RESCUE CHANCE DIMINISHES

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31093, 23 June 1966, Page 1

RESCUE CHANCE DIMINISHES

Climbers Heard But Not Seen (From Our Own Reporter) ARTHUR’S PASS, June 22. Calls from the four climbers who have been stranded on the Otira face of Mount Rolleston (7450 ft since Sunday afternoon were heard by rescue parties late this morning and this afternoon. The chance of the young men being rescued alive is diminishing. They will spend their fourth and coldest night on a narrow shelf about 6500 ft tonight.

The high-climbing rescue party of eight skilled mountaineers was today prevented by low cloud, strong winds, hail and snow and temperatures well below freezing point from sighting or reaching the stranded men.

However, the rescue party managed to get its special face rescue gear—a winch, wire rope and sling—on to the low peak of the mountain.

Tomorrow would be the last chance searchers had of rescuing the climbers, the search controller (Mr P. Croft) told a score of support searchers at a briefing session in Arthur’s Pass this evening. The missing men are: Bruce Ferguson, of « Southampton street, Christchurch; Colin Robertson, of Arthur street, Invercargill; Two Englishmen who arrived in New Zealand less than a month ago. AU are aged 19 or 20.

Mr and Mrs Ferguson and their daughter arrived at Arthur’s Pass today. The high climbing team today got on the low peak from the top of the Otira slide, near the Goldney Ridge. It snowed hard all day and a strong westerly blew on the tops. Dangerous Part The mountain was shrouded with cloud at times to below 5000 ft. The high-climbing team was unable to make the traverse between the low and middle peaks. One portion of the traverse was especially dangerous where a narrow rock ridge runs between the Crow glacier and the 4000 ft drop of the Otira face. The rescue plan still is to lower members of the highclimbing team by winch down the face from the middle peak but the position of the missing climbers has still not been fixed exactly. Rescuers yesterday used a loud-hailer from the Otira slide, about 5500 ft, to shout to the men. They could hear the replies from the men but could not make out the words. They thought the meh were asking questions. One Day’s Food . The stranded climbers were wearing only day clothes and had only one day’s food as they expected to be. only six hours on the mountain. They have the waterproof covers of their sleeping bags with them. Th e searchers think these will help to keep them alive.

“Their voices will get fainter,” said Mr Croft at the briefing. “Do not be misled into thinking they have moved. Tomorrow is probably our last chance of getting to them and getting them out alive. If we get to them tomorrow we can probably keep them alive.”

The high-climbing team today was led by Mr B. Hearfield, and included Mr L.

Crawford and other mountaineers who have climbed in the Himalayas and the Andes. This party late this afternoon retreated to the forward support camp of three tents on the Otira slide at 5500 ft. It will leave for the middle peak at first light tomorrow. Second Party A second high-climbing party from Christchurch, led by Mr N. D. Hardie, will go up the mountain with support parties and move the support camp over the low peak to the crow neve on the south side of the mountain between the low and middle peaks. This party will take face rescue gear flown from Whenuaipai this evening. Both face rescue parties, 16 men in all, will search the face using this high camp over 7000 ft as their base.

The support parties will take in tents and supplies to re-establish the support camp on the Otira slide.

parties of 15 men for each of the four stretchers will be required to carry them out. The face, of 4000 ft, is so steep and icy that the climbers cannot go up. The rescue must be made from the mountain top. Three ropes may be needed, and it will be difficult work. Weather May Clear Success tomorrow depends on the weather. The forecast is for showery weather, clearing. It was blowing hard and raining heavily at Arthur’s Pass tonight.

The most welcome news to the teams of searchers at the township was the announcement that the Army would bring mobile hot water showers tomorrow. Searchers, some in shorts, some in slippers, and one barefoot, cheered this news.

Clothing provided by the United States Antarctic Support Force was taken by the face rescue team which left Christchurch this evening. Members of the team are Messrs N. Von Tunzelman, H. Furndolfer, J. Stewart, W. Stewart, W. Huber, J. Harrison, and Hardie. It travelled in transport provided by the Army. A Search and Rescue Organisation party left the Christchurch Central Police Station at midnight with portable transistor radios from the Civil Aviation Department, Wellington, the Christchurch Airport Authority, and the Christchurch City Council.

If the climbers are rescued,