WITNESSES’ STORY OF RUAPEHU TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 202, 23 May 1936, Page 10

WITNESSES’ STORY OF RUAPEHU TRAGEDY

Evidence at Inquest DESCRIPTION OF ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE By Telegraph.—Press Association. Tauinaitiniii, May 22. An inquest into tin: Mount Ruapehu tragedy, in which Mr. .1. A. Gordon, solicitor, Taumartintii, lost his life, was held last night at Hie Chateau, before Mr. A. S. Laird, coroner. Donald Hall Nicholson, solicitor, gave evidence that the conditions when ascending Hie glacier were perfect, and Hie party decided to ascend Ruapehu Peak, Hie highest point on Hie mountain. Tlie parly had not gone more (han fifty yards from the spot where they had lunch, when Mr. S. A. .Mannerlug, who was leading,_struck hard ice, and immediately decided to go back as the c(«iditions were 100 dangerous When’witness turned round lie saw Air. Gordon, who was .sitting down, begin to slide. They called out to him to dig his feet iu, but he gathered speed and disappeared over the edge of the crater lake. Witness took the boys iu the party back to the luncheon place, and then, with Mr. Alannering, lie went round to the eastern side of the lake, where they were able to see Air. Gordon clinging to a rock. They at once sent Mr. Cotton back for assistance. Witness and Air. Alannering, who had one hundred feet of rope, endeavoured to find a suitable spot to get down to Air. Gordon’s assistance, but with the small length of rope they had it was impossible for them to do so. They called to Air. Gordon and he answered them. The party had not been roped together. Witness considered it was unneeesary in that locality. It would have been unsafe for seven people to be roped on to one rope. The party had two ice axes with them. Witness said he then took the boys back to the Chateau. Mr. Alannering stayed at the crater to encourage Air. Gordon to hold on. Edward Patrick Cotton gave corroborative evidence and described his dasli down the mountain side for help. He met Guide Risberg at the Ruapehu Ski Club hut. and measures to rescue Mr. Gordon were taken at once. Waist-deep in Wafer. Sefton Alexander Alannering, auctioneer, gave evidence that after AllNicholson left he went back to the crater's edge and told Air, Gordon men were coming with ropes. Air. Gordon replied, “All right, old man.'’ Witness endeavoured alone to get down to him on the south-east side, but was blocked by a sheer drop of forty feet. He then cut steps to facilitate the work of the rescue party. Air. Gordon later moved to another rock near the edge of the lake.' He was ’ standing about waist-deep in water. Then lie fell back on to tlie rock and soon after disappeared. Witness later saw the body floating. Soon after this Chief Guide Rtsberg arrived, and lie and witness endeavoured to get down, but it was impossible. The relief party arrived at 3 o’clock, which was an extraordinarily quick response as the accident happened at 11.30. Attempts by the relief party to get down to the lake failed, and as it was obvious Mr. Gordon was dead they returned to the Chateau. Witness said he was an experienced mountaineer and had climbed Ruapehu many times. Arthur Santlel, surveyor, of Tauniarunui. described how lie, together with Guide Risberg and John Bryan, postal clerk, of Taumartintii were lowered 400 feet into the lake. Witness made his way alone round the edge of the lake and waded up to his waist in water to reach the body, which was lying face down in the lake only six yards from the shore. Had Mr. Gordon been able to help himself he would have had no difficulty in reaching the .shore. It was bitterly cold when witness came out of the water, and he was of the opinion that this was one of the causes of Air. Gordon’s death.

AVitness said he transported the body back to where the other two men were waiting, and eventually, with the assistance of others on the crater rim. they got the body out. The rescue party was well organised and equipped. and did splendid work. Dr. Cameron, of Hawera, said he could not give the cause of death, as he had not made a post-mortem examination. but his opinion was that Mr. Gordon (lied from severe internal injury and from exposure to cold. Guide Risberg described the measures taken to effect a rescue. The inquest was adjourned at one o'clock in the morning, sine die, to enable the police to obtain expert evidence.