Alpine Tragedy

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 203, 25 February 1914, Page 5

Alpine Tragedy

CLJHBEK AND TWO GUIDES LOST.

NO HOPE HELD OUT. SEARCH PARTIES AT WORK. liy Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, Minlater in charge of Tourists and Health Resorts, (his afternoon received an urgent tcfe- [ gram from the Hermitage, from Mr. B. M. Wilson, general manager of the Tourist Department, now on his way from the Hermitage to the West Coast, via Copeland Pass, a3 ollows: "Regret to inform you that I fear a serious accident has occurred on Mount Cook, An English climber, Mr. A, L. King, with Guides Thompson and Richmond, left on Friday afternoon to cKmb Mount Cook from the Tasman side. They w<me seen on the summit at noon en Thursday by Messrs. Turner and Dennis-„ ton, who were at the Haast bivouac, and who were up on the glacier dome at 4 p.m. looking for them. Their steps down again were picked up that evening by those climbing from the Hooker Bide of Mount Cook, Mr Friend, with Guides Conrad, Kaye and Brass. This party followed the track until it was dbliterated by a huge avalanche which came off an overhanging icewall »n Linda Glacier, between Silverhorn and Tiechel-

man Peaks. '•'■ She glacier is very broken here, and if the party were caught they would be swept into the crevasse and never se«n again. Trevor's party reached the bivonao nt about 2.30 a.m., where MeHK Turner and Denniston were propb'sing to start, and on fihdinp no trace qf Mr. King and his guides, they became alarmed, and reported on arrival at the Hermitage, "Chief Guide Graham was with us at Hooker Hut last night, going to Copeland, when two <ruides came from >th« Hermitage with the news that Thompson's party had »ot returned. Graham immediately returned to the Hermitage in dreadful weather and left at daylight with four gides and Conrad and Kane to search for the party, but neither he nor Knua hold out any hope of finding the missing men," It is expected it will be two days before the search party returns. Tins Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes has cabled to the dplne Club, asking thorn to communicate with Mr King's people. FURTHER PARTICLARS,

Timaru, Last Night. Kmther enquiry at the Hermitage elicits little further than stated i„ the telegram to the Minister. The. party inteided to make a traverse, and when the two guides arrived at Hooker's Hut, (.rahaw supposed they were Mr Friend"* party On hearing the nsws Graham set out in a vile night for the Hermitage to organise a search party, whi»h Denmston and Turner will join King was a well-known member of the English Alpine Olub. Thomson TM a W«st Coaster, and for .some years Graham's first lieutenant. Eichmond k.. longed to Willowbridge, and ra- alsoTn cxpertenced gaiU