FALL INTO CRATER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 May 1936, Page 6

FALL INTO CRATER

FATALITY ON MOUNT RUAPEHU

EFFORTS TO RECOVER BODY (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, This Day. While climbing on Mount ttuapehu, Mr James Alexander Gordon, solicitor of Taumarunui, slipped oil the ice and tell nearly 300 feet into the crater lake. He managed to reach a rock at one side of the lake, but disappeared after clinging to it for nearly three hours. A rescue party made a determined effort to recover the body, which could he seen floating in the water, hut they could not reacn tbs edge of the lake, as the way was barred by sheer walls of ice formed during the recent eruption. The task was abandoned in the late afternoon and another attempt will be made to-day. After lunch, the party which had intended to make a traverse of one of the peaks surrounding the crater lake, found ihe ice so slippery that further progress was impossible. It was therefore decided to turn hack, and only a few paces further on Gordon slipped on the glassy surface of the ice and began immediately to slither downwards toward the lake" Other members of the party were powerless to stop him. Gathering speed on the smooth ice, Gordon finally disappeared over the cliff two hundred feet from the spot where he stumbled and fell. The party went round to the other side of the crater and saw Gordon in tho lake and called out, but received no reply. They sent one of their number back to the Ruapehu'ski hut for assistance. Guide C. Risberg hurried to"the scene with ropes. The time was then three o’clock and Gordon’s body could he seen floating on the surface of the lake. Guide Risberg realised that an attempt to secure the body would he suicidal, as a sheet wall of ice blocked access on that side to the lake. The western wall of the lake was found to have been changed by the recent eruption and although steps were cut in the ice for a hundred yards down the slope, a further wall of ice checked any further advance. Guide Risberg realised that the only way to rescue the body would he to walk round the peak, and' was forced to abandon the attempt until later. .... Included in the party of climbers with Mr Gordon were his two sons on holiday from Christ’s College, Christchurch. There were also five adults in the party and although no guides accompanied them most of the men had previous climbing .experience.

ATTEMPT TO RESCUE BODY WELLINGTON, This Day. The party of 20 which left the Chateau Tongariro at ? o’clock this morning to attempt to rescue the body of Gordon from the crater lake had not been heard of up till 1.30 to-day. The Chateau reported then that the cony ditions were calm but it was possible that the party will have to make the return journey by a different route owing to probable rough conditions in the vicinity of Ruapehu.