EGMONT TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 339, 21 January 1937, Page 4

EGMONT TRAGEDY.

DEATH OF CLIMBER Finding Of Body In Manganui Gorge. An Intensive (search for Philip Matthews, aged 19, of Wellington, . .who left Fantham’s Peak on Tuesefay evehTngi to spend the night in the crater of Mount Egmont, ended this morning when his dead body was found about 8 o’clock in the south branch of }he Manganui Gorge pt about 5,500 feet by Mr. A. Dick, a member of the Stratford Moun. tain Club, who immediately called his two partners, C. Thomp-' son and C. Jury, also members of the club.. Death had occurred as the result of a fall and injuries were fairly extensive..

News of the discovery was brought to the Mountain House and arrangements were made for removal of the body from the Plateau to Stratford by motor.

It appeared that Matthews slipped t on the ice or was blown by the wind , and fell a considerable distance when returning from the summit. Matthews, who was a nephew of Mrs. Bl Valentine, lessee of the Dawkon Falls Hostel left Dawson Falls on Tuesday for Syme Hut in company with Dick -Valentine, aged 12. On the way up to the mountain Matthews, who made his first ascent on Sunday, suggested sleeping in the crater, but Dick Valentine chose to sidy at Syme Hut, which his companion left at 6 p.m., presumably reaching the crater about two hours later. Matthews took five blankets and a pillow from the hut. The arrange-

ment was that he was to return at 4 a.m. or if the weather became bad. Dick Valentine became anxious when a storm sprank up, and more so when daylight came and his companion had not returned. He scanned the slopes anxiously, and tried to investigate some marks, but the wind was too strong for him to continue. At noon he left for Dawson Falls to give the alarm.

Unaware that his son was visiting Mount Egmont, Matthew's father arrived at Dawson Falls yesterday and at once proceeded to Fantham’s Peak in company with three other men. Yesterday there were 19 searchers, Mr. Rod Syme and Constable J. O’Donaghue, directing operations from Dawson'Falls.

A signal that more help was required was received from, the party on Fantham’s Peak at 9.30 last night and shortly after 11 p.m. Mr. Matthews and some of the searchers returned with the following message from Mr. F. Bourke at Syme Hutt; — “A pillow and pack, the latter possibly the one whiclt had held the blankets, were found under the shelter of the summit rocks. Steps, apparently downwards, led off the slimmit out towards the south crater entrance, where they ended a few yards from the edge. There is no other trace anywhere. There Is no hope of doing anything more to-night. Carryer and Sole are of the opinion that the most likely places are at the head of the Manganui Gorge and Kapuni Gorges.”

A small party made a search of the Kapuni Valley, returning at midnight

with nothing to report. This morning parties from New Plymouth, Hawera, and Stratford set out and communication between Fantham’s Peak and Dawson Falls was established by the Radio Emergency corps, which subsequently ri called the searchers. ■ An inquest was opened at StratfordF this afternoon before the coroner, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, when the body was identified by an uncle of the deceased, Mr. J. G. Eliott, Eltham. The inquest was then adjourned sine die.