FALL INTO LAKE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12867, 22 May 1936, Page 7

FALL INTO LAKE

AIT. RUAPEHU TRAGEDY HOW MR GORDON LOST IHS LIFE (Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 21. Futher details concerning the tragedy on Mount Ruapehu, when James Alexander Gordon, a solicitor, of Taumarunui, lost his life in the crater lake, reveal that Mr Gordon clung to a rock on the side of the lake for nearly three hours before exhaustion forced him to release his hold l . After lunch, the party, which had intended to make a traverse of one of the peaks surrounding the crater lake, found the ice so slippery that further progress was impossible, and it as- therefore decided to turn back. Only a few paces further on, Mr Gordon slipped on the glassy surface of the ice and began immediately to slither downwards towards the lake. Other members of the party were powerless to stop him. Gathering speed on the smooth ice, Air Gordon finally disappeared over the cliff, 200 ft. from the spot where die stumbled and fell. The party went round the other side of the crater ami saw Air Gordon in the lake. They called out but received no reply. They sent one of the number back to the Ruapehu Ski Club’s but tYiassistance. Guide (j. Kisberg hurried to the scene with ropes. The time was then 3 o’clock, and Air Gordon’s body was seen floating on flic .surface of the lake.

Guide Risberg realised that an attempt to secure the body would be suicidal, as a sheer wall of ice blocked access on that side of the lake. The western wall of the lake was found to have been changed by live recent eruption and although . steps were cut in the ice lor lOO.vds. down the slope, a further wall, of ice checked any further advance.

It was realised that the only way to rescue the body would be to walk round the peak, and the party was forced to abandon the attempt until later.

Included in the party of climbers with Air Gordon were his two sons, who were on holiday from Christ’s College, Christchurch. There were also fivo adults in the party, and although no guides accompanied them, most of the men had previous climbing experience.

COMRADES COULD NOTMIELP

(Press Association). TAUMAR.UNUJ, May 20. Further details of the Ruapehu tragedy show that a paity consisting of Mil Janies; Alexander Gordon and his) two young sons, and Messrs S. A. Mannefing. D. n. Nicholson, P. Cotton and J- Czosika-,, climbed Ruapehu on Wednesday morning. After having lunch on the edge of the crater of the lake at 11.30 a.m.. they set out to reach the summitoverlooking the lake. Air Mannerms had. just cut 12 steps when lie turned! and said: “This is too dangerous.” ■ , . . The words were hardly: out oh ins mouth when Air Gordon, who was sitting down’ at thet time, started toslip. Ho gained -speed and went right over the edge of the crater. Mr Afannsring and Air Niclrolson made their way to a vantage! point, and could see Air Gordon in the water a few yards f rom the edge ol the. lake. He managed to- pull himself up astride a small rock. Without an adequate rope, the party &pukl do nothing to reach him down the icy precipitous slopes aim all except Mr Ala-n-nering set off to tlm Chateau Tongariro for assistance. Air Alannering -stayed at the scene of the accident and encouraged Mr Gordon, endeavouring to keep up his- spirits with the assurance that- assistance wa-ss coming. Air Gordon waved back and hung on to the rock for nearly three hours, battling grimly and courageously for his life. However, he weaik-ene-cl, probably from injuries and. the. coldi conditions, and slipped off the .rock) into- the. water at about 2.30u.m. . , At 3.30 p.m. Guide C. Risberg- arrived with ropes after a rapid ascent but- it was too late to save Air Gordon. , .... Owing to- the dangerous conditions Guide- Risberg and the' party of rescuers whej followed behind him considered that an attempt to recover the body -so laid in the afternqon would probably result hi further los of life, -so the party returned to the Chateau.

A HAZARDOUS TASK

RECOVERY OF THE BODY. (Tress Association;. XAUMABUNUI, May 91. Tljio'body 1 of' Mr; J. A. Gordon, who lost his life on Ruapehu,yesterday, was recovered Mom the crater othe lake to-day and carried, down to the Chateau, arriving at o o’clock tonight. A-rescue party of' 14' lei t the Chateau at 4 o’clock this morning and eight of them pushed ahead, reach in g the lakeside about 7 o clock. Guide IT's berg and. Arthur Sand,cl and John Bryan, two Tnumarunui men, were lot down info the cratei of the lake by the other live men. Tho task' was a very hazardous one and. ropes ,crampons and ice axes had to be used. They wend roped together and had to cut steps in the ice. But the .tlirm men got down safely in the south-east corner of tho lake. The conditions wore very treacherous in the bed of the crater and they had to cut steps in the ice to make their way about 400 yards Pound, the edge of the lake to the north sido where Mr. Gordon fell in. They discovered tho body Jr.ilf floating in the water. The body was secured and tower! back to the spot where they went-

down. Then began the difficult .and dangerous task of getting the: body to the top af : the- crater. • By this •time, six other! men of.the party had arrived at the scene and cv«iit-ually at 12 o’clock midday- the body and the three : men had been hauled U P the precipitous slopes to the top. The party reached .Salt’ llui at - 5 o’clock and the bociy. was then taken, by paekhoi'ss to the Chateau.

The work of the rescue party was very cnaditable, particularly that “i the thi-efe- liten who went down into the luke. They took their Jiviß in their hands, but all are experienced fnouyta.inec-.-s. Mr. Gordon was " heavy man and their task was almost herculean.

BODY ALMOST STRIPPED. SKIN REMOVED FROM HANDS. LAKE STEAMING WHEN LAST MAN HAULED UP. (Press Association AUCKLAND, May 21. The water where the body was found was warm and only about 3 feet deep. It is considered by Guide Risberg that had Air: Gordon had sufficient strength, ho could have reached the shore safely. The body had been ulmost stripped of clothing in the fall and there was evidence of serious head injuries. The skin had also been removed for the hands and from one arm. Using their ice axes Guide Risberg and Messrs. Sandcl and Bryan drew the body through the shallow water close to tlie shore near where they had mado their descent. The rope was made fast to it and then the difficult task of getting.the body up the wall of ice began. Several times it was thought that the rope would part and men below stood clear. Eventually, however, with the combined efforts of Ibo five men on top and those of the yix remaining members of tlie party, the body was safely recovered. Sandel. Ur.van anti Guide Risberg were then hauled up separately. “By the time I left the lake had begun to steam and 1 was very glad in get out of it.” said Guido Risberg, tvno was the last- to be hauled up. An attempt was made to carry the body down to the Chateau, but it was found to be too heavy. It was then hauled for a distance on akis until a packhorso was obtained. An inquest is being field to-night. Relatives and friends of the late Air. Gordon cannot speak too highly of the efforts of the party in recovering the body. In particular, they praise Guide Risberg and Messrs Sarnlcl and Bryan for their courage in descending into Lho crater.