RESCUE OF LOST CLIMBERS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21087, 12 February 1934, Page 10

RESCUE OF LOST CLIMBERS

I «► I MR J. C MERCER'S RETURN l i PARTY MISLED 15V -MAP . .._. _ , , [ Heavy log and dark clouds over [ the mountains yesterday delayed • the return flight of Mr J. C. Mer- < > t.er, instructor to the Canterbury [ Aero Club, who last week carried , out a daring rescue of three moun- » taincers lost in wild country in far , - South Wostland. ■ Mr Mercer arrived at Wigram '- Aerodrome at 8.15 yesterday, land- - ing in the early dusk, after a flight ■ which necessitated careful naviga--1 lion of his machine across the moun- ' tain chain and down the Surge ol ; the Waimakuriri. Heavy fog and ' dark clouds caused considerable loss ; of time, but Mr Mercer said that -at • no time' during the crossing from cast to west had he cause to become ■ at all anxious. He had to come ; down the Waimakariri to dodge the > clouds which were massed high up ■ on the mountains. Otherwise the ' return flight had been uneventful A Mai) »" Krror 1 The three men rescued by Mr Mercer were Messrs A. Dickie, of Washpooi, George Mcßnde, ol Charlton, and James Spedcn, jun., i of Gore experienced alpinists who • set out from Hollyford, in Otago, I to cross the Arawata Saddle. An » error in one of the maps carried I by the party caused the wrong . identification of a river, with the , result that the men went well ol > their correct route, and were out '. in the bush for 21 days, with food > packed to last only for 10 days. [ Very early in the trip there was ■ some confusion, for at Red Hill the I > Government maps gave the wrong lie of a stream, according to the : men themselves. There they i climbed for a few days, and were : again hindered from making their - objective by fog. I They intended to travel down - Joe"s river to the Arawata, but visi- ; hility was bad and they travelled , down what proved to be William- - son's river, but which, at the time, i they mistook to be Joe's river. By following this route the climbers landed on a wide expanse of deposit at the foot of a glacier. These deposits arc erroneously marked on (he map as being Lake Williamson. Had there been a lake, the climbers would obviously have known that t they were off the right track. Their belief that they were on the right river was strengthened further along the [rack, and instead of going up the Arawata river, as they - should have done to regain their 1 route, they travelled downstream. r Difficulties in Gorge s A tremendous gorge on the Arav wata comnleted their difficulties, and its negotiation practically exhausted the three men, who wore then on low rations. Eventually v I hey found a hut on the flat at the 1 junction of the Arawata and Wai- ■' para rivers, and decided when fair " weather broke to remain there. 1 For five days the men Jived in the hut, ekeing out their rations as 1 best they could. They expected the • arrival of an aeroplane, for it had J been arranged before their depar--1 tare that if they were overdue that " would be the course of action. Con- ) sequently when Mr Mercer made his spectacular landing on the flat - they were not taken absolutely by f surprise. But they had been out 1 in the bush for 21 days, with food • for only 10, and needless to say t were overjoyed at the prospect of 1 rescue, particularly when all hope I of further progress down the rivers : to the Coast was rapidly disapI pcaring owing to the severe weather ' and flooded .streams. When Mf Mercer discovered the lost party, ho dropped food and ' messages and returned with Mr 1 George Spedcn, who he was carry- ( ' ing as an observer, to Okuru. He flew again to the Arawata, (having ' previously dropped food and mes- . ' sages to reassure and instruct the 1 men), and made a fine landing on i a rough shingle beach. He left : with Messrs Mcßride and James : Speden, taking Mv Speden to Okuru and Mr Mcßride to Waiho. He re- • ■ turned the next morning and flew i with Mr Dickie to Waiho. i The rescued men returned l<» . Christchiirch on Saturday by good?; 2 Iraki Arum Uia L,