THE DEATH OF PROFESSOR DENTON.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1317, 31 October 1883, Page 2

THE DEATH OF PROFESSOR DENTON.

♦ (Melbourne Argus, October 13). A telegram was received in Sydney yesterday from Cooktown, stating that the Ellangowan had arrived from Port ' Moresby, bringing Captain Armit, our special correspondent to New Guinea, and Mr Loftus Irving, both ill with fever. We also received the following telegram from Captain Arrait : — " Cooktown, Friday. " Profesor Denton died at the village of Berigabadi, in the Moroka district, on Sunday evening, the 26th August, from exhaustion. Only one man of our party is free from fever. "W:E. Armit." The following dispatch from Captain Armit da ed Port Moresby, September 25, and forwarded by telegram from Cooktown, contains an account of the illness and death of Professor Denton, and particulars of the causes which led to the return of the Argus expedition : Arrived here (Port Moresby) on the 3rd Sep 1 ember, after a most disastrous trip in point of illness. Pieached Paumun, village off the Seratnina, 120 miles E.S.E., on 17th August. The natives were everywhere very friendly. Made the acquaintance of two entirely new tribes who knew nothing of whites, and possessed not one scrap of iron. They were very frightened at us, but ■ soon became reassured, and very friendly. These people were cultivating large areas on the mountain slopes. The territory lies on the lala , River, one of the Temp Welch sources. '. The country was fearfully mountainous not an iuch of flat anywhere. On the 18th August Professor Denton complained of indisposition, but not serious. He had before been suffering from a nasty ulcer on the instep. As we could ' not pierce into the range of mountains before us, owing to war between the tribes, I determined to return and make an attempt from a new point. We rested three days at Dedourie, having to climb over Mount Belford, 3600 ft high. Professor Denton was completely exhausted, having refused all nourishment and medicine since becoming ill. I remained with him and cheered him along and over the summit. Mr Hunter met us here, and we got on very well. Going down heavy rain soaked us through, and it was very cold. Belford returned from the village with fresh meat and a Jiammock. We carried Professor Denton into Lochivago. On the 24th Belford was prostrated by fever, Professor Denton getting weaker, yet obstinate even regardiug food as well as physic. On the 26th we stai*ted for Moroka, Professor Denton and Belford on stretchers. The fever attacked me before breakfast, and I had a terrible day. We reached Berigabadi at 2 p.m. The village was deserted. The natives propped up the crumbling roof of a hut but the floor had sunk in the centre. Mr Hunter, who was the only sound man of the party, made our beds. Professor Denton occupied the level space m the centre, I lay to his right, and Belford on his left. . At halfpast 8 p.m. Professor Denton had very slight convulsive fits. Five minutes afterwards he was dead. It was pouring with rain, and the weather was close and sultry. That night we were forced to camp with the dead body between us. Mr Hunter dug a grave, and we buried our unfortunate friend at 7 o'clock on Monday morning. We then proceeded to Moroka, thence to Sugaree, and on to Port Moresby by Narianouma. I have been suffering from fever ever since. Have visited Boira and Kabadi which are the finest district? I

have yet seen. Will send full descriptive narrative and charts by first steamer.