LOST IN A SNOWSTORM.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1373, 20 August 1895, Page 5

LOST IN A SNOWSTORM.

I A MAN FROZEN TO DEATH. Wellington, August 35. Five bushfellers were snowed up on the Tararua Hills, near Carterton. Their names are Loader, W. Smith, Salisbury, and Hobman (2). They were short of provisions, and on Friday went pig-hunting, and separated into two parties, but never met. They were caught in a snowstorm and lost their way. Smith and Salisbury struggled on, but Loader was knocked up. Search parties have gone to look for the latter, and a report is current that his body was recovered, but this is not confirmed. Hobman returned to Greytown to-day. All four were much exhausted, and suffering from exposure. August 16. The search party from Carterton found Loader frozen to death where he had been left. He was a strong young fellow, and the only support of his widowed mother. Smith says they were huddled round a small fire, and had to stay there, as the snow was so thick that they could not see where they were going. His trousers had been torn away, and he had no hat. On Tuesday they became desperate, and waded through snow which was up to their; arm-pits on to the main range. They had nothing to eat since the Sunday night. Loader became exhausted, and Smith and Salisbury carried him until Smith himself collapsed. They left Loader covered up with leaves, and made another attempt, but failed through exhaustion, and had to lie in the snow all night. Next day they managed to crawl to a house, where Salisbury presented himself, having left Smith over the fence. This house was Knutsen’s. Knutsen says that the men did not lead him to believe that Loader was in a critical condition, and that he (Knutsen) did not trouble mucji about the matter,—