TASMAN GLACIER TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19972, 5 July 1930, Page 17

TASMAN GLACIER TRAGEDY.

REPLY TO DR. FRASER. Hie medical practitioner of Christchurch, who supported the theory ot Mr G. E. Mannering_jthat tha 4 death of Acting-Guide Blomfield and the, four women whom he led on to the Tasman Glacier was caused by a discharge of lightning, has briefly replied to the statements in contradiction by Dr. G. Stanley Fraser, who conducted the post-mortem examination at the Hermitage. The practitioner emphasises that tthen Guide Hilgendorf found the five bodies, about two hours after death, they were already stiff. The fact that "rigor mortis" had come on instantly did not correspond with the quotation from Dr. Fraser's authority that in the state of lethargy or profound deep preceding death from cold, "the vital functions gradually cease and the person finally perishes." All five people, of different ages and different bodily strengths, were dead, cold, and stiff within two hours. Answering Dr. Fraser's statement that their watches would have been fused had they been Btruck by lightning, he said that the moisture undoubtedly saved the watches from damage. High-tension electricity travelled over a wet surface, and not through it. In any case, it did not always happen that metal was fused when objects were struck by lightning. Dr. Fraser stated that the effects of the cold woulfl be so bad that the party would be unable to put on the extra clothing. Yet it seemed quite certain that if the women were becoming chilled, Guide Blomfield would have holped them put on the clothes. "Altogether, T don't pee that there is much at issue," said the practitioner. "T think it is certain that the partv was ki'led by lightning. Mr Mannering says that in all probability Uehtniw? was the cause of and T>r. Fraser s?.ys it mav hare been li<»htnim». The lightning theory is fairly well established."