LOST AND FOUND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 79, 20 August 1912, Page 4

LOST AND FOUND.

OX MOUNT EG MON T. A PARTY'S 'UNENVIABLE EXPERIENCE. The parly of visitors who were missed from the North Egmoiit, Mountain House on Sunday night were found by a search party in the early hours of yesterday morning, very much exhausted, but. otherwise none the worse for their night's expos-urc on the mountain side. The missing trio (Mr. Percy Athos, Madame. Read and Miss B. Elson. of Hawera) subsequently re-turned to New Plymonth. Seen by a News reporter, Mr. Athos avowed that he would not care to repeat his experience. The party left for the Crow's Nest at 5 p.m., understanding that it- would take only thirty minutes to arrive at their destination. The trip was accomplished' in that lime, and the return journey was commenced in daylight. There were, he stated, two or three 'different tracks leading back, and they unfortunately took the wrong onj\ The party thought that the return trip seemed very long, and eventually discovered that they were out of their right latitude. To make matters worse darkness set in, and Miss Elson's ankl-e, which had been slightly, strained earlier in the day, came :to ftp very trying. All three wandered aimlessly about, in what direction they knew not. Once Mrs. Read had a providential escape from stepping over a precipice, being just grabbed by Miss Elson when one foot was already over tlie brink. -Shortly after,,-Mr. Athos himself slid down a short distance, but a small snowdrift impeded his progress. It was bitterly cold and except for small patches of moonlight showing through the -bush, the night was pitch black. For some time they endeavored to return to the Crow's Nest with the intention of res-ting there until morning! but all without avail. After walking for what seemed hours and 'hours a faint cooee was heard. A halt was called, the Indies lying huddled -upon , the ground, out of sheer exhaustion. An hour or so was spent in this position, the cooees of the rescuers sounding clearer and clearer until lights were seen. Arrived on the scene the search party provided the unfortunate trio with light refreshment, and escorted them back to the hostel, which was reached at 3.30 o'clock in the morning. There they were provided .with hot baths and other comforts, and a few hours' sleep worked a magical change.