THE ALPINE TRAGEDY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 85, 21 January 1930, Page 6

THE ALPINE TRAGEDY

SECOND EDITION.

TASMAN GLAGIER PARTY.

bodies not yet recovered.

BAD WEATHER CONTINUES. (Per Press Association.) TIM ART, January 20. Latest news from the Hermitage, received at 11.30 to-night, is to the effect that an effort was made to recover the bodies of the five victims oi the- fatality on the Tasman Glacier, but the weather made it impossible to reach the scene of U 4? tragedy.' It is understood that a relief party will' be organised to-morrow morning. The leather in the district, is still bad, and violent storms are raging. The occurred as the_ party were making their way down the centre of the glacier, the most difficult part of the'journey having been traversed. Guide Hilgendorf advances the theory that the party was struck by lightning. , . An inquest probably will he opened at the Hermitage to-morrow. Considerable difficulty is being experienced by motorists endeavouring to reach the Hermitage from Timaru. as heavy rain lias made some parts of the route almost impassable, many cars being held up in the mountain regions.

GUIDE’S THEORY.

PARTY STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. THE HERMITAGE, January 20. The party left the Hermitage on Saturday morning for Malte Bran hut, where they stayed the night. They left on Sunday morning on the return jourDGV. The theory of Mr Williams!, chief guide, is that they were struck by lightning, as one of the Bodies was black. , . Acting-Guide Blomfield gave most oi his, clothes to the women, and went back for help, but perished., A party of seven guides went up on Sunday afternoon to recover the Bodies, but it was too late in the day to bring them back.

A big party went up to-day, but were only able to get within half a mile of the bodies. The storm was the worst for 22 years.

VIOLENT ELECTRICAL STORM.

RAGING .SINCE SUNDAY

TIMARU, This Day

Strenuous efforts were made yesterday to recover the bodies of the victims of the fatality on the Tasman Glacier, hut were rendered futile owing to the terrihle weather on the Glacier. Another attempt was made to-day, but the weather "is still unfavourable.

A violent electrical storm, aecomE anied by driving rain and hail, lias een raging in the Alps since Sunday morning. ’ Chief-Guide Vic. AYilliams is in charge of the party. ~A jgOJSBB