Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-27
SOUTH AFRICAN DESERT,
Suffering of Party That Attempted a
Crossing Without Water Supply.

TWO Vlyburg men, Sidney Smith. a
Well-known local farmer, and j. n.
in the kulahari desert. whore they We're
tAiee days under a blazing san with
neither food nor water and hardly came
through alive.
They left home together in a Cape
cart drawn by six oxen to visit George
LennoN of kin=stown, a farm some dis
lance into the desert. The travellers We're
mainly relying for their water supply on
the tranunaS, Il species Of wild melon
which grows abundantly on the sand
dunes and conserve:, its water for months,
but they found to their dismay that these
had all been consumed by the f!ockS and
herds of the nomad:c natives of the kall-
har. The mcaS r stock of water they
had brought with them soon gave out and
after trekkin% for two DAYS without a
drink tn" oxen collapsed. The travellers
We're still about 50 miles from their des-
tinati1n.
Abandoning the cart and oxen they
determined to make the rest of the
journey on foot. Eight miles tramp
through the heavy sand reduced Mr..
B,Nmcr to a state of cxhauS, ION, and
leaving him behind Mr.. Smith toiled on
with his native servant in the teeth OF
scorchin@ wind TO attempt to make the
nearest water. Mr. Lennon farm, which
was His only hope. In six hours he had
become cutie deaf. ore eye was almost
blind, his tongue had shrivelled UP and
his palate and lips were coated with a
thick skin. He had left Brymer at $50
at night. At dawn next morning his
kaiflr hoy threw IN the sponge, and sad
at heart Smith had to push on with his
collie dog as his only companion.
An hour or two later he was over
taken by two young Transvaal"rs Mes
srs. Gerber and lie Rouv. on horseback.
thirst, not far from the point where Mr..
B,Ymer had been left lying on the weld.
They had found Brymer still alive, but
having no water themselves We're unable
In hal "A H. fD,.,
lie ''rouX was in state of collapse from
thirst, having to be held on his horse by
Gerber Vhe two mounted men went on
ahead, promising, to send back help to
Smith and the others.
When still a long distance from Mr..
LennCN' farm Mr.. Smith met some Dam
ar" women Tefngees from German South
west Africa. carrying water in gourds
seem these inhuman people absolutely
refused to give Mr.. Smith either water
or assistance Eventually he managed to
obtain a small cupful hv force. but he
At this point his fine collie lay down
and aftcrward succumbed to thirst.
Slightly inNigoratcd by his me.,ger re-
freshment. Mr.. Smith toiled on. Tho
heat intense. He was following the
course of an old river bed and fortunately
was able to obtain some slight shelter
from few trees along the course. His
method was to dash forward a couple Of
hundred yards to the nearest tree and
then lie down to recuperate for tho next
effort So he held to his task until 1t
length Mr.. Lennon farm came in sight.
Here kind hands took him in charge and
tended him so we'll that after a few hours
he was able to talk nationally and walk
about
Mr.. Hem Of the Camel Corps of the
Cane Mounted Police. who happened to
he ut the farm with his camel Immediate
ly saddled up and set out with the most
commendable diligence to search for the
poor fclolws who had been forced to re-
main in the desert. Thanks to Mr.. Henn's
promptitude and energy tine lives Of Mr..
Prymer and the natives We're saved, al
though they We're in the last stage of
exhaustion and presented most derlor-
able sight when they were brought in
London Telegraph.