ALPINE TRAGEDY

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 20 January 1930, Page 9

ALPINE TRAGEDY

FIVE LIVES LOST OVERWHELMED BY BLIZZARD FOUR WOMEN AND GUIDE FATE ON TASMAN GLACIER,' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TiMARP, Jan. 20. In a desolate region of ice and Snow high up on the Tasman glacier, four miles i rom the Malte Brim lint, a party from the Hermitage was overwhelmed yesterday afternoon by a ter-’ rible blizzard which sprang up with tragic •suddenness. Four women and a young man are dead- At noon to-day tlieir bodies had not been recovered 1 and the severity of the weather is making it impossible to send a searchparty irom the Ball liut. It is believed that a party of four ladies in charge of Acting Guide : E. ! Bloomfield had left the Malte -Brun; hut on the return journey to the Ball; Hut which is 20 miles from the Hermitage when they were caught in a blizzard at de la Beebe corner. They were unable to make any progress against the fury of the elements and. all perished, the bodies bring found' huddled together on an exposed face of the glacier. Those who perished in the storm are:

Miss M. Monteith, of Christchurch. Miss H. Keane, of Christchurch. Miss D. Herbert-Brown, of Rangiora, Miss I'. Smith, of Auckland

Acting Guide E. (Teddy) Bloomfield

According to information received by the Mt. Cook Company the unfortunate party left the Malte Brun hut in good weather, but 'had only progressed throe or four miles when it was caught in a raging blizzard. It was impossible to continue tlie journey as visibility was limited to a few feet-

There was no place where tlie party could find shelter and apparently they huddled together on the ice where they were subsequently found by Acting Guide C. Hildendorf, who had remained behind at the Malte Brun hut, to clear up and put things in order for the next party. He went out to catch up on the party, but was driven back to the shelter of the hut by the blizpard which suddenly swept the Tasman Glacier region. When the storm, which was accompanied by vivid and spectacular lightning flashes and peals of heavy thunder, had abated somewhat, Guide Hildendorf set out with all haste in search of the stricken party. His mission was destined to be a fateful one for the four ladies and their (guide had succumbed to the . fury of the elements. When Guide Hildendorf reached the litle party all were dead. In spite of the terrible conditions that prevailed Guide Hildendorf did not spare himself in liis dash to the Ball Hut and on his arrival there lie was “all in” but was able to give the news of the tragedy. Word was immediately conveyed to the Hermitage and a rescue party was despatched to the Ball hut but it was. not possible to recover the bodies last evening on account of the terrible weather conditions in the Alps. Tfhis morning: there was practically no improvement in the weather.

The unfortunate happening has caused widespread regret and it Was the one topic of conversation in Tiniaru this morning.

Acting Guide Bloomfield is weli .known in Dunedin, being a medical student at the Otago University. His age was 20 years. Alpine climbing was his one recreation and he was a regular climber at the Hermitage. During the summer vacation lie was, usually employed as an acting guide. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 20.

Miss Doris Herbert-Brown, who was lost on Mount Cook, was the elder daughter of Mrs. Herbert-Brown of Mount Thomas, Rangiora. Miss Mary Monteath, aged 20, was the daughter of Mr. J.. K. Monteith, 23 Poynder Avenue, Fendaltoh.