TRAGEDY IN THE HELLS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20040, 23 September 1930, Page 15

TRAGEDY IN THE HELLS.

• , ♦ experiences of pig- * SHOOTING PARTY. man loses his life. Further particulars in connexion with the death of Mr George Constable, of Hilton, who was one of a party of three who went pig-shooting last Saturday in the ranges at the back of Geraldine, are supplied by the Geraldine correspondent. of The PiißSi. Mr George Constable, aged 43 years, a married man with four children, who lost his life, set out at three o'clock on Saturday morning, in company with two young mun—Eiiward Johnston, of Hilton, and Thomas Watts, of Christchurch on a pig-shooting expedition to the Blue mountains. Beautiful weather favoured them, and the best part of the day was spent in strenuous activity, hunting wild pigs. Three large pigs and six weaners were secured by the party, and early in the afternoon the three set their faces homeward. The weight of the capture was very considerable, and they found it no easy task, even for strong men, to drag carcases of heavy pigs over steep slopes and rocky gullies. On the outskirts of the property owned by Messrs Neutze -and Nolan they found it necessary to leave behind their kill, the last pig being cut in two and carried by Constable and Johnston, Watts having injured a leg when they were struggling home in the late afternoon. A short-cut was attempted, but landmarks in creek which they had traversed on their way to the Blue mountains were no longer visible, and the three men were hopelessly lost in tho fog and darkness which had , overtaken them. They struggled on until heavy rain came on, when they attempted to set up a temporary camp for the night. The weather was bitterly cold, and most of their matches were too wet to strike. Drenched to the skin, freezing with the cold, and with not a dry stitch of clothing, they decided that it would be better to tramp on,- and this they did. It had been snowing for some time, and all were feeling the strain of the heavy going, over desolate country, in which they could see only a few yards ahead of them. Could Not Carry On. At this stage of the journey Constable expressed the opinion tuat he could not carry on much further, and the two younger men decided that all three should soek the shelter -of some native Bhrubs till daybreak. They had not anticipated inclement weather, and were attired in light tramping clothes only —a fact that added to their miserable condition. It was at this spot, late on Saturday night, that Constable collapsed, and his companions sat with him until five o'clock on Sunday morning, when ho died. Prior to • his death they , had a terrible time with him, as he became delirious, and it was necessary for them to hold him down, although in an exhausted condition. After feeling the pulse of the man they were leaving behind, and satisfied that they could do nothing more, Constable's two companions set off for assistance Watts's leg became worse, and Johnston deicidcd to push on, and arrived at the home of Mr S. Neutze about a quarter to eight on Sunday morning. A telephone message was sent to Constable D. Callanan, who is stationed at Goraldino, away. Constable Callanan immecfiately set to work to organise a search party, and a stretcher party to bring- back Constable's body. Search Party Sets Out. A large band of willing helpers was soon organised, and one party, led by Johnston, set out from Mr S. Neutze's home, and another from Mr B. P. Nolan's, Waihi Gorge. The search, party which left Mr Nolan's had three pack-horses, and after a tedious journey the scene of the tragedy was reached. Constable was found lying below the snow level, beneath a clay cliff on the Ben Hope hills, on the outskirts of Mr Nolan's station. The body was carried on a stretcher for nearly two miles, and was then transferred to pack-horses, and taken to Mr Nolan's homestead,, from where it was removed to bis home at Hilton. Interviewed, one of the survivors, Thomas Watts, of Christchurch, a nephew of the man who had lost his, life, and who had struggled home in an exhausted condition, spoke of the unenviable experience , that had overtaken them, and of the terrible night they had spent, with frozen bodies and limbs, beside a dying man, on the bleak faces of Ben Hope. He attributed Constable 's death to strain and exhaustion, blaming the heavy weight of the kill, and the fog, which had caused them to lose their way, for the tragedy. The Inquest. "Everything possible was done for Constable by his companions, Edward Johnston and Thomas Watts," remarked the Coroner (Mr C. B. Orr Walker), when giving his verdict at the inquest on George Constable yesterday afternoon. The Coroner's verdict waß that death was caused through heart failure, due to the effects of exposure, and- to 'violent exertion,, on a heart already weakened by previous disease, when overtaken by fog and storm.