TERRIBLE DEATHS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 72, 20 January 1930, Page 5

TERRIBLE DEATHS

FOUR WOMEN 10 ACTiNS-GUiDE LOSE LIVES BLIZZARD conns Hl’ WITHOUT WARNING

BODIES FOUND HUDDLEp TOGETHER ON ICE FACE

ANOTHER GUIDE MAKES DESPERATE TRIP FOR HELP.

TRAGEDY ON TASMAN GLACIER

Prw>» Association —Copyright. TIM Alt U, Tiiis 'Day. in a desolate region of ice and snow high up on tiie Tasman Glacier, lour miles \ from Malle Trim Hut, a party Irom the Hermitage was overwhelmed yesterday afternoon by a terrible blizzard widen sprang, up with tragic suddenness. Four women and a young man are dead. At noon to-day their bodies had not been brought in, the severity of the weather making it impossible to send a search party from Ball Hut. It is believed that a party of four ladies in charge of Acting-Guide h. Bloomfield, had left the, Malte Brun Hut on their return journey' to the Ball Hut which is 20 miles from the Hermitage, when they were caught in a blizzard at De hi Becho comer. They were unable to make any progress against the fury of the elements and all perished, the bodies being found huddled together on the exposed f ;l( ' e Pf the glacier. Those who perished in the storm are; MISS MONTEITH, of Christchurch. MISS KEANE, of Christchurch. MISS HERBERT BROWN of Rangb ora. ...

MISS SMITH, of Auckland. Actings Guide t. (Teddy) BLOOM.field. ' The Christian names of the ladies Tvere not known at the Timani office of the Mount Cook Tourist Company. HAG INC BLIZZARD. According to. Information received by the Mount Cook Company, the unfortunate party left the Haiti P,run Hut in good weather, hut had only progressed three or four miles when they were caught in a raging blizzard. ft was impossible to continue the journey as the visibility was limited to a few feet. There was no place where the party could find shelter, and apparently they hudled together on the ice where they were subsequently found hy Acting-Guide C. Hildrendoff who had remained I,eland at Malti Brim Hutt to clear up and put things in order for the next party.

'He went out to catch up on the party but was driven back to the shelter of the hut hy a blizzard which suddenly swept the Tasman Glacier region. ! (

•When the storm which was accompanied hy vivid and spectacular lightning flashes and peals of heavy thunder had abated somewhat, Guide Hildroi),doff set out with all haste in search of the stricken party .

\ His mission was destined to be a fateful one for the four ladies and the Guide had succumbed to the. fury of the elements. When Guide Hildrendorf reached the little party all were dead. , w in spile of the terrible conditions that prevailed, Guide Ulltlreudorf did not spare himself in bis dash to Ball Hut, and on his arrival there lie was “all in” i but was able In give news of thfj

tragedy. Word was immediately conveyed to the hermitage and a rescue party was despatched to the Ball Hut but it was not possible to recover the bodies last evening on account of the terrible weather conditions m the Alps. This morning there was practicalhy no improvement in the weather. ■ The unfortunate happening has caused widespread regret and it was the one topic of conversation *u. (Tiraaru this morning. Acting-Guide Blomlield is well known in Dunedin, being a student at Otago University. Alpim.e climbing was his one recreation and he was a regular climber at the hermitage. During the Summer vacation he was usually employed as an acting guide.