LOST ON EGMONT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 27, 1 February 1923, Page 7

LOST ON EGMONT

MISSIONARY GOES HIS OWN WAY

SEARCH PARTIES STTLL OUT.

(II TEUttIUPH.—PKF.IS ASSOCIATION.!

ELTHAM, 31st January. William Murray, a Presbyterian missionary, aged 60j belonging to Normanby, has been lost on Mount Egmont since yesterday. A party, consisting of Murray, the Rev. Orange (Eltham), E. Thomas (Wanganui), and G. Cook (Kaponga), made an ascent from the Dawson Falls House to the summit early yesterday, intending to descend the other side to the north Egmont House. Murray disagreed with his companions on the route qhosen. He refused, in spite of argument, to listen to the appeals of the others, and insisted on traversing a dangerous gorge, down which the others perforce followed him, though a return the same way appeared impossible.

Cook returned to the 'Dawson Falls House for assistance, Orange and Thomas following Murray and keeping in touch with him by shouting, to^which Murray shortly afterwards refused, to reply. Eventually' his followers lost touch with him, and could not follow his feacks.

They unsuccessfully attempted to return up the steep cliffs, but managed to cut a stairway back to' the" summit, returning to the Dawson Falls House later in the evening.

No further word was received this morning from the North Egmont House, so search parties set out, but Orange collapsed and had to return. Two parties were out to-day. Orange and Thomas returned to the mountain to-night to participate in a '(further search, to-morrow.