BODIES NOT YET RECOVERED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 876, 21 January 1930, Page 1

BODIES NOT YET RECOVERED

Victims of Mt. Cook Tragedy VIOLENT STORMS RAGING Lightning May Have Caused Deaths NO news has been received of the recovery of the bodies of the five victims of the Mt. Cook tragedy. Violent storms have prevented parties from reaching the glacier. It is believed possible that the victims were struck by lightning, hut this theory cannot be confirmed until the bodies have been examined.

Press Association TIMARTJ, Monday. Latest news from the Hermitage received at 11.30 o’clock tonight is to the effect that an effort was made today to recover the bodies of the victims of the Mount Cook tragedy, but the weather made it impossible to reach the scene. A relief party will be organised tomorrow morning. The weather in the district is still rough and violent storms are raging. The tragedy occurred as the party was making its way down the centre of the glacier, the most difficult part of the journey having been traversed. Guide Hilgendorf advances the theory that the party was struck bv lightning. An inquest will probably be opened at the Hermitage tomorrow. Considerable difficulty is being experienced by motorists endeavouring to reach the Hermitage from Timaru as heavy rain has made some parts of the route almost impassable. Many cars are being held up in the mountain regions.

THE MALTE BRUN TRIP

POPULAR WITH VISITORS MAGNIFICENT VIEW Generally regarded as a very easy and safe expedition the trip to Malte Brun hut has been made by thousands of visitors to the Hermitage. It is from this hut that one of the finest views of the Tasman Glacier is obtained, and with visitors it is always a very popular trip. ‘ It is a scene of dazzling: splendour,” writes Mr. James Cowan in his “Travel in New Zealand.” “One that surely has not its equal in this world. At one’s feet is the glistening: level downsweep of the Tasman Glacier—a solid river of ice more than a mile wide here, and probably I,oooft deep, unflecked by spot or stain. Across the glacier rise in glorious array the glittering mountain-kings, soaring 11,000 ft and 12,000 ft and more into the sky—magnificent Aorangi. cleaving the sky like a wedge; then Tasman’s polished ice-dome. De la Deche’s splintered crags, all glistening with glaciers.” The Tasman is bounded on the west by Mount Cook, De la Beche and contiguous ranges, and on the east by the Malte Brun and Liebig Ranges. The glaciers of the Southern Alps are acknowledged as the most beautiful in the whole world, and the easiest to reach. The great Tasman with its: length of 20 miles and a width ranging to two miles, is much larger than the biggest glacier of the Swiss Alps. Inaee<?’ J , lt is the lar *gest glacier of the world s temperate regions, if one excludes the Himalayas. According to observations made by the Lands and Survey Department the average daily rate of movement of the Tasman ice near the foot of the Ball Glacier varied from about lOin to 18in

KEEN ALPINIST

at. various points. From the point of the Malte Brun Spur below the hut the movement was from 2J to 13 1-3 inches a day. The Ball hut to which the ill-fated party was returning when the blizzard overtook it, is 14 miles from the Hermitage, and is the half-way hut between Malte Brun hut and the Hermitage. Malte Brun hut is the base for ski-ing expeditions to th§ head of the Tasman in winter, biit the Ball hut. with its accommodation for 24 persons and with a guide in charge, is really the key to the Tasman Glacier and all the surrounding peaks.

POPULAR ACTING GUIDE DETAILS OF VICTIMS A keen alpinist, Acting-Guide “Teddy” Blomfield spent all his vacations at Mount Cook where, during the holiday seasons, he acted as an amateur guide. He was the son of the late Dr. E. E. Blomfield, and his mother, now the wife of Dr. McKellar, is a daughter of Sir John Sinclair. Mr. Blomfield was born at Dunedin and was educated at the John MrGlaslian College, subsequently attending the Medical School at Otago University. He had just passed his secondyear examination. He was very popular with the alpine climbers and had climbed all the minor peaks. This year he had taken up a lot of equipment with the idea of climbing Mount Cook next month. Among the peaks he had climbed this season were the Footstool and Mount Hamilton.

Miss Mary Monteath was the younger daughter of Mr. J. K. Monteath, a master of Christ’s College, who resides at 23 Poynder Avenue, Fendalton, Christchurch. From 1919 to 1924 she attended the Rangiruru Private School, where her quiet nature and fine personality made her many friends. She showed considerable musical ability. After leaving Rangiruru she continued her musical stud-es, becoming an accomplished pianist. She was a member of the Aeolian Club. Miss Doris Herbert-Brown had had considerable experience of alpine climbing. About six years ago . she made a very difficult climb on Mount Cook. She had also done a lot of climbing on the Franz Josef Glacier. She was a niece of Mr. G. A. Manrering, one of the best-known of New Zealand alpinists. Her uncle played a big part in the development of the Mount Cook area and his preliminary work enabled the peak to be climbed. Miss Helena Keane was a daughter of Mrs. I. Keane, and had been employed as a clerk with W. Williamson and Co., builders and contractors, Montreal Street, a position which she Tad occupied for the past eight years. She was a particularly efficient worker. She was spending the last day of a fortnight’s vacation at Mount Cook. Miss Smith, who was 26 years of age, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Smith, of 6 Woodhall Road, Epsom, was to have left Mount Cook on Thursday to return home. She left Auckland on January 9 to spend a holiday of three weeks at the Hermitage.