As soon as the news that Jones and Wells were missing was wired to Perth, the West Australian Government promptly despatched W.P.  Rudall in charge of a search-party, from Braeside station on the Oakover River.

Crossing into the desert country, Rudall, guided by blacks, came upon a camp in which footsteps, supposed to be those of the missing men, were traceable.  His camels failing him, the tracks were lost, and he was obliged to return.  A second search was likewise fruitless, but rumours brought in by the natives of straying camels, caused a third party to be organised.  Rudall this time went south of the head of the Oakover, and penetrated the dry spinifex country below the Tropic.  Here the bodies of two men, supposed to have been murdered by the natives, were found, but on further investigation it was decided that the remains were not those of the men they were searching for.  On his return Rudall started out on a final trip, and penetrated to a point sixty miles south of Joanna Spring before returning.  Though these journeys were not successful in attaining the initial object of their search, they were of great service in gaining much information concerning the hitherto unknown desert.  Running easterly into this dry belt, Rudall found a creek, which is now known as the Rudall River.

[Illustration.  David Wynford Carnegie.]

Four days after Wells had started, the Honourable David Carnegie, fourth son of the ninth Earl of Southesk, born March 23rd, 1871, left an outpost of civilization called Doyle’s Well, some fifty miles south of Lake Darlot, intending to cross Warburton’s Desert on a north-easterly course, about two hundred miles to the east of the route pursued by surveyor Wells.  The objects of this purely private expedition were (1) extension of geographical knowledge; (2) the desire to ascertain if any practicable stock-route existed between Kimberley and Coolgardie; (3) the discovery of patches of auriferous country within the confines of the desert.  In the two last objects Carnegie was doomed to disappointment, but as a geographical contribution to our scanty knowledge of north-west Australia, the outcome of his repeated journey was distinctly valuable.

Carnegie started with three white men and a native boy, and for many days passed through country that afforded no water for the camels; of which they had nine.  A native was induced to lead them to a singular spring situated in a cavern twenty-five feet underground.  Though the water was not easy of access, having to be hauled up by bucket to the surface, there was an ample supply for the camels, and, as Carnegie considered the well to be permanent, he named it the Empress Spring.

The discovery of this subterranean spring was indeed a godsend, as when they eventually reached Forrest’s Alexander Spring they found it dry.  A similar experience had befallen W.W.  Mills who, after Forrest’s exploration, had attempted to take over a mob of camels in Forrest’s tracks.