THE RUAPEHU FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15263, 29 March 1913, Page 8

THE RUAPEHU FATALITY

INQUEST ON BINGHAM. DEATH FROM A FALL. MDLLE. GOGHE'S STORY. FOG SIGNALS RECOMMENDED. [by TSLEGRAPH.—OWN correspondent. J . " Ohaxttkb, Friday. An inquest was held at Ohakune at 10.30 this morning, before Mr. Allsworth (actingooroner), touching, the death of William Napier Bingham, who lost, his life on Mount Ruapehu. ' j Gilbert Henry Fletcher, uncle of . the deceased, identified the body. The deceased was a single man, 21 years of age, and his people reside at Dannevirke. Witness desired, before concluding,' to thank all those who had so willingly assisted in the search for deceased. When the Party Lost Its Way. Madeleine Coche gave evidence that she first saw the deceased on Mount Buapehu on- Sunday. March 23. Both intended ascending the mountain with about 15 others. I ,*' After . ascending about two-thirds of the journey, towards the top of the mountain," she continued, " deceased, myself, *hd four others decided to thrift back to camp. We lost our way. We lost Messrs Mclntyre and Willoughby on Sunday, and four of us 'camped : that sight on the mountain in the open. The next morning -we became separated from Waters tod Schubert, who. went to see if they could find the right track. We waited far them for * long time, but they did not come back. It : was very ; cold, and deceased and I tried to find the track ourselves. Snow fell very heavily. There was a blizzard blowing. • ■ Tk» ■Partingf.:■ . With - Deceased. ■ "After striking a creek (Manganui-au-ti-au River) we decided to follow it down. Deceased wag then very hopeful and cheerful, and -in good spirits, and not distressed .or. exhausted in any way; . We came to a place where the stream narrows between two rocks, , and the but time I saw deceased he wa« standing.: on the left side of the rock. He was feeling his way, as it were, with his foot. The gap between < tho rocks,was not very wide,'; but I said it was too liard far me to step over, and that Iwouldgo through the bush. . -'.yyQfam? : 'Own Besca®.. Ijbwer down X carieout on to the creek •gain, aha called to deceased, but got no I ther; looked back and saw deceased's stick said ■'bat' in .the 1 water. : :.I climbed on' the left side ; of. the- bant and looked/down,. but could not see ; any sign> clxdeeeased. i then ; thought •he had gone •hesddtawn the strewa, and called several tiaiwi going- along. - I never saw deceased : kgKbfcr I took note of the surroundings, on *ijt>"Way :> down the stream to the railIrjyr line, whew I came cut, and was disof : the' ' search parties,. ItfeMca. WEkins: and Benbow. I gave a description of the localitywberel last saw deceased to several parses who yfero going bob to anarch.' 1 k ' ips ; "idded ; wished to ««- press her .gratitude ' to the : people. of / OhaInme generally for their kind assistance! &. ■ Ptsdißf Of Iks Body. I In mm one :■.«&■>, search,party which. left Ohakune on Wednesday search for the deceased, who had be® reported as miss - j nig. They followed np the Manganui-aa ; t»«a Biver. After following it up for '* stick,: which' caeotihe party identified ae having been j dtitieA'* by deceased - on the Sunday pre j ▼ions. ; They then searched the water for * .»■* I row channel of about fift of -water. ■ The body was caoghtfasfc in the channel A 1 piece of moss-had been displaced ©ft ofta ofiheiocks, evidently by one of deceased's feet. -' He had evidently slipped on the | mbca oh the bank above. They recovered': the body Jroin tße water, and noticed that Ids itad marks on the forehead and right «ar, which hsd apparently been caused; by ; 'Me edge of the rock on thjft"opposite side to which deceased fell. Deceased was appatently stunned. There was :no appear-; «noa of * struggle. Two of the party retailed to Pokeno with ■' the information, and other parties went out to assist in bringing i>hfl J l)6dy ifl. *•'. ■ v ; Thomas . Arthur 31yth corroborated the 'tot ifritiittßs'i eVidecce, but stated that to ids mind the place, whert'tte. accident occurred was a' chasm, and: that the banks were Of papa instead of rock. : . Iteed lor ' a Guide's Services. The aci!ri£<»rbaer "«dd that the accident was an unfortunate occurrence, and added that ; parties in future should be accompanietTby a competent guide. The verdict mold' be accidental death, caused by deceased. striking his bead, on the rock and suffocation. : • AnnSson. 'On behalf of the police, wilted to express appreciation for the way in which' everyone turned out, and assisted the police in this unfortunate occu«ence;:: The coroner endorsed the refer--1 '"enocs". made by-' Constable Awmson." -The latter farther; added that the difficulties to be surmounted in the search could only be realised by viewing the place where the accident happened. '' Some necessary Precautions.

' Mr. 35. O. Lightband said that he would like to recommend that a. beacon/ fog bell, and flagstaff should ba immediately placed in a permanent camp, and the ocrfoner said he -would mention the matter when writing the Department concerned. • Mr. A. H. Wilfcie said that Mademoiselle CJoche had handed £10 to him for the rescue parties/and had also given Mr. L. Bxadcock £5 for the Chamber of Commerce, and this would probably form the nucleus of -a fund for carrying out Mr. Liprhtband's suggestion. There was no jury at the inquest.