ONE DIES FROM EXPOSURE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 96, 4 February 1936, Page 3

ONE DIES FROM EXPOSURE.

COMPANIONS’ TRYING TIME. ANOTHER. KILLED. BY FALLING BRANCH. (Pei’ Press Association). MASTEUTON, Feb. 3. Two Mastcrton lads lost tlxeir lives as the result of Sunday’s storm. James Wilson, the 15-year-old son of Mr and Mrs James Wilson, Waingawa, left home with five other youths on Satui - day afternoon on a deer-stalking expedition to Stronvar. Three members of the party, including Wilson, went into the bush on Saturday eveniixg, but soon lost their way in a. thick mist. The party, which had no food and was poorly clad fox' the ordeal, decided to spend the night in the busli. Next morning at dawn they started to follow a fence line in the hope of cleat - ing the bush; but a heavy storm broke. The howling . gale frequently smashed down trees in their path. They battled on, feeling rather than seeing their way. W r ilson began to show signs of weakness, and one or his friends relieved him of his rifle. The party had gone some distance, walking about 20 yards behind one another, when it was found that Wilson was missing. Shots were fired and calls repeatedly made; but without any response. Two of the youths then retraced their steps to the spot where Wilson was last seen, but their search, which was greatly impeded by thick bush and fog, proved fruitless. Thinking that Wilson had succeeded in finding a short-cut back to camp, the youths went on; but they were unable to get out, and spent another unenviable night in the bush. About. 11 a.m. to-day they succeeded in making their way out to a sheep station, where they secured muchneeded food. They then went by car to where they had struck camp on Saturday night, expecting to find Wilson there.

When it was found that nothing had been heard of him, a search party was organised, and later in the day his body was found lying in the fern a short distance from where his friends last saw him. The lad, who was clad in a shirt, trousers, and sand shoes, had apparently died of exposure on Sunday night. An inquest will be held. He was' employed by the Oppenlieimer Casing Company, Waingawa. Erie Wallace Groves, the 16-year-old son of Mr and Mrs H. G. Groves, Tinui, a. well-known Wairarapa family, was killed this afternoon when helping to cut a big branch from a tree that had been damaged by the gale. The branch was cut down; but it rebounded and the end struck the boy on the side of the head and broke his neck. He was a pupil of the Feilding Agricultural High School, and was to have left to-day for school. On. his suggestion, however, he remained to help clear up the storm damage.