LOST IN THE SNOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 5

LOST IN THE SNOW

ONE MAN PERISHES COMPANION RESCUED. ' Tragedy recently overtook two men, each aged more than fiO years, who Vera missing in'the snow pno;the Mount Monda track/. below. .Fernshaw, Victoria, with little food,, little clothing and no Shelter. *, One of the men, , Artdrew;;Robert Robertson, aged 64* /retired hfjjdet, of Healesville, died at nboh .on . v suhday, Adgust 19. Just a search party callingih.the distance. His companion,' Harry Alhett Oatdwell, of Caulfield, Was fou nd.-Tlle .(same afternoon, in dense forest ; an;di .snpw.f After he had been revived,, he.said, have coma top' late. Thefc is dnlyAnfe of us left. Hoor old fibhby is g6nei*’ The two men get out oil the Friday morning to walk over, the Mount Monda track, travelling by. service ear. to the point where tile track leaves the road. They Were seasoned walkers'and little anxiety was felt when they aid not return on Friday night. On Saturday mornihg a Search party was formed. The police also formed a search party* but, although both' partied searched Until darkness fell on Saturday night, they found no trace of the missing men.' The search was continued before dawtt on Sunday morning, and, > because of a report that a smoke signal had been seen from the direction of the mountain, an aeroplane from the Essendoh’ aerodrome was sent out, but the search was fruitless.

Several miles from the track, in dense forest and snow, the search party received a weak reply to their calls. The party followed the sound and discovered Cardwell. He was in a pitiable condition, and was so weak that he could tell the party little of what had occurred, except that the two had missed the track and had wandered in the scrub, seeking desperately for a track that would lead them home. Mr Robertson Is said to have known the Mount Monda track " like the palm of his hand.” The track is dot well defined in parts, and many walking parties have been lost temporarily Upon it.