ALPINE DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1081, 29 March 1913, Page 4

ALPINE DISASTER.

FURTHER DETAILS.

Auckland, March 27. “It’s my first and last attempt at mountaineering.” This was the emphatic statement made by Mr Schubert (who was one of the party that had such a distressing experience on the inhospitable slopes of Ruapehu, at his home at Devenport to-day. Mr Schubert had just been bathing his leet when the reporter arrived on the scene, and he held them up for inspection. They were badly swollen, and must have been very painful. He talked interestingly of the terrible experiences of the alpine climbers. Mr Bingham, he said, was physically the weakest of the party. He was lightly dressed, and on Sunday was almost perished with cold. He was then practically in a state of collapse, and he (Mr Schubert), who was the only man who had a flask, gave him a strong nip of brandy, which pulled him round again. The cold was frightful, and quite inconceivable to anyone living in town. Their coats and hats were as stiff as a board, and their limbs and hands were numbed. A heavy Tall of log lay over the rugged face oi the mountain, and obscured the view for any great distance. The cold continued to increase in intensity, and clad as they were in summer clothing, the sufferings of the party were terrible. No one in the company had the least idea in which direction the camp lay, but death stared them in the face, and the descent had to be made gradually. The party (which comprised young Bingham, Miss Coche, and Messrs Waters and Schubert), worked their way over towards the base of the mountain and camped on the ridge. ‘T could have sworn it was the site of the camp because it had three pools identical with three pools by the camp,” said Mr Schubert, ‘‘but I was mistaken. It was now quite dark, and we lit a fire which was soon burning brightly, and greatly improved matters.

“Miss Coche was very keen on getting an early start on Mpnday morning, so at 5 o’clock, while it was still dark, we again set out, our intention beicg to go to the top of the ridge. “At this stage Bingham and Miss Coche decided to remain behind. It was no use the rest of the patty doing so, so Waters and I set out again, hoping we might obtain assistance. Before leaving I gave Bingham nearly all my matches and told him to get a fire going. That was the last we saw of him.” Mr Schubert then went on to relate what happened during the remainder of that terrible journey down the mountain side. After leaving Miss Coche and Bingham behind he and his companion decided to attempt to get to the foot of the big glacier. With the cold penetrating right through them, and with aching limbs, they pushed bravely onward. Often they would slip on a piece of treacherous rock, but always managed to regain their footing. Their boots were soon cut to pieces, and afforded but little protection for their feet, but, hoping against hope, they stumbled onward.

It was over 25 hours since either of them had tasted food, and the pangs of hunger added to their misery. Water was plentiful-—icy cold creek water—and they were able to slake their thirst. The fog had by this time partly lifted, and peeping across the country the mountaineers were delighted to behold a train speeding over the Waimarino Plains far down below them. The sight filled them with renewed hope. Safety was in sight, but their troubles were not half over.

' Stiff with cold and half famished, the two set off down.the slope with as rajjch haste as was possible. Not knowing tbs track, they decided to follow a creek which they knew must lead to level country. The water was up to their knees a great deal of the way, and it was frightfully cold. That night, after a lot of trouble, they lit a fire. After a sleepless night, they again set set off early next morning. The bush was “something frightful," to use Mr Schubert’s own words, and progress was painfully slow. For an hour they pushed their way through heavy growth., only to find that they were practically back in the same place they started from. There seemed to be no end of bush, and both of them thought they would never get out of it alive. Eventually they seemed to get through it, and they started out across the

plains for Waimarino. A blinding snowstorm came [on after they left the mountain, and almost overcame them. A wind of hurricane intensity was blowing and made progress very slow. It was 2.30 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon belore Waimarino was reached, and since 4 o’clock on Sunday the distressed mountaineers had not tasted food. A hot bath and some stimulant, followed by a meal provided by the stationmaster put a different complexion on matters, however, and they were shortly afterwards able to leave for Ohakune.

“Do you think there is any chance of Bingham being alive ?” Mr Schubert was asked.

“Not the slightest,” was the reply. “I reckon we were the two strongest of the party, and by Tuesday afternoon we were completely done.”

BINGHAM’S BODY FOUND

Ohakune, March 27

Word was received from the search party about five o’clock this afternoon to the effect that the body of Mr Biugham had been recovered about 9.15 this morning by a party, consisting of Messrs Blyth, Christie, Hyde, Tanseyand Carr. Tbe body was found in about five feet of water, about half a mile above the waterfall, and seven miles up the creek from the viaduct.

The party which found the body returned, and left the body to be brought in by a relay party, which is expected to arrive here to-morrow.

The stream where the body was found is very rough, and Mr Bingham apparently met his death by falling over a ledge. The body was not badly knocked about, but there was a wound on the forehead probably caused by striking a boulder in the fall.