FATALITY ON EGMONT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 May 1927, Page 5

FATALITY ON EGMONT

ONE MAN KILLED.

ANOTHER MISSING.

SEARCH PARTIES OUT.

A serious accident occurred on Mt. Egmont last night, when a man, believed to be named Latham, met his death through a fall. Details are so far meagre, but from what the “Star” representative at the scene of the accident can gather it appears that four young men, who are. believed to be members of the Wanganui Col-, legiate School teaching staff, were engaged in, climbing the mountain last night, when, owing to the slippery nature of the ice, the party fell a considerable distance, with the result that Latham’s head was shockingly mutilated.

A search party of 20, headed by Mr J. P. Murphy, W. White, R. Syme, V. Betts, Constable O’Donoghue, and Dr. Sinclair, discovered Latham between 3 and 4 a.m. this morning, about half-way between Fantham’s Peak and the summit. Another of the party was discovered injured, and was carried to the mountain house in a speechless condition. One of the climbers managed to struggle to the mountain house at about 11.15 last night and gave the alarm. A party left soon- after for the summit. A fourth *• man is still missing, but the searchers found traces which led them to believe that he had crawled in the direction of Opunake.

BAINES STEEL MISSING. BELIEVED TO BE ALIVE.

Further .particulars in connection with the tragedy on Mt. Egmont have been gleaned by a. “Star” reporter, and it is now certain that the man killed was Mr Latham. Baines, the missing man, is still being searched for, and those engaged in the search believe that he will be found living. ' .. . . It appears that the party, consisting of Messrs Latham, Baines and Taylor, of the teaching staff of the Wanganui Collegiate School, and Master Dennis Allen, a pupil, left Dawson Falls at 8.30 yesterday morning with the object of climbing the mountain. This they accomplished, but failed to return in the evening. Becoming alarmed, Messrs Murphy (custodian:) and White left Dawson Falls at 6 o’clock, and returned at 11 o’clock, missing on the way up the boy Allen, who eventually made his way to the accommodation house. Another search party was immediately formed and set out for the mountain. At a few minutes to three this morning Taylor was found lying unconscious across the body of Latham, which is now being brought down. Two search parties are at present looking for Baines. Mr Murphy states that the climbers slid 350 feet before being stopped. At this stage Allen cut himself adrift, and the three men then were precipitated a further 450 feet. Allen then set out for the accommodation house, and eventually struck the Kapuni river. He and Taylor are at present in bed at Dawson Falls suffering from shock, exposure and bruises. No news of.the missing man will be known until the return of the searchers. It is understood that Taylor and Allen are to be removed to the Hawera- Hospital to-day, but they are in too weak a state to be seen in the meantime.

The late Mr Latham, who was about 50 years of age, was educated at Oxford', and ioined the Wanganui Collegiate School in 1912. He oocupied the position of honSe~m aster of Hadfield House. He leaves a widow, a son aged 20, and a younger d-augh-ter. Mr N. Baipes also received his education at Oxford, and ioined the staff in 1923. He is about 35 yeaTs of age, and occupies the position of house tutor in the same house as Mr Latham. The -headmaster. Rev. Mr Pierce, left Wellington this afternoon for the scene.