VAIN DASH FOR HELP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 23 May 1936, Page 7

VAIN DASH FOR HELP

CRATER LAKE FATALITY

STORY AT THE INQUEST (By Telegraph—Press Association) TAUMARUNUI, 22nd May. An inquest into the Mount Ruapehu tragedy was held last night at the Chateau, before Mr A. S. Laird, Coroner. Donald Hall Nicholson, solicitor, gave evidence that the conditions when ascending the glacier were perfect, and the party decided to ascend Ruapehu Peak, «the highest point on the mountain. The party had not gone more than fifty yards from the spot where they had'lunch when Mr S. A. Mannering. who was leading, struck hard ice, and immediately decided to go back as the conditions were too dangerous... When witness turned round he saw the deceased, who was sitting down, begin to slide They called out to him to dig his feet in, but he gathered speed and disappeared over the edge of the crater lake. Witness took the boys in the party back to the luncheon place, and then, with Mr Mannering he went round to the eastern side of the lake, where they were able to see Mr Gordon clinging to a rock. They at once sent Mr Cotton back for assistance. Witness and Mr Mannering, who had one hundred feet of rope, endeavoured to find a suitable spot to get down to Mr Gordon’s assistance, but with the small length of rope they had it was impossible for them to do so. They called to Mr Gordon and he answered them. The party had not been roped together. Witness considered it was unnecessary in that locality. It would have been unsafe for seven people to be roped on to one rope. The party had two ice axes with them. Witness said he then took the boys back to the Chateau. Mr Mannering stayed at the crater to encourage Mr Gordon to hold on. Edward Patrick Cotton gave corroborative evidence and described his dash down the mountain side for help. He met Guide Risberg at the Ruapehu Ski Club hut, and measures to rescue Mr Gordon were taken at once. BLOCKED BY SHEER DROP Sefton Alexander Mannering, auctioneer, gave evidence that after Mr Nicholson left he went back to the crater’s edge and told the deceased men were coming with ropes. Mr Gordon replied, “All right, old man.” Witness endeavoured alone to get down to him on the south-east side but was blocked by a sheer drop of forty feet. He then cut steps to facilitate the work of the rescue party. Mr Gordon later moved to another rock near the edge of the lake. He was standing about waist-deep in water. Then he fell back on to the rock and soon after disappeared. ’ Witness later saw the body floating. Soon after this Chief Guide Risberg arrived and he and witness endeavoured to get down but it was impossible. The relief party arrived at 3 o’clock, w'hicli was an extraordinarily quick response as the accident happened at 11.30. Attempts by the relief' party to get down to the lake failed and as it was obvious Mr Gordon was dead they returned to the Chateau. Witness said he was an experienced mountaineer and had climbed Ruapehu many times. LOWERED INTO LAKE Arthur Sandel, surveyor, of Taumarunui, described how he, together with Guide Risberg and John Bryan, postal clerk, of Taumarunui. were lowered 400 feet into the lake. Witness made his way alone’round the edge of the lake and waded up to his waist in water to reach tlie, body, which was lying face down in the lake only six yards from tlie shore. Had Mr Gordon been able to help himself, lie would have had no difficulty in reaching the shore. It was bitterly cold when witness came out of tlie water and he was of the opinion that this was one of the causes of Mr Gordon’s death. Witness said he transported the body back to where , the other two men were waiting and eventually, with the assistance of others on the crater rim, they got the body out. The rescue party was well organised and equipped and did splendid work. DOCTOR.’S OPINION Dr. Cameron, of Hawera, said he cbuld not give the cause of death, as he had not made a post-mortem examination, but his opinion was that Mr Gordon died from severe internal injury and from exposure to cold. •Guide Risberg described the measures taken to effect a rescue. 1 The inquest was adjourned at 1 o’clock in the morning sine die, to enable the police to obtain expert evidence.