Adventurous Crossing

From T.I. to Port Moresby Capt. Liston-Blyth Safe

From Our Papua Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, Feb. 10.

Captain Liston-Blyth, Manager

of transport for the new company, which is developing sago and nipa in the west of Papua, has had adventures lately worthy of de Rougemont.

He was reported to have left Thurs day Island in a small launch on Jan uary 20 for Daru, Papua, with a crew of two natives.

Later, the crew of the David Pitt reported that they had seen Captain Blyth’s launch thirty miles from Thurs day Island on January 21, travelling between the islands of Nagi and Moa, in difficulties, and broken down. Pre viously. the Aramia had made a trip to Thursday Island and back to Daru

without sighting or hearing of the missing launch. The Aramia supposed that she had put back to Thursday Island, but on the Aramia’s arrival there, it was found not to be the case, and that nothing had been heard of her. No trace of the launch was dis covered on the Aramia’s return trip to Daru.

Thursday Island was advised at once, and the David Pitt from Daru left im mediately in search.

Later, the Papuan Government re ceived advice that on January 24. the missing launch had sheltered at Nagi, when the chain parted, and one of the crew had swum ashore and returned by a passing lugger to Thursday Island on January 30, reporting the launch being in a disabled condition and drift ing in a south-easterly direction.

Up to February 5 no news of her whatever had come in and grave fears were entertained for Captain Blyth and his crew of one, owing to the bad weather prevailing, which prevented further search parties going out. The ketch Melbedir had already returned to Thursday Island reporting no trace of the launch.

Port Moresby Reached.

To the amazement of the people in Port Moresby, on the evening of Feb ruary 6, there appeared inside the reef a disabled launch under jury-rig, sig nalling for help. Captain Blyth and his missing crew had arrived!

They had had a miraculous escape.

Wild days had been experienced, dur ing which the launch had been at the mercy of the stormy waves.

Captain Blyth is to be congratulated on his feat of bringing the craft safely to Port Moresby. The native crew, it is reported, became quite out of hand and untractable.