STARVING AIRMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 90, 16 April 1929, Page 7

STARVING AIRMEN

FORCED TO EAT SNAILS Story of Lost Southern Cross Crew A vivid description of the seemingly hopeless days of waiting experienced by the crew of the Southern Cross, after the ’plane ■ had been forced down in the Port George area, is contained, in the ' latter portion of the official log kept during the fateful 12 days by Flight-Lieutenant Ulm and Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith. . Conditions on the edge of the mangrove swamp were almost unbearable. F (Copyright to the Sun throughout the world.) SYDNEY, April 15. Wednesday, April 3.—A1l are weaker now, but mentally alert. I feel gone in the legs and arms. We corrected our longitude position, collected wood, and kept the fire burning all the morning. We had gruel for lunch, and feel slightly better. The flies are unbearable and the mosquitoes damnable. Another small shower fell at about 2 p.m. The flies hamper work. For instance, when taking a shot, Litchfield uses the sextant with Alac swishing him, while Smithy and I read the chronometer and swish each other. Then one or other swishes Litch while he works up his sights, which confirm out latitude, Litch and I tried stalking doves, but had no success. The small dove is hard to hit with an automatic. Alac got La Perouse on the radio, reporting that the Canberra was leaving to look for us. He then got Broome, who sent us a message to light triangle fires 500 yards apart. This is impossible in our weakened condition. Thursday, April 4.—Daylight and an awful march up Darlinghurst Hill to light a fire. Then stoking in half hour shifts, and the heat unmerciful. We are really starving, and arc keeping alive on one and a half cups of gruel per day. Mac was nearly out to it to-day, but is still working. All are feeling gnawing hunger pains, “Smithy’s” super-energy is wonderful, but even his strength is failing. The flies take half our energy in the daytime, and sleep is impossible owing to mosquitoes at night. EAT MUD SNAILS FROM THE SWAMP, Friday, April s.—We decided to cross the mud clay pan and light a fire there, as no one is capable of climbing the hill. All slept better last night, but are weaker. The sky is cloudless and the heat terrible. We found some mud snails in a mangrove swamp, which we ate. They were awful but we feel stronger. “Smithy” and I had a shot at cutting a tree down. Our tools were two screwdrivers and rocks for hammers, but we had to give it up. When we return to the shade of the wing, wo all just collapse. Saturday, April 6. —Our worst day. A ’plane passed within four miles of us—this after nearly killing ourselves in marching up the hill and keeping the fire alight. Just after we had returned from Darlinghurst Hill, and had lit the Coffee Royal lire, “Smithy’ ’hcaixl the ’plane. All worked furiously stoking up a big smoke fire. He passed us, but not more than five miles away at 2.50 p.m. This decided us to have the tree down to jack up the wheel (to work the radio generator). Smith and 1 worked without rest for two hours, while “Litch” kept the flies off, and we won. We got the great tree down, but it knocked us up. That ’plane passing was terribly disappointing, and we cursed the pilot. Sunday, April 7. —Got the wheel jacked up by noon. This has been “Smithy’s” big day, and he never stopped working, making a friction wheel on which to run the generator and finished it with a penknife only, in the blazing sun and tormented by flies. Then Smithy rigged the engine starter handle in the outer end of the axle, making wooden bearings with a knife. We took off the generator. “Alac” spent an hour wiring it up. Smithy mounted his little wooden drive on the generator, and we had a practice run. “Alac” in the cabin at the set, “Smithy” and “Litch” turning the 44-inch wheel, and myself holding the generator on the wheel, making a friction drive. Loud cheers from “Old Alac.” He says we can transmit, but we can’t keep it running for more than ten seconds at a time, so we worked for hours to-night winding the wheel, while “Alac” sent an S.O.S. and other signals. Our best hope is that someone picked it up and reported to La Perouse, which we receive excellently here. Alonday, April B.—We had a good sleep last night, as it came up cold and drove the mosquitoes away. “Smithy” and 1 got two hundred snails on the mud flat to the south. We had half for lunch. Last night “Alac” heard all the stations again, but there was no news for us. “Smithy” is knocked out, but most of our heavy work has been done, and we are all resting. Then we have to expend more strength in turning the generator. Each turns for ten to fifteen seconds, and then all rest for a quarter of an hour. Our tobacco ran out to-day. We tried to smoke leaves, but they were awful. ’PLANE PASSES TWICE Tuesday, April 9, —This was the day of greatest hardship yet. A ’plane passed us twice this morning, the second time within four miles at a height of 4000 feet, the day being clear and cloudless. We discussed the possibility of building a raft and taking it to what wo believe is the Glenelg River, three miles south, and drifting down to the coast with the tide, but lack of water to drink was dangerous. We ate more snails today, but we are all failing, though “Smithy” and “Litch” have more energy than “Alac” and I. On the radio to-night we heard of Holden, Anderson, Chater, Heath and Woods’ activities, also that aborigines were searching. We wish they would come down here. We pray that La Perouse will send out the exact position of Port George Alission, then we would try to walk there. Only two and a half tins of gruel are left and 22 matches. Worst of all, the water hole is drying up. Wednesday, April 10.—We have been ten days lost, but are still alive. “Alac” and 1 tried to walk to a new hill, which we called “Disappointment Hill/ but broke down after a mile and a half. We were too weak tomove, but we lit a fire, and “Smithy” and “Litch” joined us with snails and water. We discovered a tiny long bean weed and cooked and ate some. We don’t like them, but there is some nourishment in them. Coming back “Alac” and I were cut off by tidal waters, and had to make a detour of an extra mile through the mangrove swamp. I collapsed five times and ' staggered to “Cogee Royal,” a beaten man. For the past few days we have all been getting mental mirages of wonderful dishes of food. It may sound childish but it is true. Heat, flies, mosquitoes, light fires, pull down trees, pull up grass for smoke, walk for water, eat a few snails, drink water and a very thin cup of gruel, listen to the radio, and then lie down to be eaten by mosquitoes—that is our day. When will it end? “Smithy” found a new waterhole but high tides make it impossible to get snails. Saw emu and dingo tracks, but can’t shoot them, with a .22 automatic. Thursday, April 11.—“ Smithy” and “Litch” went to Darlinghurst Hill, where they will start a fire and stay the night, while “Alac” and I keep the fire going here. A pair of ’planes passed northward at 9 a.m. One passed southwards at 2 p.m., ten to twelve miles off each time. “Smithy” collapsed on Darlinghurst, so “Litch” did the bulk of the work. lie’s splendid and looks good for a few days yet. THE CANBERRA ARRIVES Friday, April 12.—“ Smithy” and “Litch” stayed the night at Darlinghurst. “Alac” and I couldn’t sleep down hero. We are on the last of the gruel and taking almost pure hot water. 9 50. —Saved! Holden’s Canberra appears from the south-east. 10 a.m. —The Canberra came low down over the Southern Cross and circled for w r cll over an hour, dropping four packets of rations. God, it’s all too wonderful—food! “Smithy” and “Litch” rushed down from Darlinghurst with tears in their eyes and w’hoops of joy. We are all in, but, Gee! the old Southern Cross is in one piece, and eventually we will fly out. We just tore open two tins of bully beef and ate it like animals. Pilot Holden returned to Wyndham, dropping a message that he would come again with more food. God bless him. God bless everybody. “Litch” and “Alac” refuse to leave us, though w r e had intended they should go out in the rescue ’plane, so we have had to agree to their mutinous request, and all will leave together in the Southern Cross. Saturday, April 13.—A1l kinds greet the day, rejoicing in knowing that we will again make contact with our follows. Canberra arrives with food and Heath’s ’plane landSr