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LOST IN WILDS |
OF N. GUINEA j
Poignant Story in
Journalist's Diary
Australian Associated Press ,
SOMEWHERE. IN NEW GUINEA.—
The story of what happened to Mr.
Vern Haugland, the Associated Press
of America war "correspondent, during
32 days of the six weeks he was miss
ing In the wilds of New Guinea, has
now been >revealed In his diary. The
first entry is August 7, the day
Haugland baled out of a bomber
which had run out of fuel after pass
ing through a heavy storm on the
way from Australia, to New Guinea.
The pencilled " entries in this small
black notebook record a moving
struggle for survival in trackless
jungle by a young American who
literally dropped from the. sky into
some of the world's wildest country
without food and without any experi
ence of the tropical jungle.
The diary covers 32 days, probably
more, for. the writer notes that in his
delirium he might have telescoped
several days. The last entry, dated
September 9, tells of finding a path
and the first signs of human habita
tion. How Haugland fared in the
next ten days, how he came to be in
a native village where missionaries
found him on September 19, is not
known. Haugland, when he baled out,
landed somewhere' in the higher
ranges of the Owen Stanley Moun
tains, and by following the descend
ing mountain streams made his way
toward a coastal valley.
Lieutenant A. D. Michael, the co
pilot of the bbmber, baled out just
after Haugland, but met him during
their wanderings in the Jungle. They
became separated and Michael Is still
listed as missing.
Hardship and Suffering
Some of the most poignant entries
in Haugland 's diary are: —
August 11. — Co-pilot Michael and I
may get separated. I have life pre
server. He hasn't. If you. find me
and not him send help quickly as he is
starving. With food he can make it.
Mike is on the river.
August 12. — Through God's grace
Mike and I still together.
August 13. — Still no food. No sign
of people over mountain and down
river. Drenched with heavy rain.
Spent night in small cave.
August 14. — Not much progress.
Most horrible rainy night yet.
August 15. — Over more mountains.
Heard plane, but too much clouds.
August 16. — Very weak, feet bad.
Must take to river. We may get sep
arated or drowned, but pray to God
for safety. (Entry In different hand
writing presumably Michael's.) In
case we are separated I'll be up the
river in bad need of food. Please
rush to rescue. Mike went up .over
the hill. I started down the river.
Saw I couldn't make it and came back
to dry clothes: Will try and follow
him to-morrow. Maybe Mike can go
faster alone. Hope so; he's a wonder
ful boy and deserves to live.
August 17. — Can see now must take
to river. Dear God, help me to make
It. Plane came over early, but too far
away. Didn't see me. Very weak In
evening. Got Into river. Couldn't
make it. Awful climb up mountain
there. I saw it straight down. Ab
solutely no hope. Terrible mountains
ahead. River also Impassable.
View on top convinced me only
miracle of God can help now. All I
can do Is lie and wait for miracle or
death. Made it back to camp. About
ready to go to sleep.
Hardly Any Hope
August 18. — Amazing thing Is how
clear headed we have remained.
August 19.— Lying on rocks chewing
grass and weeds, praying a great deal.
Getting so weak, hardly any hope.
Lost life preserver. Watched vainly
all day for plane. Only hope is plane
dropping food or ground aid arriving,
both 'extremely unlikely. Looks like
I shall die here soon.
August 20.— Worst rainy night since
Mike and I spent two terrible ones.
Just lay in mud, soaked and stink
ing. Somehow stronger to-day. Foo>,
healing too. If could get real food
could hike round mountain. Seems
too bad to die when maybe could
struggle to a village If only the moun
tains didn't stretch on sharper and
sharper. If only knew shortest way to
sea.
August 24. — Had warm, dry night
Two and a half weeks with nothing to
eat. My body looks terrible. If some
one comes to-day I can still live, but
I need food. Head clear. Disposition
good.
August 25. — Worst night' of all.
River flooded me out and had to
climb Into rocks and sit shivering. Yet
somehow to-day I have more strength
to walk around than for several days.
All search for me if any must have
given up so my plight is about hope-
August 26. — Awful night. Woke a
bit delirious for first time.
August 28.— This may be wrong
date. Either last night was very long
and full of bad dreams, or I have
been semi delirious. Some delicious
bramble berries on shore.
August 29.— Got back to big log
Mike and I slept under about August
15. Kept me quite dry In spite of
heavy rain. Later climbed all day.
On top amazingly awe Inspiring view,
but raining so will try for better look
in the morning. Drenched and cold.
May not survive. If I do I feel my
chance of getting out alive is better.
Despite cold feel better to-night.
More confident. Whatever happens
God has been good to me.
August 30.— Now at mountain top.
Most vivid terrible scene ever wit
nessed. Such peaks ! Only thing to
do is keep away from river and deep
canyons. In evening thirst sent me
back to river. Dug through worst
jungle yet. All done in. My feet
very bad, too. If I don't die to-night
I may push on along , shore to-mor
row. I . don't know why. There is
no chance for me now In this mist-
filled jungle. I know that.
August 31. — Last night wettest of
all. ? Very cold under slight cover of
palm. Very hungry, but to-day found
two pocketsful of fruit, looking and
tasting like sour plums. Helped a lot,
but too sour to eat many at once.
September 1. — Crossed another creek
last night. Found good palm cover
from heavy rain. Now climbing
mountain. Saw emu and wallaby.
Reached top for first time. Could see
great valley not too far away, and
not lrripossible to reach. Dear God,
help me keep my strength. This may
be Into settled area. Reached bottom
before rain started. ,
September 3. — Reached river bot
tom below extreme peaks. Bathed,
washed out bandages, and dried feet.
One toe very badly swollen. Example
of how Lord shepherded me and led
me to rock crevice right by river,
where avoided heavy storm. Then
brought out sun. Made good bed,
but lost in dark. Sat up.
September 4. — After tough day
and worst, wettest and coldest night;
hands so numb can't write. Terrible
.struggle through jungle. Sundown,
climbed. Most wonderful views yet.
Sharp air battle (there is no explana
tion of this entry).
September 5. — Best night on hill
In tjill grass.
September 6.— Reached rivers in
valley. Now surrounded by rivers.
Only chance now native come. Almost
nothing edible several days. Very
weak. Later in answer to prayers,
dozens and dozens of bramble berries.
Slept under great log, perfectly dry.
Mosquitoes not bad.
September 7. — Forded river. Ber
ries galore other side, where no mos
quitoes. Spent mast day eating and
resting. Slept under twig shelter. No
mosquitoes, few files, big relief. Was
nice day, beautiful night, gorgeous
sunset.
September 8. — Many good berries
still. Crassed big river on log.
September 9. — Spent rainy morning
In hut drying shoes. Where from
here ? Impossible stick close to
river because of impassable tall reeds.
Will stay close as can, otherwise get
last. Thank God, keeping near reeds,
got on to faint animal track. Made
more distance so far than for weeks,
and sun still high.
The diary then ends. From that
dav Haugland was dellrous, and re
mained so until his period of lucidity
in Port Moresby Hospital on Septem
ber 28.
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