Lost on Mount Egmont

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1923, Page 3

Lost on Mount Egmont

ERKSBY I BRIAN AIIKiSTKR. |'ll V TELEGRAPH—UF.R I’TIF.SS AS.,(XT AT lON "1 81/i'IIAM. ■iiii'a-y :!!. Rev. William Murray, “re.-bytermn .Missionary, aged sixty, belonging to Normanhy. has been lost on Mount Egmont since yesterday. A party consisting of Mr Ali-ray. Rev. Orange (Elfham). Air Al. Tlmmas (Wanganui), and Afr G. Cook (Keponga) made an ascent from the Dawson’s Fall; House to the summit early yesterday, intending to descend on the other side to the North Egmont House. Rev. Murray disagreed on the route chosen, refused, in spite of argument, to listen to the appeals of the others, and insisted on traversing a dangerous gorge, down which the others perforce followed, though a return by the same way arpeared impossible. MeanwhiK Mr Cook returned to Dawson House for assistance. Orange and Thomas followed Murray, keeping in touch hv shouting, to which Afurrav shortly refused to reply, and eventually the followers lost touch with him. The party could not follow his tracks. They ansuccossfnllv attempted to return up steep cliffs, but eventually cut a stairwav hack to the summit, returning to Dawson House late in the evening. No further word came this morning from North Egmont, so search parties went out. hut Rev. Orange collapsed, and had to return. Two parties wont out to-day, and Rev. Orange and Air Tl'omreturned + o the mountain to-night, to participate in a further search tomorrow.