DEATH OF STANTON

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 80, 1 October 1931, Page 14

DEATH OF STANTON

CORONER'S FINDING

TRIBUTE TO SEARCHERS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TAUMARUNUI, 30th September. A verdict that death was due to syncope caused by exposure and exhaustion was returned by the Coroner at the conclusion* of his inquest yesterday regarding- the death of Warwick Stanton. After Mr. Cobbe,. manager of thp Chateau, had,given his evidence, Mr. Ciaham Bell said that prior to tho party leaving for the,, mountain he obtained the necessary equipment from Guide. O. Pederson, and although Mt. Cobbe was not aware the students had left to climb Buapehu, the guide was aware of the fact. .Sergeant Sivyer detailed the organisation of search parties from Taumarunui and other King Country. toWns.,He said that during Sunday evening 'the management of the Chateau appeared confident that the missing party would be rescued. On Monday witness communicated with Mr. C. A. Boles, Mayor of Taumarunui, and as the result of a communication with the Chateau a large search party left Taumarunui soon after midnight; and on arrival at the Chateau the men were sent into the bu3h' in parties of six fully equipped^ ; Witness described the furr ther measures taken to recover tho missing party and Stariton until 12th September, when Mr. W. G. Nelson and his, party of surveyors took over the search. ; -. Witness examined Stanton's body at the morgue. The hands and nose were slightly frostbitten, but the body was in a remarkably good state of preservation. William George Nelson, ,who led the survey party which recovered; Stanton's, body, .outlined the measures taken to comb the -bush, and the finding of the body. After a conference with Mr. Addis, he had, narrowed the area down to thirty acres. In witness's opinion the body was as Addis had left it. The body was well preserved owing to being covered with snow for a week, and heavy frosts. The Coroner said Mr. Bell had displayed great judgment in leading the party down the mountain. The trouble was not due to his leadership, but to the breaking away of a section of the party. Ho considered that Addis acted in a proper manner in pushing on after he left Stanton in order to get assistance. He paid a tribute to tho men who had responded to thocall for help in a manner characteristic of the British race, and said no blame was attachable, to anyone.