ALPINE TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22809, 19 February 1936, Page 4

ALPINE TRAGEDY

DEATH OF YOUNG MAN EVIDENCE AT INQUEST The inquest into the death of Archibald John Dobbie, aged 25 years, of Louisa street, Invercargill, who was killed through falling down Mount Belle, in the Hollyford district, on January 26, was concluded in Dunedin yesterday before the coroner (Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., of Invercargill), and after hearing further evidence concerning the fatality by two Dunedin members of the party, the coroner delivered a verdict of accidental death.

Sergeant O'Hara watched the proceedings for the police and Mr P. C. Dawson appeared for two witnesses, E. 0. Dawson and John Borne, who were accompanying Dobbie at the time of the mishap. Edward Owen Dawson, a medical student at the University of Otago, said that, accompanied by John Borrie, he visited a hut in the Homer Valley on January 25, and there met Dobbie. It was arranged that the three of them should climb Mount Belle, a peak of approximately COOO feet, the next day. Before leaving Dobbie explained that he had not done any climbing for about three years, and was not in the best of trim. Witness took the lead at the start of the climb, and he was followed by Borrie, Dobbie, at his own request, being last. The three climbers were well equipped, and about 12.15 p.m. they started to ascend a slope covered with snowgrass. At approximately 100 feet up, witness heard a rustling behind him. He looked round and saw Dobbie rolling down the face of the slope. He also heard Dobbie call out, and then he disappeared. Witness and Borrie hurried down the mountainside, and about 30ft lower down they found Dobbie's ice axe wedged tightly in the snow grass. On reaching the road Borrie reported the mishap to Mr Smith, Public Works tunnel overseer. Witness added that the fact that Dobbie's ice axe was found about 30ft below the spot where ho slipped suggested that he had used it in an attempt to break his fall, but owing to the sling breaking it prove useless. To Mr Dawson, witness said that Mount Belle was not considered a difficult climb. He was of the opinion that Borrie's handhold gave way or his hand became cramped, causing him to fall. Witness added that it was not usual to use a rope on such a slope. A snowgrass slope such as this one, said witness, was very slippery and if anyone fell he would gain momentum very quickly. John Borrie, a medical student, and the third member of the party, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. He added that on the way up the slope Dobbie had mentioned to him that his hands were feeling the strain. After reporting the accident at 4.30 p.m., witness viewed the body of a man found by road workers, and identified it as that of Dobbie. John William Aitken, a vice-president of the New Zealand Alpine Club, of which Dobbie was a member, said he had had about 20 years' experience in mountaineering; and he knew the Hollyford district quite well. He considered that the members of the party were well equipped for the climb. , t The coroner returned a verdict that the deceased had accidentally met his death through slipping and falling while climbing a precipitous slope on Mount Belle.