SOUTHERN ALPS TRAGEDY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3618, 26 March 1927, Page 1

SOUTHERN ALPS TRAGEDY

WOMAN CUMBER'S FATE. DEATH IX HUSBAND'S ARMS. Tiiharu, March 22. Details of the fatality which occurred in the Hooker Valley about 12 miles from the Mount Cook Herminlnge, have come to hand. The victim was .Mrs. John Condon, of Mahitaki, South Westland. The deceased, who is about 50 years of age in company' with her husdand, a young man named Addison, and Guide Bannister, left Waiho on Wednesday to make a traverse of the Copeland Pass to the Hermitage. They camped for two days al Douglas Hock and crossed the pass safely on Friday. When halfway down the Hooker Valley Mrs. Condon slipped and fell, but apparently suffered no immediate ill effects. Before they had proceeded far, however, the unfortunate lady displayed signs of weakness and after being informed that they had some distance to go to the nearest vest lmt she collapsed. In the meantime the party had been overtaken by a blinding snowstorm. It was decided that Messrs Bannister and Addison, who is a schoolmaster at Bruce Bay, should proceed to the hut for blankets, while Mr. Condon and his wife sheltered as best they could. The hut was only a mile distant but it took the two men hours to'make the journey and return in the face of the blizzard which is described as one of the worst experienced in the Hooker Valley. Mrs. Condon was then dead. In recounting his terrible experience, Mr. Condon said it was the lirst time he and his wife had set out for the Hermitage. Neither had any previous experience of alpine climbing except a little some years ago on a mountain near their farm. They would have got to tile hermitage safely had they not been caught iu the blizzard which overtook them within a mile ot the Hooker hut. It was’ quite impossible to get there with his wife in such an exhausted condition. There was a big ridge between them and the but. When Messrs Bannister and Addison returned with the blankets every effort was made to restore Mrs. Condon, who was treated continual! v for two hours, but they were unable to bring her round. She literally perished of cold, dying in her husband’s arms. Deceased leaves a family of six.