ON RUAPEHU.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2601, 9 April 1915, Page 4

ON RUAPEHU.

THE DEATH OF MR ROCKEL. ACCIDENT ON ICE SLOPE. Ohakune, April 7. A death from exhaustion, and shock occurred on Ruapehu at 7 a.m. this moruing, when a man named Rockel died from exhaustion and shock. A party, consisting of Messrs Blyth, Tansey, and Randle, from Ohakune, AA r atkins (senior and junior), Downes and Mayne, from Wanganui, and Rockel, a school-teacher, from Raetihi, left Ohakune on Thursday night and proceeded to AVaimarino, where they arrived at midnight and walked eight miles iv 'the moonlight and camped. Next day they journeyed "to Papakai, at the foot- of Tongariro, where camp was pitched again. Rockel showed signs of distress, but insisted on going on. On Saturday the party proceeded to the Ketetahi hot springs, Rockel then appeared to be stronger, and did not .seem to bo overtaxed by the journey back to the AVaihohonu mountain hilt,' a distance of about 14 miles, which was covered on Sunday. On Monday morning he felt that he required a rest, and decided to stay in tho hut while the rest of the party made the trip to and climbed Mount Ngauruhoe. He appeared much benefited by the' rest, and insisted on taking part in the home journey over the top of Ruapehu and down the Ohakune side. At 4'p.m. on Tuesday the descent of the mountain was commenced. One of the party, Tausoy, went ahead to try the iee-i'teld to see if it were practicable to slide down, which has often been done with safety. But the ice proved too hard, and he was precipitated down tho face, a distance of 1000 ft, until brought up by the rocks at the'foot. Rockel, despite warnings, left tho others and endeavoured to cross tho head of _ the icefield. Ho slipped, and also slid down the 1000 ft slope, but fortunately missed the rocks. The others proceeded slowly down tho main spur, cutting steps in tho ice, this part of the journey being particularly risky. When they reached the bottom spur they found Tansey and Rockel suffering from bruises and abrasions. Rockel was suffering from shock, but did not appear very bad. Camp was pitched just below the snow-line. The tent was very small, and they were comiielled to lie close together, which kept them warm, though crumped. This morning Rockel complained that he bad lost the use of his legs, hob this was attributed to In's cramped sleeping position. fTis companions determined to assist him to where horses could be brought in, and began to half carry him. They had proceeded only about a chain when Rockel collapsed and died in a few minutes. Mr T. A. Blyth proceeded to Ohakune for assistance, and a. party has left to bring in the body. Both Messrs Blyth and Tansey have made the ascent of Mounts Ruapehu and Ngau- < ruhoe many times.—Auckland Herald. ' mm _ m _ mmmmmmmm