LOST ON MOUNT COOK

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3574, 25 February 1914, Page 4

LOST ON MOUNT COOK

ENGLISH TOURLST AND GUIDES

MISSING

believed to have BEEN CAUGHT BY AVALANCHE

SEARCH PARTIES AT WORK

VERY LITTLE HOPE FELT.

[FBKBB ASSOCIATION TKLXCJU.X2 CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 24. jion. R. Heaton Rhodes, Minister in Charge of Tourists and Health Resorts, this afternoon received an urrrent telegram from the Hermitage from Mr B. M- Wilson, general manager of the Tourist Department on the way from the Hermitage to the West Coast via theCapeland Pass as follows : “l regret to inform you that we fear serious accidents on Mt. Cook. “An English climber named L. Kent with Guides Thompson and Richmond left on Wednesday afternoon to climb Mt. Cook from the Tasman side. They were seen on the summit at noon on Thursday by Messrs Turner and Dennistown, who were at the 11 mist bivouac, and who were upon the glacier dome at 4 p.m. looking for them. Their steps down again were picked up that evening by those climbing from the Hooker side of Mt. Cook — Mr Friend, with Guides Conrad. Kaye and Brass. “This party followed the track until it was obliterated by a huge avalanche which earfSe off an overhanging ice wall on the Linda Glacier between the Silverhorn and Trechelman Peaks. The glacier is very broken here, and if the party were caught they would me swept into a crevasse and never seen again. “Trevor’s party reached the bivouac ! at about 2.30 a.in., when Messrs Turner and Denmstoun were proposing to start, and on finding no trace of Mr { King and his guides, they became alarmed and reported on anivai at I the Hermitage. “Chief Guide Graham was witn us at ! the Hooker Hut last night _ going to j Copeland, and when two guides came I from the Hermitage with news that I Thompson's party had not returned. Graham immediately returned to the Hermitage in dreadful weather and left at daylight with four guides ana Conrad Kane to search for the party, but neither he nor Kane hold out any hope of finding the missing men. “It is expected that it will be two davs before the seaVch partv returns." Hon. Mr Rhodes has cabled to the Alpine Club asking them to communicate with Mr Kent s people.

NEWS FROM THE HERMITAGE

miARU. Feb. 24. Further inquiry at the Hermitage elicits little further than stated in the telegram to the Minister. Frie id's party intended to make the traverse. When the two guides arrived at the Hooker Hut • Graham supposed they were friends of the party, hut on hearing the news, Graham set off in a wild night- for the Hermitage to organise a search party, which Denmstoun ana Turner will join. Mr King is a well-known member ot the English Alpine Club, and Thomson. who was a West Coaster, for some years has been Guide Graham s first lieutenant. Richmond belonged to Willowbridge and was also an experienced guide.