MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1931, Page 2

MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

ALL FOUND BUT ONE PARTICULARS OF RESCUED. RELATIVES OF MISSING. HOPEFUL OF RESCUE. (By Telegraph —Per Frets A siociation) THE CHATEAU, September 1. Tho relatives of the missing are showing great fortitude and optimism. Interviewed, Mrs F. C. Brockett said she was confident her daughter will come through safely. Mrs Brockett and her husband were themselves lost for seven days in the Tararuas once, and they came through the ordeal safe ly. Their daughter, who has been a Girl Guide with the Order of Alerit, is well versed in forest craft, and tracking. Her mother is certain that as long as she is conscious, she will be able to keep the spirits of the othei girls up, and bring them through. She has been trained to make a. shelter, utld to await assistance. Mrs Brockett and his Wife aJ'O experienced mountaineers, Mr Stanton, whose son is missing, is also here, and is cheerful, Stanton’s uncle, Mr G, A, Stanton, wont out to help in the search with Mr J. Corlett’a party last night. The organisation is now excellent, and about 250 men are scouring tne bush between the Chateau and Hauhaugatahi. Plenty of other men are available to go out qs needed. LATER REPORT. WELLINGTON, September 1. The Secretary-General of tile Post Office has been advised by the Postmaster at Taumarunui as follows: — . “At 7.50 p.m. The Chateau reports that Miss Alorris and Jack Graham, have reached there, an<J that they are in fair condition. There are no further developments concerning the four still missing.” FOUND BY CHANCE MISS MORRIS AND GRAHAM. BOTH IN GOOD FORM. THE CHATEAU, September 1. The party which found Graham and Miss Alorris consisted of Messrs M. Peterson, G. Floyd, D. Haddick and A. Rogers, of Horojuto. They were a section of m. pq»ty of i&wft'fiieh deft The. Chateau this morning to search in Whakapapaiti Valley. Their discovery was, apparently, made by chance. They intended spending the night out, and at noon they were looking for a suitable place in which to establish a camp to which they could return at nightfall. They wefe then in a clearing at the head of the Alahuia Stream, at the base of Alount Hauhungatahi, and they plunged into the outskirts ol the bush .again. Peterson had onfy taken a few steps when he saw Graham and Miss Alorris lying on the ground. They were surprisingly fit, and they knew that help was near, and they had bpen “cooeeing,” but Peterson’s party diad taken their cries' to be those of other searchers. SIX CAMP TOGETHER. The told Peterson that Harris, Alisses Rennie and Bockett had been with them only half an hour previously, but had gone off in an attempt to get to the Haunted Whare. The only news Irom this party received so far. was brought by Messrs I. Haddick and J. Brown, two seareners, who joined Peterson’s party one hour after they found Graham and Miss Morris. 1 , Peterson then had a fire going and Graham and Aliss Morris were drinking.coffee. Haddick was there only a few minutes, he hurrying away with Brown to bring the news to The Chateau. He gained the impression however, that the party had been camping ther© for some time, and that they had had a small fire burning. The spot they were in was a sheltered one, and was fairly dry. They were both surprisingly strong, considering they had been out for four days and three nights. Neither appeared to be iro%tbitteri. on the face, but Haddick noticed that til© girl’s hands were bandaged. They stated that they had been greatly cheered by ■ an aeroplane which had passed over them early this morning. Steps were immediately taken to send the other searchers in the vicinity off in the direction in which they stated that Harirs and Alisses Rennie and Brockett had gone, but no news lias been received here yet as to whether these three have been located. Au attempt is being made to bring Graham and Miss Alorris out of the ! bush to-night. ONLY STANTON TO FIND. WELLINGTON. September 1. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following advice from the Postmaster at The Chateau': —“8.50 p'.jtn. —The following rescued members of the Mountain party are expected to arrive at Tho Chateau at 11 p.m. Aliss Rennie. Alias Brockett. Air Harris. Their condition is fairly good. The only member of the entire party now unaccounted for is Mr Stanton.”

REASSURING NEWS. GIRLS SURVIVE TRIALS WELL. WELLINGTON, September 1. The Secretary of the G.P.0., Air AlcNamara, received the following from the Postmaster at Taumaranui, at 3.20 p.m.:—Miss Fitzie Alorris and Jock Graham have now been picked up. There are three others wi'thJn half an hour’s reach. As to the remaining one of the party the news is indefinite. A further report will shortly be sent. The girls in the party are said to bo in good condition. HOW ADDIS WAS FOUND. WHERE HE LEFT STANTON. RESCUERS’ STORY. THE CHATEAU, September 1. Addis was brought to The Chateau this afternoon on a stretcher. He was in a state of utter exhaustion. Those who found him say he could not have survived another night on the mountain. His hands were frightfully frostbitten, but the medical report is that, beyond the effects of fatigue, he is in good condition. “We found him holdilig tin, to a tree at the bottom of a steep ravine," said 'Ml' S. A. Maniiering, of Taumarunui, leader of the party of bushmen who found him. “He was,Jin a state ot collapse, and fell unconscious direotly he saw men. We had been making our: way up Matatote Valley. It- was terrific going. The sides of „ the stream were sheer cliffs, sometimes 100 feet high, making progress an absolute agony. We pushed on from 6.30 to 9.30 a.ml, one party keeping to one side of the ravine and another party to the other, ‘cooeeing’ to keep in touch with each other. One of the men called out. He thought his call had been answered by a shout. We scrambled down the cliff, and there was Addis leaning against a tree, completely done in. As I came up to him, he said : “Thank God !’’ and collapsed. We gave him hot drinks, lit a fire, rubbed him over with whisky, and changed his clothes. When he revived, he immediately gave us the information we required as to where he left the others. . He is the gamest man; 1 have ever known. That information was just what we had been wanting; and we had it telephoned without delay to The Chateau.” Air T. Cribb, who was one of the first to see Addis, said the searchers heard his answer to their calls. They thought at first it was one of thenown number, but when it came again, Cribb said: “Hark! That is our man!’’ Then they saw him. As tney rushed ..down thc.bqnk tq him, .they , .-heard, Addis say weakly: “Are you fellows looking for me?" The story Addis told in the brief interval that restoratives were being applied, was that the entire party of eight found shelter in a spot on the bank of the west side of Mahuia Stream, and during the time they were there, the men 1 took it in turns to go out and search, two at a time. Stanton and Harris were out at one time. When they did not, come back Spooner went to look for them, and to seek a way out. At the same time, Stanton and Harris returned to the bivouac, and Addis, becoming more and more worried, decided to move out with Stanton in a wild dash down the Matoetoe Stream to the road and the railway, a distance of about seven miles, over terribly rough country. Stanton, however, became exhausted, and Addis had to leave him. He made (Stanton as comfortable as he could, and told him not to move. Addis then pushed on, and was himself thoroughly exhausted when rescued.

NEWS OF THE RESCUES. HOW IT WAS RECEIVED. A TRANSFORMATION AT THE CHATEAU. WELLINGTON, September 1. The beautiful Chateau lounge, with its ivory and gold walls, and its crystal chandeliers, presented a unique picture this afternoon. Hundreds of men from the surrounding district, both Maori and Pakeha, were assembled in it ready for the search. For the first time, the luxurious carpets felt the tread of muddy, hobnailed boots. There were a few remaining guests, however, expectantly jn the background. The air ,was tense. The put-, ents of the missing ones moved listlessly about. Every few minutes tired, soaked searchers ‘ returned from a fruitless trudge \hrough the soddenforest to be plied with eager questions. No news, and still no news! Outside snow fell dismally. So the afternoon moved on until fifteen minutes past three, when searchers brought in news that Graham and Miss Mon.s had been located alive, and comparatively fit; and that. Harris and Misses Rennie and Brockett were still alive. The news was electrical. There was dead silence following this announcement. by Mr C. A. Rotes (Mavor of Taumarunui). Could it be beleved ? Was the vigil almost over ? Then the tension snapped, and men cheered. Friends and relatives embraced, and tears were near to' many eyes. The air of apathy which had hung like a cloud over The Chateau for the past few days, was immediately dispersed, and the sound of cheerful conversation welled forth once more. The Chateau staff, almost 'exhausted by their con-

tinuous duty, reacted to the enlivened atmosphere, and went about their duties with renewed vigour. ' Volunteers who were not required for immediate rescue work,' settled down quietly to games of cards and billiards. At 8.30, Air Boles was able to announce definitely that all but 'Stanton were found, and that there was every probability of his being found dn the morning. Air Boles thanked the volunteer workers for their wonderful response. Air J. Cobbe (Manager of The Chateau) conveyed the thanks of the National Park Board, as well as his own, to all who had helped to brjng the rescue to what he was confident would eventually be a completely successful conclusion. Professor Worley, of Auckland University, also expressed thanks on behalf of, the whole University ' Field Club organisation. He considered .it had been wonderful. It had shown how perfect it was by the wonderful results. ALL AT CHATEAU. EXCEPT STANTON. WELLINGTON, September 1. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following from the Postmaster at The Chateau: “10 p.m.—-All the rescued members of the mountaineering party, with the exception Of 'Stanton, ate tow at The Chateau. Their condition generally is good, Search parties Have camped at various parts for the night, and will recommence the search for Stanton at dawn!” , AIISS MORRIS A eCAsiEiVOne of the party, who were lost on Mr Ruapehu is a native of the West 'Coast. She is Aliss Fitzie Morris, whose father, Air G. N. Morris, now Stipendiary Magistrate at IWhangarei, was formerly Clerk o the Court at 'Reefton. News of Aliss Morris’s rescue was received yesterday. RESCUERS’ STORY. , GIRLS HELD UP WONDERFULLY. THE CHATEAU, September 2.. A nightmare journey, is how the members ’of the /rescue party which brought Harris, Graham, Brockett, Rennie and Alorris, is described. The journey through the. bush took five hours and the path was literally hacked through the bush to bring the stretchers through. The route taken was down to the right Bank of Mahua river to Tokanau where a stretcher had been fitted with a mattress brought them into the Chateau. Eight men armed with axes and .slashers led the way through the bush and another ten followed bringing members of the rescued party. Harr's, (Brockett and 1 Rennie were carried on stretchers, Morris Was pickabacked down, while Graham Was able fb walk with a mail supporting him on each Bide. All t were In good spirits, cracking.jokes and talking. Rennie was particularly bright and sat up on her stretcher. On several occasions she called out to other members ahead, enquiries as to how they were. They were absolute heroes, remarked a bushman, who travelled with the party. There was not one word of complaint from start to finish. He was amazed how the girls have held up like they have, after three nights’ put. The party .which discovered the five missing alpinists, was portion of a large one of thirty which was led by L. Dem, Wanganui city engineer. They left the Chateau'yesterday morning. This was split up at Sicilia springs into three and a party of Horopito bushmen led by A. Petersen and consisting of A. Marriner, E. W. Smith, A. McMillan, J. Kaes, A. Rogers, G. Floyd, D. Haddick, D. Brake, J. Dobson and D. Berry, who found them. Other parties afterwards came up and gave assistance. Petersen on arrival here gave slightly a different account of the finding of the party to that given by Haddick. He said that he was boiling a billy for lunch, when he heard a cry for help and looking up saw Graham and Monvs walking towards them about five chains away. Morris threw her arms around his neck when he rushed over to her and burst into tears. They stated that Harris, Brockett and Rennie left them about half an hour previously travelling towards the haunted whare. Members of .the party went on and found them about half a mile away. “Thank God some one has oome . at last” said Rennie, when tb e rescuers reached her. These five were taken back to the other two. A large fire was burning and ; they were stripped, rubbed down, and dressed in dry clothes. Restoratives were applied and they were given a hot drink and food. The rescued parties first enquiries were whether the others had been found. They were particularly concerned about Spooner. They indicated they had gone astray through mistaking 'in the fog Hauranganui mountain far' .NgaruahobV They said they had been in the spot where Graham and Alorris were found since SurTuay. This .spot was about seven miles west from the Chateau. They had a date each on Alondav night and this had been their only food. They had no matches so could not make a fire, even if it had been possible to make one under the wet conditions. It was dangerous to sleep and the men would only allow the girls to doze off for a few minutes at a time, wakening them and setting circulation going “By slapping.