OVER A PRECIPICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1924, Page 4

OVER A PRECIPICE.

THRILLING RESCUE. SYDNEY, March 5

O'le of the most thrilling rescues in Australian Alpine history has been between Omco and the snow covered Mt. Kosciusko. For four days a young man lay seriously injured on. a narrow ledge about a third ol the way down i\ sheer precipice of three hundred feet, over which he had fallen. Racked with pain he lay with less than three inches separating him from certain death. Did lie lose consciousness and merely roll over oil Ills side he must have been cast down the yawning depths beneath. By pure lone of determination lie kept himself alive despite the combined agonies of his injuries and the hitter cold of the nights which is experienced throughout the year at that altitude, and on the fourth day his rescuers were able, after almost .superhuman efforts and great perils, to hoist him to safety with the aid of a block and tackle. Tlio scene of the accident is tlie most mounitainous and dangerous country in Australia.. Two friends named Yunckcii and Nichterlein set out from Melbourne some time ago with the object of making a walking tour ac-ross the Australian Alps. At Bemnnbra, on tlie Victorian side, they engaged Guide Picndergast, who probably knows the tortuous tracks and passes of those remote parts as well as any living -man. \\ itli him they proceeded to the waterfalls on the New South Wales side of the lamestone river. After about 50 miles ol rough going on mountain horses, which develop an instinct and surefootedness which is almost uncanny, they reached the all but inaccessible fastnesses where the falls roar with a deafening noise over a precipice. That was on Monday afternoon, last week. Late in the day the guide and Yiiiicken missed the third member of the party. Late into the night they searched in the perilous surroundings without avail, and thei, calls were rendered useless on account of the roar of tbe falls. With downcast spirits they at length took a few hours’ rest, and resumed the search at break of day on Tuesday. It was late in the day when their efforts were rewarded by accidentally catching sight of the missing man lying on this narrow ledge described above, about 90 feet down the- lace oi a precipice. Evidently tho young man bad gone off the track to the edge of the precipice in order to obtain a photograph of the falls, and had overbalanced. On anxiously peering over, the searchers were unable to detect any movement in Nichterlein. and they feared that he must he dead. Unfortunately the two men above bad no ropes with them, and could do nothing for the immediate rescue of their companions, but it. did not take Guide Prcndevgast long to make up his mind to vide hack for succour. Night fell soon after lie set out on his perilous ride of 46 miles. How lie survived the dangers of such a ride in the dark is a mystery to those who know the country, and it can lie ascribed only to his ow n indomitable courage and the wonderful instinct of Ids horse. On his return food was lowered by means of a string and the onlookers were relieved to see Nichterlein rise painfully to a sitting posture and partake of it. Soon they lowered a blanket to him, which lie wrapped around him. Then preparations were made for his rescue. Rrendergast had ridden back in advance of the other helpers, and on the arrival of these, Yunckcn volunteered to be lowered over the precipice. Reaching the ledge at tho end of a rope he secured a rope round his injured friend, and the two were slowly hauled up the face of the cliff. An examination of the injured man showed that lie hail not been so extensively injured as had been feared, [iis pains being principally due to extensive bruises and to the effects of exposure. It was a difficult task to convey him over the narrow and often steep bridle paths. A stretcher had been brought in readiness, and on this he was first conveyed to a mountain hut about ten miles away, where he was enable to rest and receive attention before the journey to the township was continued