Life was not meant to be easy!

Saturday Oct 12^th 1929:

Up at daybreak and filled up with petrol. Found one tin was leaking a bit so emptied it and all other tins were good. Had breakfast and at 7.30 were once more on the move. The road not bad but getting heavier on account of sand. 26 miles out passed the Taylor Well and crossing and sand now is very heavy. 5 miles further on Cec suddenly exclaims ‘the back is on fire’. Stop the bus and jump out and find the back of the car a mass of flame, all among the three cases of petrol on the bus and the 17 gallons in the two tanks. The wind blowing from the south east was bringing the flames right to the front of the car. It was hopeless from the start and looked it. I then ripped the cover of the back and grabbed the things nearest to me. Cecil’s swag and his bag, the medicine chest and then reaching across got my own bag which was beginning to burn. Was expecting at any minute to be blown up by the petrol exploding but pulled off another tin with a few things in it, the front seat and the two cameras and then the water bags and by this time it was too hot to go near it and not safe as the tins were going off and petrol shooting everywhere. Tried though to keep the flames from the front of the car by throwing shovelfuls of sand on it but it was no use and in the end we had to give in and stand and watch it burn which it soon did. Poor Cecil was that taken aback by the suddenness of it all that at first he could only stand and look but afterwards hopped in and helped throw sand on. We did save the front a bit too, as the two front wheels are alright and one front tyre and the radiator is sound but it is doubtful whether the engine has not been badly damaged. I think we might have saved ourselves the trouble of hal burying the front of the car for all the good it was. When it was over we found ourselves 30 miles away from the nearest means of communication with the outside world, with our worldly possessions sadly depleted…..two water bags with water, a few burnt biscuits and a tin on pineapple, one swag, one medicine chest, one spade, two cameras and two bags containing a few personal belongings. Gone up in smoke were one organ, gramaphone and records, Crayco projector and films, one swag, 2 new tennis racquets, one gun, hymn books and other books and reading matter, tucker boX and besides petrol, oil and numerous articles belonging to the car and sundries. How the fire started is a mystery. The only explanation I can offer is that the exhaust pipe started a flame. There was no backfire though and Cecil had not been smoking at all. There was nothing to do now but to walk back the 30 miles to Barrow Ck. Packed up most of the savings under a bush and making a swag of blankets, a towel, a few biscuits and a tin of pineapple, with the two water bags we started out. It was hot and sand, sand, sand was heavy. We looked well too. I with the swag on my back between us, Cecil with one water bag and the other water bag between us. The five miles back to the Taylor crossing was the longest five I have ever known and do not want to experience again. There were still 26 miles ahead of us and it did not sound nice to hear it. Found an old chap at the well here, with whom we had a drink of tea and bite of bread. He offered to loan us a camel to go to the next well which was 7 miles on. Anything is better than walking so put the two blankets on the camel and with the two of up off we set. It took us 1 ¾ hours to do the 7 miles and in future no more camel rides for me, unless I have a decent camel and a decent seat. When we gort to the next well, we stopped and said ‘Whist-A’ and down he went and off we got. I could hardly walk. A chap here put his horses in the buggy and took us a bit further on and left us with 14 miles to go. Off we went and before longCec began to get blistered feet. He took his boots off and then his socks and before long his feet were too sore to walk at all. Had to put his boots back on and then cut pieces out of the back until 6 miles from the Barrow Cecil would go no further. Wanted me to go on and leave him but refused. Built a big fire and heaped wood to be put on during the night, had a drink of water, rolled up in a blanket and got down by the fire. Too cold and up several times to put wood on. Cecil shifted camp several times too. Altogether a rotten night.

Sunday Oct 13^th 1929:

Up at 4.45 am and after rolling the swag and a drink of water at 5 am started off. Cecil feeling a bit better. 3 miles on came to a camp of a couple of Afghans with a camel team, carting wolfram. At last half a mile in the distant we saw the Barrow Ck station and at the same time heard a motor toot behind us and so had a ride the last half mile. The fates certainly were against us. Had a good fill up at the Barrow and felt a bit better and then Cecil went on into the Alice with the car. I stayed at the Barrow and went across to the police and reported. Came back and had a hot bath in a small tub. Felt better. Washed out the only pair of socks I had. Had lunch and afterwards tried to sleep but flies too bad. Police from Alice Springs arrived at 4 pm in the ‘Flying Bedstead’. One to relieve the police at present at the Barrow. Constable Littlejohn and myself then went out to the car and inspected and came back without lights in the moonlight. Had a good tea and at 10.s0 pm rolled up in the swag and reposed on mother earth.

Monday Oct 14^th 1929:

Up at 4.30 am and after a bite rolled swag, loaded up the ‘Flying Bedstead’, waited for Constable Joh ton and at 6.10 am headed for the Alice. The ‘ Flying Bedstead’ is a great bus: The Police patrol car: an old T-model Ford, no sound part about it: no lights, no brakes, no bonnet, no hood, no windcreens and and every part of it lose and rattling. Does the job though did 180 miles in 8 hours, actual traveling time 7 hours. Had several stops. Had to change a tyre, blow another one up: stop frequently for water. Generally had to push the bus to start her. Passed a policeman and is tracker bringing in two natives who had been cattle stealing for killing. Both were linked together with chains and steel bands around heir neck and both were naked. Called them to give us a push on the bus to start her and poor wretches thought they were going to get a ride but soon found their mistake. Policeman and his tracker were riding camels. Arrived in here at 2.10 pm sore and stiff and eyes smarting through the wind on them and lack of a decent sleep. Jack and Cecil here and Cecil had been to the hostel and had his feet attended to. Jack put on four eggs for me and I ate them all. Had a good wash and clean up and felt better. Did some writing and sent some telegrams before tea. Did some writing afterwards and to bed early. All of us are wondering what reply to our telegram we shall receive from the Colonel. Jack proposes when he gets his car going again and in here to take us across to Camooweal. Proposed this to Colonel in telegram. Heard Labor had scored and Billy Hughes in again.

Tuesday Oct 15^th:

Received telegram today from the Colonel that he agrees to our proposal. Jack’s car has to be reassembled yet, so the three of us went out to the Hermansburgh mission station, where the car is, to be in a couple of days doing repair work. Went out on the 2 ton lorry from the station, with loading and niggers. Travelled in the evening and a great drive along the foot of the McDonal Ranges. Hermansburgh is 80 miles out and have about 400 natives in the mission. Pastor Albreck is the head, Mr Heinreich is the teacher. Both can speak the native tongue (Arunta) fluently and the blacks are taught in their own tongue as well as taught English. They seem to be doing a good work here among the blacks.