Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-27
A DESERT ENIGMA
Mystery Of a Vanished Party of
Australian Explorers.

There have been recorded many
strange tragedies OF exploration in lone
and distant lands. but no one event Of
the kind has ever so stirred mems minds
as did the total disappearance OF the
well found and splendidly equipped ex-
petition which DIT. Ludwig LEIGH
hardt. the Franklin OF Australia, led
into the central deserts Of Australia in
1S4B
Leichhardts design was TO march
right across the continent from the east
coast 70 the west and as he bad al
ready led n successful expedition near
~ 1900 miles through a previously IN
known part OF Australia. it was gener-
ally thought that he would be able to
accomplish the task.
Still. there were some who doubted
and prophesied disaster. and more than
one wealthy friend OF the Doctors re-
fused 10 subscribe toward the expedi-
ton on the ground that they were not
going TO help him 10 commit suicide.
The members OF the expedition num-
bered six whites and two blacks. an
unusually large number for an explor-
ing expedition OF this nature. and be-
sides being amply provided with hour.
biscuit. tea. sugar and so on. they drove
along with them City bullocks and 2TO
goats They also had spare horses and
mules in abundance.
At that time the most westerly sta
ton I'm southern Queensland was oc-
cupied by n squatter named McPher
son. who dwelt on Cocoon creek. From
there Leichhardt wrote brief letter as
he was about 70 start into the unknown
land beyond.
That was the last ever heard OF him
or Of any Of his companions. and this
Notwithstanding the fact that expedi
ton after expedition was afterward
sent out in search OF them
AS completely as though they had
been swallowed up by the earth. they
vanished.
This is the most puzZling part Of The
mystery-its COMPLETENESS Had they
been killed by the natives. as was a
FIRST wrongly reported. some relics o.
the explorers would long since have
been recovered from them. In som,
shape the iron work OF the Implement
and arms they had with them would
have survived.
And what OF the stock? Some OF thu
goats, at all events. must have beef
left alive. one would have agined
for these are VIGOROUSLY hardy ami
mails. able 10 pick up a living almOs
anywhere. Yet none OF these. nor an.
OF the horses. mules or bullocks wer
ever traced.
The probability Is that the III fate
expedition struck one Of those water
less patches Of country common f
parts OF Australia. into which III
blacks never venture. II is not Difficult
in this ease 10 prophesy what woul
have been their fate.
Their reserve barrels once emptied o
their precious contents. the little waite
carried by the men In their canteen
would not last more than day or 81
In the shadeless bush. In that terrih
hent. death comes swiftly under sue
circumstances About forty weight hour
is thp limit Of human endurance
Usually half that time SutiiCes.
The explorers. we may be sure. woul
struggle on 60 the last. however. hu
banding their water to thu uttermo:
drop. The animals would be the first
go and the desperate exuedient {
drinking their blood would he resor
ed 20.
Hotter and hotter grows the air q
tie doomed men -staGger further an
further into the rainleSs desert
Some lose their reason: all lose hop
Then comes the end. They separa
and struggle away in ones and two
and fall and die
Day after day the terrible and pitiie
sun looks down upon them lying the