DEATH OF MR GORDON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 June 1936, Page 3

DEATH OF MR GORDON

THE RUAPEHU TRAGEDY CONCLUSION OF INQUEST (United Press Association) TAUMARUNUI, 18th June. At the adjourned inquest before the Coroner, Mr A. S. Laird, concerning the death of James Alexander Gordon, solicitor, D. Bayfield, manager of the Chateau Tongariro, stated that a notice posted up gave hints to mountain climbers. The deceased and his party gave notice of their intention of climbing. Chief Guide Carl Risberg, recalled, said that he experimented two days after the accident with sliding on a similar graded slope and found that ice axes would not hold or make the slightest impression in the ice. Even with crampons and a rope they could not hold a 13-stone man from sliding down. •W. S. Rennie, late secretary of the Ruapehu Ski Club, said that the Tourist Department - had repeatedly been approached to ,have more equipment at the huts and have the huts connected by telephone to the Chateau. The club offered assistance to erect a telephone jme, but there had been no response from the Department. The witness said that each .member of a climbing party should be«equipped with an ice axe, and all members should be roped together if there was danger of sliding. The verdict was that the deceased was accidentally killed, and died from internal injuries, shock, and exposure The Coroner said he considered that the deceased had an attack of syncope or fainting, rendering him unable to aitc.mpt to save himself. The Coroner highly commended the work of Messrs A. Sandel, J. Bryan, and Guide Risberg in the recovery of the deceased’s body.