MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21542, 14 January 1932, Page 8

MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY

TWO TEACHERS LOST ONE BELIEVED TO BE DEAD THIRD MAN REACHES CAMP SEARCH PARTIES SENT OUT (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. Two young Christchurch school teachers are lost in the back country on the main divide between Canterbury and Westland, 20 or more miles from the Bealey Hotel. They are: HAROLD SMITH, single, aged about 28, a teacher at the Opawa School. BERNARD ROBBINS, a married man, with three young children; aged 27, of Waltham, a teacher at the Waltham School. Donald Keith Loney, single, aged 26, of Heathcote Valley, a teacher at the Phillipstown School, wandered into a mountain camp near the Taipoiti River on the Harman Pass last night. He was completely exhausted and delirious, and it is presumed that he and his two companions must have been caught by a storm. At the camp were Mr J. P. Wilson, of New Brighton, and a man named Sweeney, who were on their way back from the West Coast, where they had been prospecting. Loney told the campers his story, saying that Smith was dead, and that Robbins was wandering about lost. Mr Wilson made all the haste he could to the Bealey Hotel and telephoned the i Christchurch police. This morning the j police got in touch with Mr Stuart D. j Meares, vice-president of the Canterbury | Mountaineering Club, who organised a [ search party of six, which left, by car s at noon to-day.

OUT FOR EIGHT DAYS THE SNOWBOUND CAMP FOOD SUPPLIES EXHAUSTED CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. Word of the tragedy was brought to the Bealey this morning by Mr J. P. Wilson, also a school teacher, who had been out with another party. This morning, when about five miles from the Carrington hut, they came upon Loney, who was exhausted and appeared to he suffering from lack of food. Loney told them that the party was lost on January 6 in the ranges. The men had had no sleep for three nights, and did not reach the Carrington Hut, but were near the Wilberforce, between Waimakariri and the West Coast. When he left to secure assistance, Smith was dead, and Robbins had wandered away. He also said that the three men had reached their camp on the top of the Harman Pass, meaning to spend the night there. They had been snowbound, and used up the food. A doubt exists as to how long the men had been exposed, but it is probable they have been out over the week-end. Apparently Smith suffered most, and it is believed he is dead. Robbins had wandered off, and it is not known what has become of him. Loney attempted to get to the Carrington Hut to secure help, and was on his°way there when he was found by Wilson and party. It is doubtful whether he could have reached the hut, for the party took three and akhalf hours to get back there after he was found.

INTENTION OF THE PARTY TO CLIMB MOUNT ROLLESTON ROUGH COUNTRY ON THE WAY. (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. The three men, all of whom had had experience in the mountains —Robbins in deer-stalking and the other two in tramping in the same regions—left Christchurch on January 4, going to Hokitika. They left there on either January 5 or 6 intending to walk over the Browning Pass to the Arthur’s Pass region where, Mrs Robbins says, they were to climb Mount Rolleston. Fiom Browning Pass to Harman Pass the journey is very rough and very exposed. The men must have gone from Browning Pass for a mile or so to Park Morpeth Hut. From there they would have followed up the Cronin River for about seven miles to the Whitehorn Pass. The Whitehorn Pass is a long rift, giving access to the Harman Pass. The country is very rough and treacherous, and being on the divide is swept by storms which reach terrific intensity. It is several miles from the Harman Pass down the Taipoiti and White Rovers to the Carrington Hut in the Waimakariri Riverfeed, and from there about 11 miles to the junction of the Bealey, near the Bealey Hotel. As soon as the Christchurch police received the message from the Bealey Hotel they got in touch with Mr Meares and within an iiour and a-half he had a search party organised. The mountaineering Club members, who left by car at noon, are Messrs Evan Wilson (a brother of Mr J. P. Wilson, into whose camp Loney wandered), N. Robbins (who is no relation to Bernard Robbins), I. Tucker, L. Boot, A. Wilson, and J. D. Pascoe. By to-morrow morning’s train, which will drop them m-ai the Bealey, Messrs A, Reynolds, Barker and Harris, also of the Mountaineering Club, will go to join the first party. Mith Mr Cochrane and Mr Wilson and party from Otira already out, it should be possible to search the rugged country about the Harman Pass fairly effectively. A strong westerly is blowing high up to-day 'and the divide between Canterbury and the West Coast js packed up with clouds. It is quite probable that the clouds are low down on the mountains and on the Harman Pass, where it would be raining or snowMrs Robbins, to whom a reporter broke the news of the occurrence, said that the three teachers had been very enthusiastic over the trip, though her husband had expressed his misgivings, because Smith and Loney did not think a guide was necessary. He had mentioned the possibility of fog, but his companions considered that a guide was not essential. All three men had been to school and the training college together. Robbins went to the West Coast seven and 8-ln) f years ago, where lie taught at the Little Wanganui School. He married while on the West Coast, and Mrs Robtins said that the family came to Christchurch 18 months ago. Smith and Loney were very fond of long walks, and used to tramp hundreds of miles in their vacation*.

AN EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. Every available man at Bealey is engaged in the search. There are also parties from Christchurch, Otira, Springfield, and Arthur’s Pass, hut none is expected to get back till the morning.