A DISASTROUS JOURNEY

Dunstan Times, Issue 1269, 25 June 1886, Page 3

A DISASTROUS JOURNEY

Parliculars have been fur-n-shel to ihe ‘Press' Kaiapni oorrespyijionl by Coroner Whitefoord relative to th T disaster in the Clarence Valley on the night of the 9th inst., by which Messrs Edward Lister Paske (a nephew of Sir William’ .TerVois) and Hugh .lames Thompson, forming part of a surveyor’s pa-ty, lost their lives in a severe a cows term.

The surveyor’s party, of which Mr F. S. Smith, District Surveyor, was in charge, included the two deceased and Messrs Begley, P. S Smith, Ward, M’Kav, Hodges, and Mitchell, who left Lake Gnyon in the morning about 10.30 including a full party of ten men, with ten horses, intending to cross Fowler’s Pass and down Jack’s Pass that day. At the lime of departure snow was failing when they saw the last of Lake Gnyon, and it continued +o fall more or less throughout the whole distance. Arriving at Mr Fowler’s woolshed, the party rested for a few minutes, and unanimously decid°d that there was no hindrance to their progress towards St. James’, twelve miles distant. Therefore at 2.30 p ni. the men, anxious to get forward, started. The horses were sent on in front, and the party went off in detachments They expected that at any time they could overtake the horses. Mi Smith and Mr Begley pressed Mr Paake to ride, but the latter state that he felt strong and hearty, and the walk would keep up circulate m better than riding on hors. hack would. Mr Smith noticed that Mr Paske was thinly clad. After going tome distance they found that the snow had drifted, and that they were in the midst of a blinding snowstorm. it varied in depth from 3ft to sfc, Mr Paske shortly after this appeared to become delirious, hut when his teason retained his strength seemed to fail him, and he became exhausted. Messrs Hodges, Ward, and M ‘Kay were then told off to push on for help, and, if possible, get on to St. James’s station. After being so left, Messrs Stephenson, Smith. Begley, and Thompson supported Mr Paske by getting his arms round their necks, but the effort was to much for them to sustain for any length oi time in so heavy a depth of snowTheytiied to keep him warm by getting close to him and chtfirg his limbs. Mrß.’gley covered him with his coat, and both made almost superhuman efforts to carry the suffering man, who, losing the power of his legs at last lay down. His companions bravely decided to stay with him, and lay beside him till he died. Thry hen stretched the body out in the snow, placed Mr Begley’s coat over it. and placed sticks at the head and feet, so as to Hud it again. ImmediVelv almost on starting for Sc. James Air Thompson showed signs of exhaustion, and they tried to carry him in th ■ same way as they had done with the first victim of this sad winter’s night. They alternately car riled him and encouraged him to walk by clearing the snow in front as well as they were able, till they almost sat mod nearly done up, and on looking round in the clear moonlight they corn'd sec, <1 mili ■ a slight lull in the s!o;ra, the dark coat over Mr Paske’s corps', not more than 150 yards away. With such slow progress lor two hour’s ha'-d work ant with their clothing frerzing to them all the time, their efforts to save their unfortunate comrades well nigh exhaus'ed them. In the meanwhile Mr Mitchell had reached Sc. James with the horses, and informed those at the house of the s ate of affairs. A man named John Campbell took out the cart ho-ses to go in search, and shortly after starling Campbell came on the pack horses, ami in two miles tree with Messrs P. S. Sinilh, Hodges, M’lCay and Ward, in an almost exhausted state. Ho gave ihcrn some spirits and refreshment, an l pushed on to ascertain the fate of Motsrs Stephenson, Smi.di, Begley, Thompson, and Paske. He found the latter quite dead. Campbell got tbs remainder mi his two horses—Messrs Smith and Begley on one and Mr Thomp-on and himself on the other. Mr Thompson hj id to he lifted on, and died i i his arris as they {were making fertile station. On the way hack they come on Messrs Hodges and M‘K iy, who hid only gone about 2i)o yards. They went on to the station and leiunn d for these men. It was stated in evidence that the men’s frozen trousers had to be cut off their levs. But for John Campbell’s praiseworthy conduct those who came in last n.nst have perished. 'I he bodies were brought to Christchurch on Tuesday—Mr Edward Lister Paske’s for interment in Christchurch ;Mr Hugh James Th <mpsnn’s remains to be conveyed ho his friends in Nelson. Air Thompson is the son of an old Nelson resident who had himself endured some hours of extreme peril. He was one of those who escaped from the Wairau massacre. The late Mr Hugh Thompson wag for tome time engaged as a teacher in Nelson.