FALL DOWN CRATER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 May 1933, Page 5

FALL DOWN CRATER.

PROBABLE VICTIM OF VERTIGO PARTY LEAVES CHATEAU TO RECOVER THE BODY. MAY HAVE TO SWIM THE LAKE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. A telephone message from Chateau Tongariro to the head office of the Press Association states that a party of 18 men left at five o’clock this morning, to attempt to recover the body of John Wall (son of Dr. A. H. Wall, of Wanganui), who fell into the crater of Ruapehu yesterday afternoon. The task, is extremely arduous and difficult, and the party’s return is not expected until late this evening. It appears that Wall, accompanied by Blair (Hawera) and a guide, Taylor, had done an extensive tramp yesterday, inicluding a visit to the summit. ' They had lunch, and commenced the return journey, calling to see the lake which is in the crater, about 500 feet below the summit.. The three men halted near the edge to look upon the view, when Blair and Taylor were horrified to see Wall take a sjtep forward and disappear. Wall fell on to the pinnacles of ice which fringe the lake, from 80 to 100 feet below. His position was quite inaccessible to.. his 'companons, who could not possibly reach him. They did all they could, but it was impossible to reach him with the rope, in their possession. They ((.escribe the accident as inexplicable, but think that Wall had a seizure or fainting attack, as he said nothing and did not call out as he fell. , ■ The task of recovering the body is .one of grave difficulty. It may not be practicable to - reach the body with ropes. The lake may have to be crossed from the other side toy swimming; and as parts of it are boiling, great caution must be exercised.

The above particulars are supplementary to a telegram appearing on page