A BAD TASK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 96, 26 April 1915, Page 5

A BAD TASK.

died on the mountain. WELLINGTON MAN’S END. STORY OF THE SEARCHERS’ DISCOVERY AND THEIR TASK. MEN WITH HEART AND MUSCLE, Alter mann hours of supreme hard' work on the part of the members of the parties who went out in search of the lost man, Pearce, and alter much anxiety and suspense generally, the dead body of the unfortunate man was discovered yesterday morning in a secluded spot out of the beaten track on the Mountain side. Pearce, who arrived at the Dawson’s falls House on Wednesday, despite the entreaties of Guide Murphy to the contrary, set off on a trip up the Mountain on Thursday. Me was not seen again alive. As he had not returned the same night fears were felt tor his safety, and since then every endeavor was made to discover his whereabouts.

The following story of the sad affair was gathered by a member of the “Stratford Evening Post” from ‘Mr T. Kirkwood, of Stratford, who was a member of one of the search-parties. SATURDAY’S SEARCH. Our search party consisted of Air E. O, Robinson, Mr A. J. Davey, and myself. We left Stratford about five o’clock in the morning per motor, and commenced the search after leaving Dawson’s Falls House at six o’clock. Altogether about forty or fifty persons participated, a large number being members of the Stratford Mountain Club/ There were,also, parties from Kaponga and Eltham, etc. Under the direction of Guide Aturphy, the different parties were organised, some being told off to certain parts of the bush and scrub, while others were sent above the scrub. All were scattered. but with a certain amount of method, so that none of the ground would be missed.

“Tt was terribly hard toil fighting one’s way through the bush,” said Mr Kirkwood, “hut everyone worked in grim sad earnest. AVe got on to the trail of the lost man all right. Guide Murphy found a paper where Pearce had had his lunch, and nearby oneparty found his alpenstock, and there were indications that he was in the Mangawhero Gorge, under t a nth am s Peak, a distance of three or four miles from the House, and half-way between the Fantham’s Peak track and Lake Dive. Guide Afurphy had previously traced him down ovei Fantham’s Peak. Searchers were hot on the trail, when smoke attracted their attention, and thinking it was a sign by the missing man, the party retraced their steps, and coming upon others they were told to come out, asmoke signal having gone up lower down in the bush. A huge column of smoke was then rising from a lire away in the distance, which was interpreted to mean that the missing man had been found. Naturally, there was much rejoicing and inward gladness of heart at the success oi the search, but when the House was reached and reports compared, it was found to lie a false alarm. We were at the time of noticing the signal very hot on the trail ot the unfortunate man, and the disappointment of all especially after travelling miles through the dense scrub to get to the House, was intense. No information concerning success had reached the House by six o’clock, by which tune most of the parties had returned, nor could anyone account lor the smoke signal which had had such an nnfultimate result. There was, oi course, the probability that only for this, some of the parties might have found him. After the first smoke signal which misled the searchers, another was seen further away down in the bush.”

Describing the search. Mr Kirkwood said that at one time on the trail, it looked as if Pearce, when he came to a cataract, had driven his axe into the ground and was looking down, when he fell over the hank, a distance of about eleven feet, and that he tried to get no the bank, presumably to recover his axe. Indeed we were very hot on tin 1 trail at the time, and all of ns were very much disappointed and annoyed at the arrangements being so badly muddled at such a critical moment. Just whether we would have found Pearce if we had followed up thetrail is problematical, but the indications were verv favourable.

“Three nights on the mountain!” Mr Kirkwood shook Ids head, and was sad. “Never mind,” he continued, “we are off again in the morning at four o’clock, and will start the search where we left off. It we find him and the worst has happened—well, it will he a terrible job!” THE DISCOVERY ON SUNDAY. “Yes,” said Ah Kirkwood in continuing his narrative last evening, "it was a terrible job! Yon know the worst, ot course, but i will give you an account ot our movements to-day. Messrs Robinson, Davey. and mysell. together with about twenty others, left about six o’clock, and were later joined by many others. Our party went straight to where the search had been left otV on Saturday, and we continued the trail It was about eleven

o’clock, after much hard work, push-

ing and stumbling through the alpine growth, when Messrs Robinson (Stratford) and Willis (Rowan) came upon the unfortunate man. Too late! What dreadful fears had assailed the poor fellow during those long hours of agony and pain, and mental torture are too awful to contemplate! But it is comforting to know that he passed hence without a. struggle. Worn out mentally and bodily, he must have lain or fallen down. In a long narrow clearing in the undergrowth, lie was lying on his back with his hands resting on his breast. Vie was minus his coat and hat, and without covering of any kind. One leg was caught in a small obstruction, but it will never be known whether he trinncd and fell or whether ho had simply put his foot

in the position. No mark disfigured his face, and there was nothing to show that he had come to his end except through sheer exhaustion. i From the appearances of the body, death must have come some time on Friday night, if not before then. His watch was stopped at G. 30, hut at which time of the day will ever remain a mystery. It is hard to understand , why the lost man did not make use of the matches which he carried, two wax vestas being found in a silver match-box in one of his pockets. Had i he thought of using them to light a fire, no doubt it would have been his salvation. The sum of 2s 5d and a pen knife and silver pencil were also found in his pockets. The Terrible Jofe. The thought of their task, in getting the body from its resting-place to the House, even then made Air Kirkwood stagger. His innate modesty prevented him referring to his own part of the dreadfully lahorous and solemn undertaking, hut he was unstinted in his praise and admiration of the indomitable nerve pluck and endurance of the noble hand of workers who accomplished the task without a murmur. Deceased was a “pretty big man.” as one of the band of real men described him, and when it is stated that they had to carry the body up the hill about a mile, each one taking a turn with the dead man on his hack—it being impossible for one to help the other, so irregular was the track—some faint idea of the difficulties encountered may he gathered. Strong men sank after a few yards under the weight of thei>' double burden. It was a good dc«d well donevet even good deeds come to an end. Afore brave fellows were waiting at the top, hut it was still throe miles to the House. From there it was possible to use an improvised ambulance. and the pall-heavers to the number of twenty or so took their turn in the solemn urocession. So the House was reached The next stage of the journey to the morgue at SD-itf-rd was made by motor, the body being conveyed in'Air Newton King’s motor lorry driven by Air Bradley, who nuickly responded to the request of the police authorities to assist them in the matter of a conveyance.' While under the circumstances it would he invidious to particularise, the searchers agree that Mr George Hunter proved an untiring worker, especially in the task of conveying the dead man up the hill. “So many assisted,” said Air E. C. Robinson, “that it would bo almost impossible to definitely name the helpers, but mention should bo made of the great services of Guide Murphy and Air George Hunter.” Notes from the Searchers, Air T. Kirkwood states that the exact spot where the body was found is not easy to determine, but it will most likely be proved that it was south-west of the Dawson’s Falls House near the more southern of the two tributaries of the Mangawhero. It was arranged by the searchers that on the discovery of the missing man, a small fire would bo lighted, and that a watcher on Hastie’s Hill would start another big one. This mute signal of a soul having gone hence touched many hearts. The unfortunate man, previous to his last effort, climbed up a steep bank which no doubt robbed him of what little strength he had. It is sad to know that had he gone about !0 yards further he would have been on good going country, and if the weather was clear would have been able to see the House. The searchers speak in terms of high praise of Guide Murphy and his efforts at rescue. His herculean strength and endurance throughout was wonderful. The hospitality extended to all in the House was much appreciated, and in this connection mention should be made of the unremitting attention and kindness of the following ladies who were, visitors at the House:—Airs and Miss Host (Eltham). All's Shield F.ltham), Mrs I\\ . Pearce (.Toko). Their work in the I tea-room was very much appreciated, j Guide Murphy’s capabilities as an organiser wore quickly and thoroughly proved, and for which he deserves great credit. Air T. Kirkwood says: i “Guide Murphy did all that was posI sible under the sad circumstances.” * Tt is not known at present when the inquest will he hold.