MT. COOK TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1930, Page 3

MT. COOK TRAGEDY

A TERRIFIC STORM. AMERICAN TOURIST RETURNSi By Telegraph, Per Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 21. An American tourist, Mr A. H. Atlia, of Newark, arrived in Cliristchiirih last evening after a visit t..the Hermitage. Interviewed by a “Press” reporter he stated that the storm which commenced about 10 o’clock on Sunday morning was the worst lie had over experienced. Thunder and lightning and heavy showers of rain continue! ail day, and on Monday morning there was little abatement. It was believed that hail was falling on the Tasman Glacier. The news of the disaster had been, a terrible shock to those at theHermitage. In Air Atha’s opinion l iie tragedy was caused by the party i being overcome by fatigue, but, he j said, the actual cause would never he! definitely known. • DESCRIPTION BY MR C. . BUCHANAN. J CHR’STCIinnOTi, Jail. 21. ■) ' Air Charles Buchanan, of Christ- ;

church, who has had a great deal of oxncrionco of mountaineering in the South Island, stated that the surface of the ground at the scene of the tragedy, the l>e La Beche “corner, was not mountainous, nor did it make extremely hard going. The Tasman Glacier, of course, was very hummocky and walking necessitated stepping over small crevasses with occasional step-cutting by the guide to ensure a sure footing. Several peaks well over 10,000 feet were in the vicinity and the situation was naturally one where sudden and severe storms were not 'uncommon. The Do La Beche “corner” is about three miles from the A'lalte Brun Hut, which is on the opposite side of the Glacier, and is approximately twenty miles from the Hermitage. There is no shelter in the immediate vicinity of ‘ho tragedy, hut arumd the “corner” at the base of Do La Beche there is an old rod bivouac , constructed by the old-timers. Be La Beche itself is n large spade-shaped mound with a long ridge running from the “corner,” Air Buchanan stated that in all probability the party would not have been attached by ropes. It was always advisable anywhere in the Alps to carry storm clothes, sweaters, scarves, and woollen gloves, for unexpected storms were always possible. ,T '-o> should always he worn next the skin. The storm which' engulfed the

party must have Been an extraordinary one. Mr Buchanan, about five or six years ago, encountered a severe blizzard on the Franz Josef snowfield, hut his party, led by the famous guide, Mr Peter Graham, experienced little difficulty in reaching shelter. Mr Graham had been very careful all tinway across the snow to make mark with his axe, apart from the footsteps, and they were able to follow them, right back to the Aimer Bivouac. 'ihe strain of looking at the glaring snow had caused the guide to be snow-blinded for several days. PARTY TURNED /BACK. ' On January 7th, a party consisting of Mr Wilkinson and the Revs Bovver B 1 ick and P. A. Mead (Dunedin) set out from the new Aimer Hut on the Franz Josef at 3 a.m. with the intention of climbing some of the minarets, about 10,000 feet in height. Tinparty managed to reach the Graham Saddle, about 8700 feet, but were caught there in a blizzard. After attempting to climb Do La Beclie. they were forced to abandon the effort. Mr Wilkinson stated yesterday that his party experienced great difficulty in negotiating the soft snow in the storm. Mr Wilkinson and his party were, of course, on the other side of the mountain from where the tragedy occurred, but were not far from the 'locality. YESTERDAY VS SEARCH. TIMARU, Jan. 21. ; largo party, was. organised, and left for the scone of the tragedy on the Tasman Glacier this morning. The weather conditions were no 1 - favourable at the time, but to-night the reports state that Hie rain has cleared, the sky being overcast, wilh a very cold wind. BODIES RECOVERED. TIMARU, Jan. 21. Information received just before midnight indicates that the search narties had recovered the bodies, -and have camped for the night at the Bali Hut. which they reached shortly after 10 o’clock.