NIGHT SPENT IN SNOW

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22445, 5 July 1938, Page 3

NIGHT SPENT IN SNOW

TWO MEN LOSE WAY IN NATIONAL PARK FOUND *BY CONSTABLE NEAR CHATEAU (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) TAUMARUNUI, July 4. Search parties found two Wellington men, named Home and Davidson, who had been missing in Tongariro National Park since yesterday morning. They were brought back to the Chateau about 11 o’clock. They are suffering slightly from exposure. There has been heavy snow, and the searchers, who have been working in relays, day and night, had to wear skis. Guide Carl Risberg, formerly of the Chateau staff, and now of Taumarunui, assisted the present staff and others. The two men were members of a week-end party of three from Wellington, which set out from the Chateau for the Tama lakes, which are situated at the foot of Ngauruhoe. About 10.30 o’clock yesterday morning their companion turned back at Taranaki Falls, the other two going on. While returning to Taumarunui about 11 o’clock this morning from the Chateau, Constable Bruce, who took Guide Risberg to the Chateau, met the two missing men at the intersection of Bruce road and the National Park-Taupo road, about four miles from the Chateau.

Apparently they lost their bearings last night and spent the night under a bush in the snow. At daybreak they followed the Mangatepopo. stream till they reached the Taupo road, and thence walked on to the Bruce road, where they met Constable Bruce, who took them back to the Chateau. They were both well, though tired and cold, after an unpleasant night spent in the snow. They were sent to bed for a rest on arrival at the Chateau. Crippled by Cold

When Constable Bruce met Horne and Davidson they seemed little worse for their ordeal, except that they were feeling intensely cold. They were so cold that they could not roll cigarettes when the constable offered them his tobacco. The two men struck heavy weather yesterday afternoon. With snow beating down on them, they reached the Tama lakes, but the falling snow obliterated the tracks and they were unable to retrace their steps to the chateau. They were very lucky to strike shelter, but even so they were so stiff with cold that they could hardly move their limbs when they set out again at daybreak.

The Bruce road to the chateau was very heavy with snow, and Constable Bruce could only get his car within a mile and a half of the Chateau this morning.