FALL FROM PARITUTU

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 305, 21 June 1912, Page 4

FALL FROM PARITUTU

DEATH OF MR. R. A. GRAY. BODY DISCOVERED. \ The grave fears entertained on Wednesday evening for the safety of Mr. R. A. Gray, Government auditor for Taranaki, were confirmed yesterday afternoon when his body was discovered about 20 feet from the base of Paritutu. Climbing this lofty peak was a favorite recreation of the deceased gentleman, and the facts disclosed make'tit apparent that while on its summit he accidentally fell over its precipitous side. Mr. Gray, who was under medical treatment, was thoroughly run down, and there is little doubt that he accidentally slipped, or that he was. seized unawares with a fainting fit, and' thus dashed to destruction. He was first missed on Wednesday afternoon, and a willing band of volunteers searched on Wednesday night in the pouring rain along the beach, on Marsland Hill, and on the golf links, knowing that he used to frequent these places. Yesterday morning Mr. Cecil* Gray (a personal friend of the deceased) and Detective-Sergeant Boddam heard that he had been seen at No. 2 well, Moturoa, about two o'clock th* previous afternoon. They accordingly went down to parsue further inquiries, and, while there, it occurred to Mr. Gray that the missing man was in the habit of taking exercise by climbing to the top of Paritutu, and that possibly he may have visited that locality the previous day. With the idea of seeing if there were any traces of his friend, Mr. Gray climbed Paritutu. Arrived at the top he found an umbrella, standing upright in the ground, which he believed to belong to Mr. R. A. Gray. He was joined by Mr. Boddam, and together they worked round the side of the peak, ft very ticklish operation. After they had proceeded some distance they cams across a piece of scalp. Their worst fears confirmed, they returned to town, where the umbrella was definitely identified by Mr. Gordon Fraser. About 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Detective-Ser-geant Boddam and Senior-Sergeaut Haddrell, in company with Messrs. Ocil Gray, Fraser, and A. H. Johnstone, set out for Paritutu, and on their way down they passed a search party consisting of Boy Scouts, Territorials, and High School boys, and others under the leadership of Major F. T. Bellringer, in two express waggons. The boys were aent back, and a posse of able-bodied searchers joined the police party. On their way down the party was further supplemented by Messrs. Cook and Prestney. of the staff of the Moturoa freezing works, who were supplied with rope* by the maanger (Mr. Morrison). On the commencement of the search the general opinion was that the unfortunate man's body would be found in the sea, at the foot of Paritutu. Mr. Cecil top of the peak and.threw a line down top of the peak and drew a line down the declivity from the spot where the second trace of the missing man had" been found. The party then worked round the face of the peak until they came to the spot, Here Messrs. Ken Webster and Cook were lowered down with ropes, and when within about 20 feet of the sea they came across the body of the deceased amongst some rocks. Meanwhile four or five young fellows had worked their way around the sea side of Paritutu—a dangerous undertaking—till they also got to the spot. A" stretcher was sent for, and the party waited until its arrival. The body was lowered down over the cliff and landed on the rocks at the base. Subsequently it was transferred to the stretcher. An angry sea was running, and the party, some of whom -had to stand nearly up to their waists in the water, had to wait until the tide receded. The remains of Mr. Gray were eventually conveyed to the morgue. A formal eoromal inquiry will be held. iDeath must have been instantaneous, as Mr Gray fell only 20 feet short of the total height of Paritutu, 504 feet. The left half of his skull was missing, his chest wash crushed in, and his left arm was severely smashed. In addition to a few peronal effects, a sum of money and a watch were found on the deceased. The watch had stopped at nine o'clock, but as it was only very slightly damaged it is quite possible that it continued going for some time after the accident. J.he late Mr. Gray, who was 34 years old, leaves a widow and one child K widowed mother resides at Palmerston South. Mr Gray, who was one of the most competent and esteemed officers m the employ of the State, joined the service at Wellingtoa when quite a young man In 1004 he waa tr J sf held the position of Government auditor for Taranaki. The deceased gentleman Sn r." ° f a qmet and rptirin * Kat a k? U T 8S C( ™ nit y ffenerallv of w7s oft* +^V n enthußl * s «c Wlfer he was often to he seen on the New Plvene Star Boating Club. Profound svm inTerment*Jn, I P romi ? in ff ™reer. The interment will be a private one.