THE ALPINE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1927, Page 4

THE ALPINE TRAGEDY

MRS CONDON’S DEATH. I' Aim* CAUGHT IN BLIZZARD. (“ Lyttelton Times.”) Caught in one of the worst blizzards tlmt. have been experienced in the ll.oolter Valley, between Waiho (on tiie West Coast) and The Hermitage. .Mrs Condon, wife of Mr .John Condon, ol Maintain, South Westland, died of (xposure and exhaustion in her husband’s anus, after many hours id intense .suffering on Friday night. ■ •r and Mrs Condon, accompanied by Mr Leslie Addison, the .schoolmaster at Hruee Hay, I,‘JO miles south of Hokitika, and Mr George Bannister, roadman at Bruce Bay. who acted as guide, set out from Waiho to cross the Copland Bass to the .Mount Cook- Hermitage. Mr Bannister was a guide at The Hermitage until about three or four years ago, and knows the whole of the country- very well.

All went well with the party until they reached within about a mile ot the Hooker Hut. when a terrible blizzmd came up. Affected by the intense cold and the bi'inding snow. Mrs Condon became exhausted, and was unable to proceed on toot.

i n the advice of Mr Bannister it was decided that Mr and Mrs Condon should take refuge in the shelter of a large rock, while he and Mr Addison went for blankets and assistance. After very great difficulty. Mrs Condon was taken to the shelter of the rock, which was reached about halfpast six o’clock oil Friday (veiling. Mrs Condon, who was fifty-three years of age. am! had not done any alpine ei'inihing previously, was made as comfortable as possible, but wrstlion wet through, and had no heavy, clothing. THROUGH THU BLIZZARD. Air Bannister and Mr Addison set out through the blizzard to the Copland Hut, which was only about a mile away, in order to get blankets, but they were unable to make good progress, and it was not until several I hours i'ater that they returned. The unfortunate lady was then still I alive, but was very weak, having suf- j fered terribly as a result of her exposure to tiie cold. For nearly two hours efforts were made to restore warmth and animation, but without success, and she died in her husband's arms. RELIEF .PARTY ORGANISED. .Mr Bannister then made a journey to The Hermitage, about seven miles from the scene of the tragedy, where lie arrived at eight o’clock on Saturday morning. A relief party was organised by Mr Clark, the manager, consisting of the head guide. .Mr ('Vein. Williams, and other guides. The relief party reached Air Condon about two o’clock on Saturday afternoon. Airs Condon’s hotly was conveyed on a stretcher to Tfio Hermitage, the sad journey being completed about six o’clock that evening.

The body was taken to Timnru on Sunday, and was brought to Christchurch on Monday. Tuesday morning ing it was taken to the West Coast for burial at Hokitika. COULD NOT TURN HACK.

Air Condon stated on Tuesday that it was the first time he and his wife had set out for The Hermitage, and neither had had any previous experience of alpine climbing except many vears ago, when they did a little climbing on the mountains near their farm. Air Bannister, however, knew tho whole of the country thoroughly-, and they woniVl have got through to Tho Hermitage safely if they had not been c-aught in a blizzard. “• The blizzard came up when wo were only about a. mile from the Hooker Hut, but it was quite impossible for us to get there with ray wife,” said M.r Condon. “We were too far down this side to turn back, and there was a big ridge between us, and the hot.. Air wife really perished with the cold. She did not slip and fall, but was so weak that she eoflnps"d. "i’d it was quite impossible for us to carry her to the but through tho blizzard, oven though it was only a mile away. IXTFNEK SEEKFH]NO. ‘‘When we reached the shelter of the rock it was still bitterly cold, and there was no means of getting warm. Our clothes were wet through, and there was. no wood or anything with which to right a lire. AVe also had very little food and na heavy clothing. AVhen Air Bannister and Air Addison returned with the blankets we made every effort to restore Airs Condon. and though wo rubbed her continually for about two hours, we could not bring her round.” Air Condon suffered no ill-effects himself as a result of his experiences,

."(though 1 1 0 remained at the rock from hn/t-past six o’clock on Friday evening until two o’clock on Saturday afternoon, when he set out for The Jdermitagp. Mr and Mi's Condon left their home to visit Hamilton in order to see Mrs Condon’s sister, who was very seriously injured recently in a motor accident. Many friends of Mr and Mrs Condon went to the Christchurch railway station on Tuesday morning mid expressed their sincere sympathy with Mr Condon in the terrible tragedy that had befallen ,him. NO INQUEST NECESSARY.

The Timaru Coroner. Mr C. R. OrrWalker, S.M., derided that an inquest was not necessary.