A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT

Evening Star, Issue 20388, 21 January 1930, Page 8

A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT

OVERWHELMED BY AVALANCHE Until the season of 1913-14 the Swiss Zurbriggen was the only r.on-colonial guide who had stood on the summit of a Hermitage alp. Considering the amoubt of climbing that had been done in the region—considering, too, that so much had been done by mountaineers without other experience than that gained by working amongst the lower mountains, or holiday-making there, and acting as their own guides, stepcutters,’ porters, camp-pitchers, etc.— it is remarkable that no fata! accident took place till February 22, 1914. On that day Sydney King, of the English Alpine Club, and two senior Hermitage guides. Darby Thomson and J. Richmond, were overwhelmed by a huge avalanche off the divide north of Mount Dampior. They had completed a successful ascent of Mount Cook, and were descending by the Linda Glacier when overtaken by the avalanche. The body of Richmond was found by the search party. Chief-guide Peter Graham was at the Hooker Hut when at midnight news of the non-arrival of Mr King’s party was received, and he immediately started hack through a dreadful'storm to the Hermitage—seven miles—every foot a struggle with the elements—and formed a search party, consisting of himself. Guides Brass and Milne, and Conrad Kain, who had just crossed over Mount Cook, but, making nothing of his fatigue, joined the rescue party. At the bivouac the guides were joined by two other climbers, Messrs Turner and Dennistoun, who assisted in the search and in transporting the body of J. Richmond to the Hermitage. A memorial hut was shortly afterwards erected.

The Malte Brun hut is eight miles above the Ball hut.