LOST ON MOUNT EGMONT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 154, 28 December 1911, Page 4

LOST ON MOUNT EGMONT

A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN. On Monday morning, says the Eltham Argus, Dr. 81-aekley and Miss Bridham, of New Plymouth, who w«ire staying at Dawson's Falls house, went out into the forest photographing, the weather then being line. They were expected to return early in the afternoon, 'but at six o'clock they were still missing. Rain had then set in and the weather was bitterly cold. Mr. Graham, the caretaker of the house, then took a lantern, and went in search —fruitless it proved —of the missing ones. He cooeed, but got no reply, though it was said that the lost people heard him, but could not make themselves heard in reply because of the. wind being against them. Returning ,to the house Mr. Graham made arrangements for search parties to set out at daybreak the following morning. During the night the weather was dreadful. There were loud peals of thunder, vivid flashes of lightning and a heavy downpour of rain. Shortly after three on Monday morning five search parties net out to look for the lost ones, one party going to Fantham's Peak. Eventually Dr. Blackley and Miss Pridham were discovered by the party that was with Mr. Graham, about 5 o'clock. They were in the vicinity of llastie's Hill, about two miles from the house. They had been moving about all night and at daybreak had got on to the track again, but were so confused as to the direction that they did not know which way to go. The sudden change of weather was the cause of their being lost. The rain came on so suddenly, and as it grew dark so quickly in the forest they lost their way almost immediately. As may -be expected, they were much exhausted after the night's exposure, but were well taken care of on reaching the house, and the last we heard of -them was that they were not much the worse for their adventure. <