Disappearance of Dutton and Party 1

The first day out from the station, matters went smoothly with C. C. Dutton and party who were attempting an overland journey to Adelaide. The escort found plenty of game to occupy their spare time, the pace of the bullocks being very slow. Camp was made in a long broken irregular gully in which were numerous small water holes, some salt and others fresh. The night was cold, but clear and starry, but with warm cloaks and a good fire, the evening passed pleasantly.

Before retiring Dutton left to inspect the horses and cattle. According to Hailes, Dutton then very nearly lost his life. Those around the fire were beginning to think Dutton's absence was rather prolonged, when a tall wild-looking fellow, wrapped in a blanket, and armed with what looked like a spear, appeared, high above, on the edge of the gully, but not far from them. The somewhat startling apparition chanted the native war melody accurately and energetically.

Instantly Dutton's four men, who were in a separate group, perhaps 100 yards below them, started to their legs, while in the other group Lieut. Hugonin's pistol, and a rifle in another's hand were cocked ready to fire, when Hailes, certain that he recognised a familiar tone in that unearthly chant, exclaimed "Stop ! 'tis Dutton !"

A loud laugh in reply proved his statement to be correct. Hailes wrote "Poor Dutton! melancholy as was his fate four or five days after, it would have been yet more mournful had he then fallen by the hand of a friend, a victim to that special kind of joke."

The next day Dutton persuaded Hailes to accompany him further along the route. Walking, leading their horses, Hailes suggested setting a compass course, but the country was so familiar to him for another 40 miles, and with a prominent hill ahead, Dutton considered such a course unnecessary. Towards noon they were startled to see recent hoof prints and a dray track. The prominent hill was still in the direction that Dutton wanted to go, but alas, another hill with the same aspect had taken the place of the original one, and they had made a complete circuit and come back on to the tracks of their own party.

The writer can sympathise with Dutton, for he and a party performed a similar feat in the South-East. On a sunless day, with no wind, through a dense eucalyptus forest, which we all know fairly well, in making between two points four or five miles apart, a complete circle was made, although there were very good bush-men in the party.

RETURN OF HAILES

To resume Hailes' narration: stormy weather approaching, and coming to a suitable spot they camped early, and towards the middle of the afternoon, Hailes prepared to return to Pillaworta by himself. The balance of the escort had gone shooting, and had not put in an appearance. Dutton and his four companions tried to persuade Hailes to wait overnight, until the others came for him, or else accompany them on their long journey. Fortunately for Hailes, he persisted in his determination and with painful feelings hands were shaken and goodbyes said. If Hailes reports the conversation approximately correctly, then we would have Dutton's last words to civilisation. "Keep a good look out," said Dutton as Hailes left, "and if you see any blacks give them a wide berth. On no account let them come near you. If you miss Pillaworta, keep the Gulf in sight, and its coast will guide you to Port Lincoln. Good bye : God bless you ! I wish I could hear of your arrival, but that I shall not do until I reach Adelaide."

Hailes wished he was as sure of Dutton reaching his destination as he was of reaching his own. Rain had started to fall, blurring the scene, but Hailes trotted away and about four miles further on heard a "coo-ee," which he recognised as coming from a European. The truant part of the escort had lost their bearings. On junctioning there was a doubt as to where the station lay, as Hailes, trusting to his horse's instinct to lead them back to the station, allowed the reins to lie slack, enabling the horse to make a direct route for the station, where the soldier guard had a large fire to guide and welcome them.

The next day Port Lincoln was reached. While the details were fresh, Hailes composed the following sonnet:

The Desert Meal
Four hundred miles through the bush crowded waste,
Christian assayed a lowing herd to guide,
With four adventurous helpers at his side.
Friends cheered his outset, who too keenly chased
The wind swift game, but them no more we traced,
And I alone did with the bushman ride.
We paused by a ravine, gloomy and wide,
Choked with dwarfed trees and shrubs close interlaced.
There ate we, for pure water gushed by.
"Farewell!" said Christian,"'Fifty miles are spread
Twixt you and home — miles where in ambush lie
Wildmen, with hands from recent murders red!
We parted— I live, those five to die;
That desert ne'er, restored them, quick or dead.

Hailes considered that about five day's after the farewell they were all dead men, while he whom the departing party was most concerned about, arrived at his destination.

NO WORD OF PARTY

Day after day passed by — week added to week and no information arrived about them ; June—July — August. Then the "Register" of September 3, 1842, had a paragraph : "At a late hour last evening, our attention was called, to the fact that Mr. C. C. Dutton left Port Lincoln... . . A volunteer party, it is reported to us is about to proceed in search of him." The paragraph said that Dutton had about 200 head of cattle with him. To the resultant search parties the following table and dates will assist materially : —

Dutton left Port Lincoln district . . . June 22.
John Hart and John Baker wrote the Governor ........ . September 9.
Tolmer with first police party left Adelaide . . . . . September 14.
Tolmer joined the volunteers and left Bungaree . . . . . September 17
Tolmer separated from the volun-teers . . . . September 22 or 23
Tolmer reached Adelaide . . . . . . . September 26.
Driver's land search party left Port Lincoln . . . . . September 27.
Volunteer party left Eyre's depot . . .September 28.
Eyre arrived in Adelaide from River Murray . . . . . September 28.
Eyre appointed to command police party . . . . . . September 30.
Eyre left Adelaide . . . . October 9.
Eyre arrived at Eyre's depot (Mount Arden) . . . . . . . . October 9.
Volunteer party arrived Port Lincoln . . . . . . . . October 12.
Search by boating party left . . . . . October 18.
Eyre arrived at Port Lincoln . . . . . October 20.

Hailes implies that between the time Dutton should have arrived in Adelaide and the end of September there was no communication between the two places, consequently Driver was getting anxious, and had decided if the next boat brought no news, he would of his own responsibility go in search. Hailes, I think said incorrectly that the Governor Gawler arrived and brought instructions for the formation of a search party ; the Government Resident's letter of October 7, on his return from the search, does not give any indication that he had received any such orders, in fact the Governor's commendation in his letter of the 15th shows that the idea originated with Driver, and the Governor praises him for the action he took with such promptitude.