RUAPEHU TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1713, 2 April 1913, Page 5

RUAPEHU TRAGEDY.

HXDIXG AT THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at Ohakune on Friday morning, before .Mr. Allsworth coroner), touching the death of \Villiam Napier Bingham, who lost his life on Mount Ruapehu. bilbert Henry ]■ leteher, uncle of the deceased, identified the body. The tieceased was a single man, 21 years of age, and his ptoplo reside at Dannevirke. The witnes.-. desired, before concluding, to thank all those who had so willingly asin the search. Madeline Coche gave evidence that she nrst saw Mr. Bingham ou Mount Runpcliu on Easter Sunday. Both had intended ascending tile mountain in company with fifteen others. After ascending about two-thirds of the journey to the top Mr. Bingham, herself, and four others decided to turn back to the'mountain camp, but lost their-way, and two of the party became separated. The remaining four, Messrs. Bingham, Schubert,and Waters, and the witness camped that night in the open. Next morning Schuliert and Waters went to see if they-could find the right track, and after waiting a long time in' the snow for them to return she and Mr; Bingham set out down a creek (the Manganui-au-te-au liiver), which they followed down; Mr. Bingham was then very hopeful and cheerful, and in good spirits, and not distressed or exhausted in any way. "We came," added- Miss Coche, "to a place where the stream narrows between two rocks, and the last time I saw Mr. Bingham h» wus standing on the left SK.e of the rock. He was feeling his wa}-, as it were, with his foot. The gap between the rocks was not very wide, but I said it was too hard for me to step over, and that I would go through the bush. "Lower down I came out on. to tho -creek again, and called to him, but got no answer. I then looked back and saw his stick and hat in the water. I climbed on the left side of the bank and looked down, but could not see any sign of him. I then thought he'had gone ahead down the stream,, and called several times going along. I never saw him again.- I took note of the surroundings on my way down the stream to the railway line, where I came out, and was discovered by some of the search parties, Messrs. Wilkins and Benbow. I'gave a description of the locality where I last saw Mr. Bingham to several parties who were voing out to yc-arch." ' Ettrick Christie, ot Ohakune, Stated that he was one of a search party which left Ohakune on Wednesday to search for Mr. Bingham, who lmd been reported as missing. They followed up the Alauganui-au-te-au River. After l'oflowing it up for several miles they discovered the body in a narrow, channel of about aft. of water. It was caught fast in tho channel. 1 A piece of moss had bi'en displaced on one of the,rocks, evidently by one of Bingham's feet. J:lc had evidently slipped on tlie mc-ss on the bank above. 'They recovered the body from the water, and noticed that there - were marks on the forehead and right ear, which had apparently been causal by the edge of the rock on the opposite side to which Bingham fc-11. He . was apparently stunned. There was no'appearance of a.sfruggle. The acting-coroner said that the accident .was ail unfortunate occurrence, and added that parties in future should be accompanied by a competent guide. Tho verdict would be accidental death, caused by deceased striking his head on the rock and suffocation. Constable Aniiison, on behalf of the police, wished'to express nppieciation for the way i;i which ei-eryone turned out, ■ami assisted the police in this unfortunate . occurrence. The coroner endorsed the references .mad? by Constable Aniiison. The latter further added , that tho difficulties to'he surmounted iu the search could only be realised by viewing tho placo where the accident happened. 'Mr. E. 0. Lighlband said that lie would like tu recomiicud that: a " beacon, fog Ml, and flagstaff -should be immixliaUly placed in a permanent camp, and the eoronei; sai-.l he v.e-ild lueutiun the matter when writing the Department ooiicorutd. Mr. A.' H. AVilkie said that Mademoiselle Cucho had handed .tlO to;'him" for

the rescue parlies, and had aWo giveli Mr. L. Dradcoek ,£. r i for the Chamber of Commerce, and this would probably form the nucleus »t i< fund tor carrying ou: Mr. ■ Lightbaud's suggestion. There was 110 jury at tho inquest.