SLIDE TO DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 80, 25 June 1927, Page 5

SLIDE TO DEATH

The Disaster on Egmont’s Slopes

STORY OF TRAGEDY TOLD AT INQUEST THE full tragic story of the two Wanganui college masters, killed on Mount Egmont, was told at the inquest yesterday. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

Press Association. HAWERA, Friday. The inquest into the deaths of Mr. Fenton Latham and Mr. Noel Arthur Baines, masters at the Wanganui Collegiate School, who lost their lives on Mount Egmont early in May, was held before Mr. A. E. Anderson, J.P., acting col-oner. Mr. W. A. Tisard appeared for the relatives of the deceased. The other two members of the party were Mr. Percival Taylor, also a master at the school, and a pupil, Dennis Allen. Dennis Allen related how he and other members of the party had set out to make the ascent. It had been hoped to return to Dawson Falls the same evening. The party had travelled light, taking only one knapsack. They found steps made by a previous party and found no great difficulty in following them. Mr. Baines was out of training. They reached the summit without mishap and after a rest of 20 minutes commenced the descent. None of the party felt nervous about coming down, although they realised it would be harder. Mr. Taylor was the first to go down, and was followed by Mr. Baines, witness and then Mr. Latham. After about 40 minutes the accident occurred. Mr. Baines missing his footing. DOWN THE SLOPE “We were able to hold his weight, but Mr. Taylor fell over backwards,” said witness, who described how the party slipped until it reached a hump on the ledge of the couloir down which they slid. The snow was quite hard. As soon as the party stopped witness got up and cut the rope round his body. The rope was somewhat twisted round the other three. All were practically unconscious, although none lay perfectly still. Mr. Latham was groaning and had a grave wound in the forehead. Witness got no reply from him. Mr. Taylor raised himself on his elbow and tried, without success, to say something. Mr. Baines was lying with his head down the slope. Witness picked him up and turned his head so that he lay with it up the hill. He realised he could do nothing, so he started off for the Mountain House, following the steps in the ice for some distance and sliding the rest. He crossed the platfeau between Fantham’s Peak and the main peak and

commenced going down the ridge from the former. TRACK LOST IN MIST By this time a mist had come up and he could not find the track. He crossed from one ridge to the other, But could not find the track. It was then dark. He managed to make his way down Kapuni Gorge, which he located by the sound of water. He travelled along the river bed until he struck Wilson’s Pool, where he knew the track crossed the river. He then followed the track to the Mountain House, reaching It about 7.45 o'clock, too late to give the guide, Mr. Murphy, directions, as he had already started for the summit. He did not think Mr. Latham was dead when he left for the hostel. To Mr. Tizard witness said he had cut the rope once. There was no place he could have taken the others to. They were lying on the most level place. Jlames Patrick Murphy, custodian at the hostel, said he had informed Mr. Latham that if the ice and snow were hard he should not attempt to climb the peak, but should stop at Fantham’s. Mr. Latham agreed. The next morning the party left in fine weather, but at one o’clock the mist arrived. As they had not returned at six o’clock he and his assistant set out for the summit. They found blood marks in the snow, but no trace of the missing men. SEARCH PARTY SOON OUT A search party was soon out and found Messrs. Taylor and Latham roped together. Mr. Baines had crawled from the lop in the rope. On Friday morning Mr. Baines was found down the Puniho Gorge. To Sergeant Henry, witness said there were plenty of ice at the hostel, and on the day of the accident: he lent two to the party. To the jury he said he had no authority to prohibit climbing in bad weather. Mr. Latham must have lost his axe or he would have been able to pull the party up. Dr. Sinclair gave evidence as to finding the bodies. In his opinion Mr. Baines bled to death. Evidence was given by James Edwin Bannister and Constable O’Donoughue. A verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone. All the searchers were commended for their efforts.