ALPINE TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20468, 21 January 1930, Page 8

ALPINE TRAGEDY.

MOUNT COOK PARTY.

FIVE PERISH IN THE SNOW.

A SUDDEN BLIZZAED.

GUIDE FINDS BODIES.

AUCKLAND GIRL'S FATE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHUKCH, Monday. The worst Alpine disaster in New Zealand's history occurred on Mount Cook yesterday when a party of four ladies and a guide were caught in a blizzard between the Malte Brun and Ball huts on the Tasman Glacier about mid-day and perished from exposure. Their bodies were found four miles down the glacier from the Malte Brun hut by Guide C. Hilgendorf, who had remained behind to clean-up the hut. The names of the dead are:—

Mißg Doris Herbert Brown, elder daughter of the' late Mr. Herbert Brown and Mrs. Brown, of Mount Thomas, Rangiora.

Miss Mary Monteath, aged 20, younger daughter of Mr,, J. R. Monteath, of 23, Poynder Avenue, Fendalton.

Miss Helena Keane,- aged 24, a clerk, daughter of Mrs. I. Keane, residing at 239, Selwyn Street, Spreydon.

Miss D. Smith, Woodhall Road, Epsom, Auckland.

Acting-Guide Teddy Blomfleld, aged 20, of Dunedin, an Otago University student, who spends his vacations acting as a guide at Mount Cook.

Reports from the Mount Cook Motor Company state that the party of five left the Malte Brun Hut yesterday morning at about ten o'clock in good weather to ynake the journey to the Hermitage. Guide Hilgendorf, who is a student at College House, Christchurch, and a wellknown climber, remained in the hut to clear up after the party left. When they were about three or four miles down the glacier a thunderstorm and blizzard of great intensity swept down ori the party. Evidently they did not live long in the fearful conditions for when Guide Hilgendorf came down following them he found their bodies in the snow at De La Beche comer. They were all dead when he reached th*m, huddled together on the exposed face of the glacier. It was Guide Hilgendorf's second attempt to catch up with the party, for he had barely left the hut when the blizzard came down, and he was driven back to take shelter. As soon as the worst of the storm was over Hilgendorf set out again. After finding the bodies he pushed on with all speed to the Ball Hut, which is 20 miles from the Hermitage, for help. Word was immediately conveyed to the Hermitage and a rescue ' party was despatched to the Ball Hut to recover the bodies, but up to this morning the weather was too unfavourable to enable this to be clone.

Guide Hilgendorf, who found the bodies, is a son of Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, of Lincoln Agricultural College.

last desperate effort. BODY OF DEAD GUIDE. DISCOVERER'S TERRIBLE TRIP. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Further details of the Mount Cook tracedy indicate that the body of Guide Blonifield was found by Guide Hilcendorf about 150 yds. ahead pf the others. It ap-' peared that lie had strußßled on in a last desperate hope of reaching the Ball Hut and assistance.

The storm was still raging with terrific force and Guide Hilgondorf did not spare himself, in a desperate effort to reach the Ball Hut, He literally had to fight his way foot by foot against the terrific wind and for a considerable distance was compelled to crawl on his hands and knees, the force of the gale being so great. Exhausted by his hazardous journey on his arrival at the Ball Hut ne was just abie to gasp, " The girls are dead. Out on the glacier, blizzard terrible." He was immediately conveyed to the Hermitage by car and from there a rescue party was despatched to the Ball Hut. The terrible conditions nullified the efforts of the party to recover the bodies during thp day.

JOURNEY NOT DIFFICULT. MOST EXPOSED POSITION. PROFESSOR ALGIE'S VIEWS. "The trip to the Malte Brun Hut and back is usually considered a very easy and thoroughly safe expedition/' said Professor R. M. Algie, who has had wide experience of mountaineering in the Mount Cook region. "Some thousands, of whom more than half were women, must have made that trip, and this is the first accident that has ever occurred there.

"The Ball Hut is about half-way between the Malte Brun Hut and tho Hermitage. The 14-mile journey from the Malte Brun Hut to the Ball Hut would normally occupy four or' five hours. About two-thirds of the journey is down the smooth surface of the Taisnian Glacier, the remaining third being across the Hochstetter Glacier and the intervening moraines. The ill-fated party was on the Tasman Glacier when caught by tho storm, at the De la Becho corner, which is undoubtedly the most exposed position on the glacier. Quite possibly some of the women of the party would be unable to stand the intense cold and the 7juido could not leave them to seek assistance. Such, blizzards usually give sufficient warning of their approach, and it is .difficult to believe that a guide of thorough experience would have beea caught in such a position." •