Geraldton Guardian (WA : 1906 - 1928), Tuesday 23 March 1926, page 3


Thrilling. Flood Experiences.

FIVE DAYS DOWN A WELLMAILMEN'S DIFFICULTIES.Meekatharra, Meekatharra, March 19. The reports from the different mailmen who are drifting in from, the various routes indicate that the floods in parts of the country have been, severe. The Landor-Mt Augustus mail, I8 days overdue, crept into town in a bedraggled manner to-day. The car had to be abandoned 30 miles from Moorarie, and the crew and passengers had the unfortunate' experience of wading 22 miles through flood waters up to their waists. A shepherd named A. E. Western, working on Moorarie, spent an uncomfortable five days perched in a tree. He was rescued by a traveller, who swam his horse across the swollen torrent upwards of two miles. Western, being an aged man, was nearly exhausted when timely rescued.

Accounts show serious losses of stock. Moorarie accounts for about 400 sheep and Belele for about 500, but these are only rough estimates and the losses may greatly exceed these figures. At Moor- arie, two. men spent two days swimming 400 sheep isolated in a slowly submerg-ing island to a safe place. The Mt. Clere mail-car was temporar-ily abandoned 140 miles out. The soli-tary passenger walked about 15 miles to Holdens, There the telephone was brought into use and a car dispatched

for him. The inward and outward Marble Bar mail met at the Gaseoyne River and the drivers took refuge at Three Rivers Station until the waters subsided, when the cars were towed Across and resumed their journey, several days overaue. A young man named Noskey had the misfortune to fall down a well at Moo- rarie. He landed in water at 60 feet, and remained five days in his uncom- fortable position. At one time he es sayed to climb out by aid of a wire, which hung from the overhead timbers, but was unable to get a, hold of the cross timbers, so had to return to the bottom of the well. On the fifth day he made another desperate attempt and ultimately reached the surface in an exhausted condition. Soon afterwards he was noticed by the occupants of a pass

ing motor car and conveyed into town. The country is rapidly putting on a coat of velvet green. As one wag put it, 'You have only to place your ear to the ground to hear the grass grow.'' That is almost literally true, for with the heat which followed the rain the growth is something marvellous.