Mt. Turiwhate Tragedy

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1933, Page 5

Mt. Turiwhate Tragedy

VICTIMS LOCATED YESTERDAY

SEARCHERS HAVE ARDUOUS TASK

The plane was discovered by Mr W Neamo who saw a portion of the wing protruding from the bush above him. The other searchers, handy were Messrs M. Treacy, A. H. Nahcekivell, J. Atkinson, L. Martyn, J. Atkmson, T. Dudley, G. George and yW. H. McNabb, who quickly climbed to the spot where the plane had made its final resting place. It was situated close to the route, which Mr M. Treacy had followed when he made his lone search on Monday afternoon, before the. parties had been organised, and around which searchers had passed in the course of their survey on Monday night and yesterday morning. .. The plane was wedged between rocks on a steep slope covered with tussocks and flax bushes. . Mr A. H. Nancekivell, the West Coast Airways pilot, who was with the first party to reach the scene tqok possession of the plane’s instruments, and stated that the plane wa s a complete “write-off.” The Condition of the Plane. Badly damaged, the plane was resting on an even keel. It had smashed into the rock face during its blind flight in Monday’s' dense fog and swung round' after the. impact. The crash wa* not accompanied by any explosion as had previously been rumoured. ; {■ t The Victims. Both occupants wore found in their seats, a.nd their '«biUes were lifted’ from the machine and laid out alongside.

The fierce impact of the collision had hurled the engine back into the passenger’s compartment, Mr Lynch’s body was badly mutilated, hig features being unrecognisable. '’' The only visible traces of injury to tlie pilot were cuts about the face, evidently caused through beiilg thrown forward in the. cockpit, The bodies Were tileil wrapped in a canvas tent carried by the searchers, and owing to the conditions prevailing which made their removal impossible they were left there until this morning, when a large number of willing helpers left the Tteacy homestead to bring the bodies down from the mountain. The Searchers. ; - * ■ i . v. ■ - <■' \ i 1 •' ,•' ; a'• Tribute is paid to the manner in wblich volunteers ijrom all over , the district, from Greymouth to Hokitika, and places intervening between and surrounding tlie locality, offered their services to take part in the search, and parties were soon organised. In all fifty-flour men took part, Mr J. S. Langford and Constable Wilton aiding in the organisation and checking. The number available was far in excess of that which took part in the search, and the others gave valuable service at the Treacy homestead from where operator were directed, tending to the want s of searchers as they set out and returned. , i ...... The needs of. the searchers in the way of provisions and equipment were attended to by residents from far and wide, and food, was forthcomng from Hokitika, Greymouth, and Kumara residents who were fully alive to these needs which are essential in % wide search. The food provided was readily availed cf by searchers on their return from the mountain-side, a;n<J was indeed welcome after their ordeal.

FUNERALS AT HOKITIKA TO-MORROW

The search for the missing plane, Z.K, AAI and its occupants, Messrs J. B. Renton and J. D. Lynch, which commenced late on Monday afternoon and was continued that niight and yesterday, resulted in the finding of the plane at 12.15 p.m. It had crashed against the rock Mt. Turiwhate, both men having b

face, 50 feet from the summit of een killed instantaneously.

- | When the' fears were first roused - on Monday afternoon, he made an as- , : ent tc the summit alone, returning ■) . late at night. He snatched two hours- ; ! sleep, and was then away again with ; ( the first party at 4.30 o’clock j’estcr* • day morning, being out Until the body L ' was found, Mr Tre&cy being atnohg ■ the first to reach tbe scene of the tragl . ecly. ' i ■ ; Mr Troacy said later that the scene of the iat-ality was practically where he had considered it to be, judging by tile crash he heard on Monday. i Searchers Big Ordeal. Heavy rain, thick fog, and the dense undergrowth all combined to provide a difficult handicap to the willing searchers, the tracks being quickly converted into slush, into which the searchers frequently sank to their knees. Almost every yard of the mountain traversed was subjected to a - close' scrutiny. Undismayed by tile terrible conditions under which they strove, the men stuck to their arduous task with a will, and rhost of them" reached the summit of Turiwhate, directing their search to a different route on their descent. Cold, and wet through the men were well catered' for on their return to the Treacy homestead, the work of helpers in this direction being much appreciated. Theory of Plane’s Return. The spot where the plane was found supports the theory that tbe plane had turned back en route to Hokitika, owing to the impossible conditions, andj that it had collided with the peak while flying in the dense fog, with nothing visible by which a guide could be taken. It is considered that the pilot believed the plage to be lunch farther south, nearer Hokitika. Had the plane been flying at an altitude of from 76 to 100 feet higher, or a slight deviation to the right it is possible that danger may have been averted. Plane Visible from Roadway. As the afternoon passed yesterday, so did the fog gradually lift, and the weather improve,, so that by late afternoon the wrecked plane could be seen from the road near the Treacy residence. Funeral of the victims. It is expected .that the bodies will not be brought down until late this afternoon, owing to tbe difficulty entailed thereby, and they will then lie removed to Hokitika. The funerals will be. held at Hokitika to-morrow morning. Tile late Mr Renton will be buried with full military honours. The cortege will leave his late residence at 11 a.m. and will be joined by the cortege of the late Mr Lynch’s funeral at St. Mary’s Church at 11.30 a.m., both then proceeding to the Hokitika cemetery. Requiem Mass will be celebrated for the late Mr Lynch at 9.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Tbe body of the late Mr Lynch _Avill be taken to the residence of Mr W. E. Williams, Stafford Street, while that of the late Mr Renton will be taken to his parents’ residence at South Hokitika.

High praise was fully deserved by I Mr Michael Treaty, who played a big | part in the search work.