Critical Cliff-Climbing.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 22, 8 January 1907, Page 7

Critical Cliff-Climbing.

A Thrilling Rescue. Edward Ratten, a cyclist, who must also now be ranked as a daring mountaineering expert, has cause to remember New Year’s Day for the future. He had cycled to Muriwai in the Gisborne district last Tuesday, with a friend named Edward Featon, to spend the holidays about the cliffs. He decided to climb the cliff, but his friend, to whom other forms of enjoyment more strongly appealed, went oyster - gathering. All went well with Batten till he reached, a height of 150 ft, hut here he ihnpdJiimself on n, ledge from which Tie could neither mount higher nor descend. Above his head only 30 or 40 feet of cliff separated him from victory and safety. Below was a drop of 150 ft. Ho was sensible enough to try neither, hut shouted for his friend. Featon. seeing the state of affairs, secured a rope and reins from the nearest residents, and mounted to the cliff top by a more circuitous, safer, hut less glorious route. Hanging over, lie i let an end of the rope down to j Batten, who fastened it to his j body. With the rope safeguarding him from a fall and at times entirely supporting him, he Continued the ascent. The top (10 or 15 feet) of the journey was up a perpendicular face of rock, and up this Batten was hauled liy Featon and another man named Burns on the end of the rope, a fall of 200 ft awaiting him if the rope broke. Batten’s weight is said to be list 71b. The scraping on the edge of the rock out the rope considerably at times, and added to the element of danger. Both Batten and his rescuers were exhausted when the feat was finished. The rescue occupied four hours.