THE MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 98, 28 April 1915, Page 7

THE MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY.

PROCEEDINGS AT THE INQUEST. Au inquest on the circumstances attending the death of Henry Alfred Pearce, who lost his life on the Mountain last week-end, was held at the Courthouse. Stratford, last evening. Acting-Coroner, Mr C. D. Sole, J.P., presided, and the following eomprisj ed the jury:—Messrs S. Ward (foreman), W. Lander, C. Martin, T. J. I Thomson, J. H. Ford, and C. L. Grant. THE EVIDENCE. RELATIVE OF DECEASED. William Shipway Pearce, laborer, residing at Ngaro,' Wellington, being sworn, said he had seen the body at the morgue, and identified it as his late brother, who was 31 years of age. and who was a letter-carrier and sorter in the Wellington Post Office. Deceased's sense of sight and hearing were excellent, and his health generally good. Deceased left Ngaio at 7 a.m. on the 19th by motor-cycle, and his intention was to go to Wanganui next night, and to be on the following night at Waitara or New Plymouth, and eventually to proceed to Auckland. He made no intimation before he left that he intended to visit Mt./Egmont. He was a single man residing with his parents. MANAGER OF DAWSON'S FALLS. James Murphy, manager of Dawson's Falls House, said deceased called at the House on Wednesday night at 7.15, having left his cycle about two miles down the road. On Wednesday night, witness heard him speaking to another visitor and he said he had arrived at Wanganui the day before and had gone on to Uruti, and from there went to New Plymouth and round the Mountain via Opunake. lln reply to questions, he said that if the weather was fine he would go up Fantliam's Peak and would like to go to the top of the Mountain. Witness gave him the usual warning that jit was not right to climb the Mountain alone, and he replied that he felt lit and well, and that he thought he would go. He had breakfast at 8 o'clock next morning, and witness put a few climbing nails in his boots, as there were none in them. About 0.80 o'clock he left on the journey, having been provided with an ice axe and lunch and a bottle of tea. Witness felt certain Pearce was then wearing a brown-colored coat. He left the House alone, and witness saw ino more of him until his dead body was found. Witness anticipated trouble when Pearce had not arrived hack at 4.30, and he commenced a search. Ho went up Fantham's Peak about 400 ft. and found no trace of him. He 1 waved his lantern about and cooeed. The same day Mr and Mrs Jones (Hawera), arrived back from the moss line about '2.30, and they told witness they had seen othing of him. Next day (Friday), witness, with Craig and Robinson, set off for Fantham's Peak. Prior to this, on Thursday night, he spoke over the 'phone to MiGraham, of the North Mountain House, about the matter, and he said he would go to the top. Witness felt satisfied Mr Graham and Guide Upson went to the top. On Friday, during the search, the first sign of the missing man was found at the head of the Kapuni river, where witness found his tracks. It took him over two hours to follow the tracks ; it seemed Pearce had gone round and round on the peak, and eventually had borne away to the light. Witness lost the trail near the Mangawhero. Witness did not think it advisable to ,take his companions into the bush with

him, and 'the party returned home, i Witness then rang up the police, and 'arrangements were made to commence a search next morning (Saturday). At daylight about twenty or twenty-three persons from the Stratford .side searched until about 7 p.m., and again |on Sunday morning at daylight another crowd of men searched, and the deceased was found about a quarter of a mile from the moss line. The country in this locality is composed ot dense outlying scrub, which is very difficult to get through, and much travelling would soon exhaust a mall; it would be a case of crawling on one's hands and knees to get through. Witness had ail experience of three years on Mt. Egmont, and ho considered nothing more could have been done to find him. Witness assisted in conveying the body back to the House, being present on the scene of the discovery within a few minutes. Them was nothing whatever in the appearance of the body to suggest that he had committed suicide. Witness's opinion was that. Pearce died from exhaustion. To Mr Pearce: Witness was not the man who found him. As manager, ho had not the power to stop anyone, though they always advised visitors not to attempt any expeditions alono.

CAK A GLIMBEJR BE "TOPPED? To Sergeant Dale: He did not think it quite propar to stop anyone who wished to go to the top. lie did not think he, as manager, should have that right. Of course, that was witness's private opinion. Juryman Lauder: When one person wants to dim!) the .Mountain, do you not think it advisable to point out the dangers of the trip?—-Witness: I always do so. I gave Pearce instructions, as usual, what to do on the return journey. Why he did not follow them I could not say, hut there was a dense fog about that time. Juryman Ford referred to the expense and trouble- and anxiety incurred by the public in the matter of the search, and said he considered the suggestion thrown out by Sergeant Dale that it would be well to have power to prevent anyone go;ng on to the .Mountain alone as a very wise one.

The Acting-Coroner reminded Juryman Ford that he could ask a question of witness, but he must not go into a dissertation on the facts of the case. Juryman Ford: Would the witness give his opinion for refusing to have the power to stop anyone in his own hands ? Acting-Coroner: Mr Murphy is an employee of a certain body, and he -mly expressed his personal opinion. The Serjeant: That is why I did not go further in my examination. Juryman Ford: Why, Mr Murphy, do you object to having the power?— Witness answered with some emphasis: It is simply a matter of the freedom of mankind. I myself would be most indignant if anyone tried to stop ma •limbing! I admit I think the suggestion a very wise one, but T was only asked for my private opinion and I gave it.

Sergeant Dale said it seemed to him that a great deal of discretion, was required by a man in Mr Murphy'a position. If it was a weak man, then he took it the danger of the position would be driven home to him, and he would not be allowed to go on the Mountain, but if the climber happened to be a strong man, well, nothing would stop him. Foreman Ward: What time did the fog come on?—Witness: It was about two o'clock, but it was hot very dense until about four o'clock. Tt was what is called a "freezing mist," which continued practically all night. Even on the following morning, when we wont out, our coats and hair were covered with this freezing mist. I could not say what the condition of the atmosphere was on Thursday *nd Friday nights, but the thermometer stood at 34 on Saturday night. THE DOCTOR'S EVIDENCE David Steven, medical practitioner and superintendent of the Stratford Hospital, said that that day he hafl made an examination of the body. Ho found no bones broken, and the body was that of a well-developed man. I here were some very slight abrasions on the body, the face, and the back of the hands, more especially on the front of the legs below the knees.. Witness found no sign of any serious injury, and was of opinion, after hearing the 1 evidence of witness Murphy that the mam died from cold and exposure. He could say from the appearance of the face that Pearce died on the day he shaved or very soon next day j in fact, that he died on the first night he was out on the Mountain. There was nothing to show that he died from anything else but exhaustion and exposure to cold. All the bruises were purely superficial, and such as one would expect to find on one who had been climbing on the Mountain. FINDING THE BODY. Ernest Crellin Itobinson, civil engineer, who was one of the searchers out on the Mountain on Saturday and Sunday, and who, together with Mr Willis (Rowan) found the deceased, said life was then, in his opinion, quite extinct. Witness was with the party who conveyed the body to the House. There was nothing whatever to show that the man died from any other cause than exposure. Witness corroborated the evidence of Mr Murphy as to the efforts of the searchers, and said he considered that under the circumstances nothing else could nave been done. To Mr Pearce: It seemed to me thai: your brother was in a state of repose ; he was just lying down; there was no sign of any papers or writing of jtiiy kind about the locality. TDK POLICE. Sergeant Dale, Stratford, gave evidence as to receiving the body from the searchers on Sunday, when the following property was handed to witness: One silver watch No. 317.915 one art union ticket No. 1000, and the receipt toll ticket. Later, witness found a sum of £6 in a small pouch in the clothing. There was no writing of any interest on the ,iapers. ACTING-CORONER'S R EM ARKS. The Acting-Coroner said the jury would have little •liffi.riltv, after beating the evidence, in cjnwig to the conclusion that the unta/tniia'e man die.] from exposure on the Mountain. The 'evidence of witness Aluiphy was very .clear, and it was s'o.vn that !.e had

pointed out f: rieeei >vl the daggers of going alone in the trip, an.] also bow lie tould umk< t!/- doi'i jonirey as easy us pi.ssibl.-. Ihco >\ho knc« the Mountain, said the Arfini;-Coro-ner, kno\y the diffi • iH.y" in getting through the alpine gi will. It was shown tint wilueis .Mnph ■ had gone

to a lot ol trouble to find Pearce In regard to the sear-tiers, it woi.ld imt bo possible to enumo -ate then, but it was quite clear they had done all that was in their power to discover him. If those who became lost would only remain in a iai\v cpeu space there was then <j\ery probability of the searchers finding tln-m. There vas no doubt that every effort had been n ade by both the Duvson Falls and North* Egmont Houses to li'ld the missing man. The Acting-Coroner said he made these few remarks, as it was Ids duty to assist the jury in i-ruving at their verdict. THE VERDICT. The jury returned the following verdict : That the deceased, Henry Alfred Pearce, came by his death from exposure on the slopes of Mt. Egmont; and they also added the following rider:— That the Egmont National Park Board be asked to consider thv, mailing of a by-law prohibiting any person singly climbing the Mountain vithout a guide who is under the jurisdiction of the Board; further, that the jury express their thanks to Mr Murp-iy and those who engaged in the search for the unfortunate man. The Coroner undertook to forward the rider to the chairman of the Board. THANKS OF THE PEARCE FAMILY. Mr \Y. Pearce said he would like to take the opportunity of thanking the jury for their verdict and for the attention which had been given to the case, as shown by the rider, and he also expressed his thanks on behalf of the Pearce family to the searchers and all concerned.