MOUNTAIN DRAMA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23223, 22 June 1937, Page 18

MOUNTAIN DRAMA

SLIP OVER CLIFF STUDENT'S FALL TO DEATH When investigating the death of a young undergraduate which it was shown had inadvertently been brought about by “ leg-pulling,” the deputy coroner, at Llangmawddy, Merionethshire, Wales, remarked the tragedy should be a warning to all people who cared to risk climbing Welsh mountains in winter when they were covered with snow. The inquest was on John Lindsay Habershon, a Pembroke College, Oxford, undergraduate, of Westway, Adderbury, near Banbury, who slipped over a precipice on Aran Mawddwy Mountain. Merionethshire. Habershon was one of a party of 20 parishioners of St. Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury, and their friends who started off for their annual parish “trot,” or walking expedition. VAIN SEARCH They went to Lake Vyrnwy, and Habershon and others of the group set out to climb the 3000-foot high Aran Mawddwy Mountain. When the party met again in the evening Habershon was missing, and a search party vainly scoured the mountains throughout the night. Later an aeroplane from the Royal Air Force station at Temhill joined in the search. Giving evidence, the Rev. Gerald Harcombe, of St. Mary’s Church. Shrewsbury, one of the parly of 25 from the church, stated he cancelled the original arrangements to climb across Aran Mawddwy to Bala, as he did not consider it safe owing to the snow on the mountainside. He put up a notice to this effect, and arranged a short hike instead. The party travelled by bus to Dinas, and during the journey there was some “leg-pulling” that there was no snow »n the mountains. This resulted in it being decided to climb Aran Mavvddwy and proceed to a roadway leading to Lake Vyrinwy. The majority of the party reached the mountain top before the others, and a discussion took place as to the best way to make for the roadway. LOOKING OVER PRECIPICE

Habershon was on the mountain top with therjri, and he (Harcombe) noticed him looking over the precipice. They began to descend before the remaining members arrived, and he was under the impression that Habershon was following.

They were able to got a good grip by digging their heels in the snow, and reached the bottom safely, but found that Habershon was missing. He noticed the remaining members of the party walking along the crest of the mountain, and shouted to them, but, receiving no reply, thought everything was all rigid. The party reached Lake Vyrinwy, and when Habershon failed to appealsearch parties were formed. Describing the finding of the body, William Jones, a farmer, stated there were clear footprints in the snow leading to the edge of the precipice, and marks which showed Haberson had slipped over. Police Constable Griffith Williams said to recover the body local farmers and himself had to be lowered down the cliff face by means of ropes. The Rev. J. E. Craven, of Whitchurch. Shropshire, gave evidence that Habershon was his nephew. The deputy coroner, Mr T. R. Jones, returned a verdict of “Accidental death.” He complimented the constable and farmers on their heroic work.