MAN’S DEATH IN MOUNTAINS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 8

MAN’S DEATH IN MOUNTAINS

ACCIDENT IN MOUNT COOK REGION BODY TAKEN TO HERMITAGE From Our Own Reporter TIMARU, February 24. James Butcher, aged 60, of Wellington, who fell 100 leet down a steep rock slope near the Hooker Hut, in the Mount Cook area, on Tuesday evening, died at the hut at 8 a.m. today without regaining consciousness. By 2 p.m. the body had been brought to the Hermitage, and it will be taken to Timaru to-morrow, where an inquest will be opened. Mr Butcher was one of a party of seven members of the Tararua Tramping Club who had just crossed the Copland Pass when the accident occurred. After spending Tuesday night in the open Mr Butcher was brought to'the Hooker Hut yesterday. With him at the hut last night were three male members of the Tararua party and Chief Guide A. R. M. Bowie, Guide H. Ashurst, and Mr A. Williams (a medical student of Timaru). Mr Williams did all he could to make Mr Butcher comfortable, but about 6 a.m. to-day his condition began to deteriorate. Early this morning Guides H. Ayres and M Burke left the Hermitage to reach the hut by the normal route along the Hooker valley, which was not open yesterday. When they did not return by 9.30 a.m. it was thought that they must have got through, and a stretcher party, consisting of five men and Constable Ci Mclntosh, from Lake Pukaki, Mr R. J. Whittaker, leader of the Tararua party, who first brought the news of the mishap, and Guide D. M. Webster, set out. The Pukaki party reached the Hermitage at midnight after an arduous trip over flooded roads by truck, I horses, and some distance on foot. The news of Mr Butcher’s death reached the Hermitage at 10.45 a.m. to-day with the arrival of Chief Guide Bowie, who, on his way down, met the first two guides and then the stretcher party. Mr Bowie instructed the guides to proceed to the hut and, with the men already there, start to bring out the body. The stretcher party met the party bringing the body from the hut en route and reached the Hermitage at 2 a.m.