SLIDE TO DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22424, 21 May 1936, Page 10

SLIDE TO DEATH

VICTIM OF RUAPEHU WELL-KNOWN SOLICITOR FALL INTO CRATER LAKE ALIVE FOR THREE HOURS [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] THE CHATEAU, Wednesday While climbing on Mount Ruapehu this morning, Mr. James Alexander Gordon, a solicitor, of Taumarunui, slipped on the ice, slid 200 ft. on the glassy surface and then fell nearly 300 ft. into the Crater Lake below. He managed to reach a rock at one side of the lake, but disappeared after clinging to it for nearly three hours. A rescue party made determined efforts to recover the body, which could be seen floating in the water, but could not reach the edge of the lake as the way was barred by sheer walls of ice formed during the recent eruption. The task was abandoned late in the afternoon, and another attempt will b6 made early to-morrow morning. The tragedy occurred near the spot where John Wall, a Wanganui schoolboy, lost his life in May, 1933, by falling over an ice cliff to the edge of tho lake. Decision to Turn Back A climbing party of which Mr. Gordon was a member set out from the Chateau early in the morning with the intention of making a traverse of Paretetaitonga, one of the peaks surrounding the Crater Lake. There were five adults and three boys in the party, two being sons of Mr. Gordon on holiday from Christls College, Christchurch, and although there were no guides, most of the men had had previous climbing experience. Shortly before 11.30 a.m. the climbers reached the foot of a glacier near the peak and had lunch. As they were beginning their climb toward the head of the glacier, it was discovered that the ice was so slippery as to make further progress dangerous, and it was decided to turn back. Companions Powerless The party had gone only 10 or 12 yards from the place where they had had lunch when Mr. Gordon slipped on the glassy surface and began to slide down tho slope toward the lake, gathering speed every moment. His companions could do nothing, and had to watch him slide 200 ft. to the edge of an ice cliff almost 300 ft. above the waters of the lake, and disappear. From their position, the rest of the party were unable to see Mr. Gordon, so they went round to the left of the crater, and discovered that he was clinging to a rock near one side of the lake. They called out to him, but rereceived no reply. It was impossible to descend to the edge of- the lake, and they had to wait while one of the party went for help. Unable to Hold Out Before the rescue party arrived, however, Mr. Gordon had disappeared. He was still alive at 2 o'clock, for he called out then to his watching friends that he could not hold out much longer. The chief guide at the Chateau, Mr. C. Risberg, was at tho Ruapehu Ski Club's new hut at the foot of the Whakapapa Glaciel- when one of the party came running down the slope with the news of the tragedy. Ho sent some visitors back to the Chateau with a message asking two of the guides to bring ropes and a stretcher, and taking a rope proceeded up to the lakp Sheer Walls ol Ice

W T hen he arrived shortly before 3 o'clock, the body of Mr. Gordon could be seen distinctly floating on the lake. Mr. Risberg first of all tried to get to the left of the lake near the southeastern corner, but was checked by an absolutely sheer wall of ice, which it would have been suicidal to attempt to cross. He went back and with the assistance of the other guides tried the western wall of the lake, but the changes wrought by the recent eruption checked the descent. Steps were cut for 100 yds down the slope, but then another sheer wall of ice confronted the rescuers.

Mr. Risberg realised that the onlj way in which to obtain, a suitable place to reach the edge of the lake would be by walking round Paretetaitonga, and as it was then past 4 o'clock, the attempt was postponed. Well Known Resident Mr. Gordon, who was about 45 years of age, was a well-known resident of Taumarunui, where he had lived since 1919, and was the senior partner in the legal firm of Gordon, Nicholson and Ronnie. He was a director of the Hayward Timber Company. He took his legal degree at Canterbury College. Christchurch, and served on Gallipoli, where he was severely wounded. Mr. Gordon is survived by his wife and three young sons.