HUGE LAND SLIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1923, Page 4

HUGE LAND SLIDE

[av Tiu.iaiiiAi’i! — I’eit i’ll kss a.--ovimu , CHRIS'I'C'ITI'RCH. .I'anu.oy 27. A big landslip at Emdm. fo--i me--Irom l.iHlc River "wurrod Hiorlly afier midnight, owing m heavy ram. A parly of grass seeders "ere van;;ln the slip and (o-illit.h* Ridgcm. a mairicd man el .10 years billed hi- oioi'e: Via d-n k I’ldgeou. a -ingle man, oi I’ur-iw. and .lames 110-.anl "el-' miiocd. Howard had in !„, ,p ; ,_r out. and was seriously injuri'd. T'ne constable at Little ILv- r in tclepi, cuing hr assistam e lo dug th-- men mu state.! i iiat the ti« hr is estemleJ i : two miles. A party of constable- Ii s gone old. TWO .MILLS HE HERRIS. i'WO Ml-'.N KILL EH. STARTs ON DILI TOR. CHRISTt UEIUU. January 27. Rater particulars Irom Little Ri.ci state that IL."aid's body has m.t I ecu 'Veied from the Oeliri-. I'-.rii ■ aia s ;ii-<!iinii t<.»r itTim slip began on top ol a bill, übn-n j- SQU or !>()() feet iiigb and ii st:ev.'-sl the debris over two miles. | .Mr .1. « ivipmau's bouse on tee hil ; was moved from it- I'oiindations. i The fatality occurred when three men were washed into the creek. 'I wo escaped, one being admitted to tbe bo- ' pi til! later. A SURVIVOR'S STORY. | CJ IR JSTCII URC'U . January 27 i |.'rodorick I’idgemi, who escaped I nut! the big land slip at I'uiiha. near Litth Kiver is in (.'hristchureh Hospital, sillfeeing from euts on the I ace. head anil body, tie had a miraculous es api ; from a dreadful death, j “My brother and 1" be says, "wen in one tent, and Howard was in an.other one by himself. The .‘reek h:jran to roar, and sag up. and In; stones and boulders went down it. Jy

brother mid I were used to tint kind j of thing, but it became ko bad Hut we j ‘got the wind up’. AVe were laying! in the tent, with a candle burning, and I said tu my brother: “l don’t like it! " ile said; “I don't either! ’ I suggested that we slntuiil get up and go into a hutclose by, where we rooked our meals. Just then there eame a terrific roar. 1 said: "('one.' on . and 1 rushed iui the hut. He! ore L could reach it. .1 felt that something had caught me and lilted me uigb in the air. J was not unconscious, but nnlv semi-conscious. In the rain and dark I was buried :*l‘.nK in a ol mud, water, sticks mid stones. Sometimes I sprawled on top of it; sometime-, it seemed to open up mid pi ess all around me. During my struggles I saw a. light in a hut, belonging to | Air Humphries and I managed to work niv way towards it, and was taken in and attended 10. I must have been carried quite a- mile] but I seemed to j go very rapidly. I “The experience was awful. I would | lather die than go thiuugh it ay.iin. 1 j did not see my brother alive alter Iwe rushed out ol the tent. J did not j see Howard once after the almm. 1 \\ nen rescued, Frederick l’ii'gcon was absolutely naked, bis el .ibex bluing been tom on him in bis struggle for life In the boiling cloak; and lie was in a terrible state of exhaustion. He had. a terrible experience while being washed down the creek, but he "as able to catch hold of a tree and slop his progress. JiODV FOUND. The body of Hriflith J’idgton. was found lying on the road, a shu: t distance above ii'e nut where Fred I'idgcou was rescued. A vine was tight!.' drawn round bis neck, death appaieiitIv being due to sirmigulntion. Oreat- lie ps el debris were brought down by the Hooded clock, and a large heap of debris marked tbe spot wiie’e the body of Oriilitlu I’idgeon was found, and where In- brouter I-red. ii.it was rescued. James i Inward, i lie third mend e;- ; I tlie party is still missing, and .; large party of volunteers are at work tai hing among I In- debris P>r bis body. Howard arrived only y-est rday 1:011 West port.