LOST ON RANGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1922, Page 7

LOST ON RANGES.

OUTLINE OF THE TRAGEDY. THE SURVIVOR’S DIARY. With simple directness, pretty well the whole story of the recent tragedy on the Tararuas, up to the point shortly before Mr. A. A. Bollons was discovered badly exhausted at the Tauherenikau hut, is told by the survivor in a long entry made in the diary kept at the Alpha hut. This book is really a visitors’ book, and was placed there by Mr. Fred Vosseler, of Wellington, so that people doing the mountain journey might record their names, and perhaps their impressions and experiences. The value of such a book is obvious, for in connection with the recent tragedy, the story of the plight, of the two climbers is lucidly set out, from the time the journey is commenced to the time Bollons set out in an exhausted condition for the Tauherenikau hut on the return trip to gain assistance for his mate, who had broken down on the top of the ridge. This book has been brought to town by Mr. Vosseler, as he considered it would be necessary as evidence in the inquest on the late E. J. Kime. The entry mentioned is as follows: A GOOD START. “Left Wellington 7.50 a.m., June 8, 1922. Party, E. J. Kime and A. A. Bollons. Arrived Woodside morning train from Wellington. Arrived Bassett’s 11.40 a.m. Had small feed and left at 12.30 p.m. for Tauherenikau hut. Mist had come up after we reached bush. After making slow progress on account of heavy packs, arrived ait Mt. Reeves at 4.20 p.m. Reached hut at 5.39 after travelling three-quarters of an hour in the dark. Got good fire going, dried clothe®, and retired 10.30 p.m. Had encounter with big rat about midnight, and thereafter till dawn the beggars continued to keep us awake.

LOST ON MOUNTAINS. June 8, 1922.—Weather fairly clear and sun shining. Left hut at 10 a.m. River very low. Ran into mist at Rocky Knob. No wind. Patches of snow and ice from Bull Mound to summit above Hell’s Gate on the Alpha side. Arrived Alpha 2.30 p.m. Had trouble starting fire. Not much wood in hut. All well 6.40 p.m. Showers of snow outside, but fairly comfortable in hut. Leaving 6 a.m. for Hector. Weather very cold and thick mist over mountains. , j. . Got lost on mountains on morning of Saturday. Mist was too thick, and we lost the track and had to turn back. Kime could not go far, so assisted him as much as I could, being somewhat fatigued myself. After travelling about an hour Kime could not go on, so told me to do so to get help. I did not like leaving him, and told him so, but he said it would be best if I should go, and also said. he would follow- as soon as he could? TWO WET SLEEPS. "After travelling an hour or so myself I got lost in the mist and went down some ridge, and then through some thick bush till I struck the river, intending to follow it. Next day, after a v.-et sleep, I proceeded down the stream for four hours, but could not then go further, and decided to go back, and reached the place I started from with the intention of climbing the ridge again and getting to Alpha. TERRIBLY COLD AND WET. "On Monday, after another bad sleep, but feeling a little rested, I dropped most of my pack and began to climb the hills, and reached top at noon, and proceeded to Alpha, arriving here terribly cold and wet at 3 p.m. Could not get the fire going, so ate some of the stores here (fish and meat) and turned in, only covered by two small blankets and a piece of sail. "Tuesday.—Still feeling cold, but the day being clear did not feel like moving, as I had had nothing hot to eat or drink. Would have been pleased if some whisky, or brandy was in hut, as this would revive me somewhat. "Tuesday, 9.30 a.zn.—Bollons proceeding alone to Bassett’s. Possibility of i arriving there to-night. Feeling terrible over loss of my great friend, E. J. Kime, who has not turned up.” As is now known, Bollons struggled on, weary and numbed with the eoid, to the Tauherenikau hut, where he was found by the searchers late on Tuesday night. For the two nights spent in the open when he lost the track, and made for the river, he slept wet and cold by a waterfall, with lit’tle or no protection from the biting cold, so that a good deal is to be said for Bollons’ pluck and power of endurance, after such an experience to mount to the heights once more, find the track, and make his way back to Alpha, and eventually the Tauherenikau hut. The predominant thought in his brain all the time was that he must keep going, if his friend’s life was to be saved, and perhaps it was that thought as much as anything else which enabled him to struggle back as far as he did.