WIND DISLODGED STONE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 598, 26 February 1929, Page 16

WIND DISLODGED STONE

MT. EGMONT FATALITY STORY TOLD AT INQUEST (Special to THE SUE) NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. At the inquest into the death of Arthur Ronald Moss, aged 22, who was killed by a boulder while climbing Mount Egmont in the early hours of Sunday morning, one of his companions, Mr. R. V. Kay, said that the party was on Curtis Ridge, about 7,000 ft up, and had been travelling on the scoria. They hoped to get on the snow for better going. They therefore made for a little gully. They heard stones coming down. Witness attributed this to the stiff breeze that was blowing, and to the fact that the snow had been melting the day before. At the time of the accident Mr. Irving was leading, and Mr. Johnson, deceased, and witness followed in that order. Mr. Irving apparently heard a stone coming, as he called, “Look out." All were standing still at the time. Deceased had his ice axe in the ground, nnd witness had his foot against it, to ston him from slipping. As Air. Irving called out the others looked back and saw Mr. Moss had disappeared. They went down and found liis body 100 ft lower down. Witness was sure that his death was instantaneous, as there was such a dreadful gash on the top of his head. Stones came down frequently, and witness and Mr. Johnson were also struck.