BUSH TRAGEDY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8850, 29 May 1914, Page 6

BUSH TRAGEDY.

YOUTH'S FATAL WANDERINGS. MASTERTON, May 28. Sad circumstances were revealed at an inquest held to-day in connection with the/death ;df a youth, aged 17, named Francis Forbes Cumming, oi: Palmerston North. It appears that deceased and a companion were on a shooting expedition at Pirinoa, near Martinboro.ugh, South Wairarapa. The camp was 'situated m dense bush in a very wild part, of the hills. On Thursday morning Cumming took his gun and went through the bush' in search,of wild pigs. A heavy southerly rain cam© on, followed later by donse mist. ,As deceased did not return towards the evening, his mate became alarmed, and aroused neighbours in the vicinity.

Despite the rough weather, heavy rain falling incessantly, large search parties scoured the thick bush and waded through swamps in search of dimming. Day after day their search was continued, and yesterday ! indications were discovered of where'deceased had apparently been. These indications wero followed iid, and later'in the day deceased's body was found.

■ . It_ appeared that deceased, on returning to the camp, had become enveloped in a thick mist, accompanied by rain. He had then lost his wov.

There were tracks whore he had repeatedly walked in a circle, a:)d thon had soemod to wander away, tearing down vines in his passage. Marks wero found where he had "blazed" many trees for a guide. Ho became exhausted, and lay down in the bush to, die, the indications being that he struggled much before the end camp. The bush is very dense in the locality and ths surroundings wild. A . few years ago a man named Andrews^ son of Dr. Andrews, of Wellington, who was experienced in bush travelling, lost his way rear the same spot, and was subsequently" found dead in the'bush.