LOST IN THE RANGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23110, 9 February 1937, Page 10

LOST IN THE RANGES

YOUNG TRAMPER MISSING

SEARCH PARTIES UNSUCCESSFUL (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. A search was begun at 3 p.m. to-day by Hie Otaki police, assisted by district residents, for a young man, Elmo Bartosh, of 12 Buckley street. Lower Hutt, who is missing ■in the ranges. Bartosh was one of a party of three trampers who left Otaki Forks on Saturday. He had not been found by 9 o’clock to-night, and additional search parties will leave Wellington to-morrow morning.

A SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE

MISSING YOUTH’S MOVEMENTS (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. Accompanied by Messrs Marsden. Baker, and Giddings, Bartosh left the Forks in the afternoon and camped that night at the head of the Waitewaiwai Saddle. About 8 a.m. on Sunday Bartosh told his companions he was going down to the Waitatapia River to ,take photographs, and left the camp with his camera. Deciding after his departure that it was too risky for a man to be alone in such country, Bartosh’s friends followed him, but lost his tracks a few hundred yards from the camp site. Until late in the afternoon they waited for him at the junction of the Waitewaiwai River and Saddle Creek. Then in the evening one of them walked to Otaki Forks and sent word to Bartosh’s relatives. This morning heavy rain was falling with poor visibility, but at daylight Baker began a search that continued without success until 2 p.m. At 3 p.m. Mr William Chaney an experienced bushman, and his son, Mr

“Beau” Chaney, notored to Corrigan’s Mills at Otaki Forks, a distance of about 15 miles. At this point the waters of the Otaki. Waitatapia, and Waio taura Rivers merge. The journey from the Forks to the spot where Bartosh was missed is believed to be about three hours and a-half, easy going. The searchers will have had to cross the river by means of an aerial wire which has replaced the swing bridge swept away in the recent floods. They are equipped for a four days’ search, and have been instructed to leave detailed accounts of their progress at various points on the route to be covered.

The Tararua Tramping Club is also sending a party, which will leave Wellington at daybreak to-morrow. Another party will leave the city at 9 a.m. The Wellington parties hope to meet the Otaki searchers on the route. Chaney and his son are camping to-night two miles from the Fo r ks in the direction of the Tararuas. Bartosh was wearing shorts, a woollen jersey, and a short coat. He had neither food, a raincoat, nor a map, but carried a compass.