MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 124, 30 May 1927, Page 8

MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY

ALPINIST SWEPT - 5 AWA*

ATTEMPT TO FORD TORRENI

(By Telegraph.-Pres. Awociation.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. A mountaineering tragedy occurred , on the slopes of Mount Buapehu on Fri. day afternoon, when Mr. florae* Holl, aged 45,. principal of the TTniveri sity Coaching CoUege A Auckland, wa» drowned in attempting to ford-the Mangaturuturu or Sulphur Stream aft a particularly dangerous part, 'about five and a half miles .from, the Main Trunk railway line. Mr. Holl was accompanied by Mr. J. A. Bartrum, lee tur«r m Geology at the Auckland University College, who was about to fol. low Mr. Holl, when the.' latter wag swept off his feet and disappeared. The two men set out from Pokaka, at 12.30 on Friday for.Mr;Holl's camp near the; cataract, about seven miles above the railway. About 4 o'clock the trampers reached the ford, where the stream had been converted by rains into a raging torrent. Mr. Holl was leading a pack-horse a short distance ahead of Mr. -Bartrum, andj'; was bur. dened with a, very. heavy ...ruck ''-. saclu Mr. Holl immediately commenced to wade across. , His progress waa aW and difficult, and he steadied.himself by clutching the horse's trappings. When a short, distance from the bank he, suddenly lost his footing and was swept off.. Mr; • Bartrum rushed down the track, but before he had gone far Mr. Holl had,disappeared, hundreds of yards, away.. ..■;•-.. ■•'..,.-'.'. .-..••- :•..'.. ',■ Mr; Bartrum carried put a; fruitless search. ■■ Ho-then made^ his i way back ,and recovered the pack-horse. By this time it was dark and heavily. Mr. Bartrum. spent, ,tha night in the open with What little protection was afforded, by a canvas'sleeping'bag. He)'?.set out-on the return'journey, oh Saturday morning after 'tethering thY horse, and reached P-okaka Bt go 'clock ' in the afternoon. ■;^ • -}. ?■/■'-' -.'■.. " Constable Ahnison;>of Ohaknne, left f or' Pbkaka by train two hours later, with _Mr. T. A. Blythy a'schbobnaater, and they set put ; at' an early hour 7**" terday; morning and', recdyered Mr. Holt's body 'in a creek about a mile below the ford. ■ : . "•,'■? ':Mr. Holl leaves a wife aid two'young children,; who reside. at 'Deypnport. The:. late ;Mn; Holl was: born jh England, and topk h'ia, B.A. degree with honours in mathematics.. »t -Emanael College, Cambridge. After teaching i» English public schools for sbinq time, he came to Auckland, where he established the University Training College in 1912. He was a brilliant mathematician, aud compiled a widely-used bwk for matriculation candidates.. Probably: no amateur Alpinist in New Zealand had more experience in climbing than Mr./Holl. He\kn»V the National Park from end to end. He was a member of the Bnapehu Ski Club and the Tongariro National Part Sports Clnb. Before coming to New Zealand he performed .several notable feats in th«i ' North of England and in Switxerland, and was a member of the famous Alpine Club. He climbed extensively in the Southern Alps- and' reached the summit of. Mount Cook twice within s fortnight, a distinction not attained by any other amateur in New Zealand. ' .

An inquest will be held at Pokaka to-» -. day, and the body trill be brought ttf Auckland: for burial. -. "