PERISHED IN SNOW

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 12, 14 July 1931, Page 8

PERISHED IN SNOW

—: -♦ : — ARTHUR'S PASS FATALITY MAN'S GALLANT EFFORT (By Telegraph.—Press Association. \ CHRISTCHTJKCH, This Day. Death flue to exhaustion and exposur* was the verdict relumed at the inquest :on Richard .William Oliver, who died in. 'the snow in the Arthur's 'Pass region early on Sunday morning. The1 inqupst.w-.is held before Mr. M. i Fitzgerald, of Otira, acting-Coroner. I. W. Tucker, the dead man's qomrade, was, highly commended by tha Coroner. A witness who brought in the body also paid a. tribute to the Una effort of Tucker in carrying Oliver for half a mile-until he was exhausted. "Tucker did good work," declared Mr. Fitzgerald, "and nearly, lost his own life in trying to save his comrade." (Ey Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evoning Post.") ,' CHIUSTCHURCH, This Day. Mr. Oliver, aged 28, of Christckurch, and his companion, Mr. Ivan Tucker, left the "quan-y siding at 10 p.m. oil Saturday with the intention of going to the Carrington Hut. The snow wan 2ft deep and the men decided to.-go lo the Birch Nook Hut, four miles away. They had travelled three miles in deep snow over rough country when Mr. Oliver became ill; he complained of feeling tired, although .he did 'not feel any pain. Mr. • Tucker then took ■ both swags, but after they had proceeded a little further Mr. Oliver said he could no.t go on. Mr. Tucker picked him up and carried him for. half :t mile through 2ft of snow. Tho easiest way'was to go on to the hut, as there was no chance of going back. When Mr. Tucker was within two hundred yards of the Birch Nook Hut-he was absolutely done. Mr. Oliver was in a bad state, so-be put him down and went on to the hiit. ;Her9 he heated water and got some rum. Before he returned Mr. Oliver tiad die! from exhaustion and exposure, "-"Mr. Tucker pushed on to the Bealey- Hotel and Messrs. I<\ Cochrane and B.'-'Barnes, of Mount White Station, went; oiit And brought in the body. Mr. Olifreiy'it'ii stated, was fully equipped but was-in-experienced in mountaineering: ' t