat Cooper’s Creek : “ Cooper’s Creek, Camp 65. 1 “The return party from; Carpentaria, consisting of myself,Wills, and King (Gray dead) arrived here last night, and found tlidt the depot party had only started the same day. We proceed on tomorrow slowly down the creek towards Adelaide by Mount Hopeless, and shall endeavour to follow Gregory’s track, but we are very weak. The two camels arc done up, and we shall not be able to travel more than four or five miles a day. “ Gray; died on the road from, exhaustion and fatigue. We have all suffered s much from ague. The provisions left here will, I think, restore our strength. “ We have discovered a practical, route to Carpentaria, the chief portion of which lies in the 140th degree of East longitude. There is some good country between this :nd the Stony Desert. ’ From there to the tropics the country is dry and stony. , .... \ .. r “ Between the trojfics and Carpentaria a considerable portion is rangy ; but it . is well watered, richly grassed.. We reached the shores of Carpentaria on February 11th, 1861, greatly disappointed at finding the party here gone. (Signed) Robt. O’Hara Burke, Leader. “ April 22nd, 1861. ’ “ P.S.—The camels cannot travel, and we cannot walk, or we should follow the other party. We shall move very slowly down the Creek.”

MR. WILLS’ LAST DESPATCH. ■ May 30th, 1861. “We have been-unable to leave the creek ; both camels are dead, and our provisions are done. Mr. Burke and King aire down the lower part of the creek. I am about to return to them, when we shall all probably come up this day. We are trying to live the best way we can like the blacks, but find it hard work. Our clothes are going to pieces. Send provisions and clothes as soon as possible. (Signed) William J. Wills. “The depot party having left contrary to instructions, has put us in this fix. I have deposited my journals here from fear of accident. (Signed) “W. J. W.” Melbourne, November s.—ln the Assembly Mr. O’Shanassy moved a resolution expressing sorrow at the fate of Messrs. Burke and Wills. Their remains are to be brought down and a monument erected. —Melbourne Argus.