EGMONT TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 May 1927, Page 7

EGMONT TRAGEDY

FULLER PARTICULARS TWO LIVES LOST (Per Press Association.) HAWERA, May 12. Further particulars of the tragedy on Mount Egmont made it now certain that the man killed is Latham. Baines is still missing. He is being searched for. Those engaged in searching believe he will be found living. The party, consisting of Latham, Baines and Taylor (teachers at the Wanganui Collegiate School) and Dennis Allen (aged 15, a. pupil), left Dawson’s Falls at 8.30 o’clock yesterday. They failed to return. Their absence alarmed Mr. Murphy, the Custodian, and a search was begun. Mr. White left Dawson’s Falls at 6 o’clock, but he returned at 11 o’clock, having on the way up missed Allen, who eventually returned to the Accommodation I louse.

Another search parly was formed, and set out for the mountain at ton minutes to three this morning. Taylor was found lying unconscious across the body of Latham, which latter is being brought down. Two parties are searching for Baines. Mr. Murphy, the Custodian of the Hostel, states that the four climbers slid for a distance of 1550 feet before they stopped. Here Allen cut adrift. The three men were then precipitated a further 450 feet. Allen set out for the Accommodation House. He eventually struck the Kapuni River. He and Taylor are at present in bed in Dawson’s Falls, suffering from shock, exposure, and bruises. From the description of Baines and Latham, given by the survivors to the police, it appears that the dead man is Latham, who is married with two children. Baines is reported to have no relatives in New Zealand. Taylor and Allen were removed to Hawera Hospitaid this afternoon. The recovered body lies at Kaponga, awaiting assured identification. Deceased’s head is much mutilated.

Guide Murphy said to an “Argus” reporter: “1 have searched every inch of Fantham’s Peak, and have found no sign of the fourth mountaineer.” Mr. Murphy considers there is every probability that he will be found alive, and that he is in the dense bush at the base of the mountain. The search is being continued to-morrow. FALL OF 300 FEET. HAWERA, May 11. It-was after climbing the mountain that the party met disaster. They left Dawson Falls mountain house at 8.30 a.m. to climb the mountain, and this was accomplished, but when they failed to return in the evening, Guide Murphy. the park-keeper, and Mr White set out on a search about six o’clock. They returned about five hours later without seeing any trace. The first news of (he tragedy came when the boy A Hen stumbled into the house. Another search party was immediately formed, which discovered two of the party between three and four o’clock in the morning half-way between Fantham’s Peak and the summit, one being dead and the other unconscious laying across his body. The third man was missing, but there were traces indicating the direction in which he had crawled. The man found

unconscious was Taylor, and the dead pnan is believed to be Latham, although the police are reluctant to make a definite statement to this effect. Taylor was brought to the hostel, while the other parties set out searching for Baines, but late this afternoon they returned unsuccessful, and the search was abandoned till tomorrow. The body was also brought in.

How the accident happened is unknown, as Taylor and Allen are in such a condition as to be unable to make any statement. According to Mi- Murphy, who is an experienced climber, the climbers slid 350 feet before being stopped, and at this stop Allen cut himself adrift, the three men then falling another 450 feet.

SEARCH PARTIES OUT

HAWERA, May 13

The search for the missing man. Baines was resumed this morning. Between thirty and forty went out with the intention of searching as much of the eastern side of the mountain as possible. The formal inquest was opened at Kaponga this morning. After evidence of identification was given, it was adjourned. Taylor and Allen are inmates of a private hosptial at Hawera, and passed a comfortable night. They are unable to be interviewed.

At noon none of the parties had returned. It is pointed out that the action of Allen in cutting himself adrifl, did not precipitate the others down the mountain side a second time.

DEAD BODY FOUND.

HAWERA, May 13

The lifeless body of Baines was found by a party of searchers this morning, shortly after eleven. He was found approximately half a mile from the spot where Latham’s body was found. A relief party is being organised to convey the body to the Mountain House.

Baines apparently craw’ed on his hands and knees for some distance, then had fallen over -• bank about twenty feet.