TRAMPERS SAFE

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1933, Page 6

TRAMPERS SAFE

MISSING PARTY RESCUED FOUND COMING DOWN VALLEY HELD UP BY FLOODED RIVER FOOD SUPPLY VERY SHORT HAD ONLY TEA ON LAST DAY By Telegraph—Press Association. Carterton, Last Night. The four tampers in the Tararuas, who had been missing since they left the Te Matawai hut on Easter Sunday - to cross the ranges, were discovered tramping down the Waiohine Gorge this mornig. They are Miss M. Williams, Wanganui, Dr. W. B. Sutch, Fzlmerston Northland Messrs. E. Hill, Aokautere and. A. H. O’Keefe, Wellington’. Mr. O’Keefe had. suffered an injury to the head and was looking very sick, but the other three were well.

News was received at Carterton this afternoon that a party of pig hunters led by Mr. Walter Smith, Woodside, who were tramping up the Waiohine Gorge this morning met the lost tramping party coming down. They were well but were weak. About the same time a party belonging to the Carterton Tramping Club, mostly of girls, which was “hiking” up the valley on the other side of the rivet from Mr. Smith and his party got the four lost trampers over a ’ cradle bridge across the river to the northern side, where they, joined up with the Carterton tramping party. This party had plenty of food and rendered all the aid that was possible. . . The whole party then went down to the residence of Mr. Compton,, where they were further cared for. Mr. Hector Bassett, son of Mr. R. Bassett, Woodside, was in the gorge when the two parties joined and took a message , announcing the discovery of the missing trampers to his.father at Woodside. Mr., Bassett, senior, telephoned Constable Robinson, Carterton, who reported the matter to Sergeant Dyer, Masterton. MAKING OWN WAY OUT. The lost party were evidently making their own way out. They had been camped on Totara Flat and it took them two days to get from there to the spot where they made' contact with Mr. Smith’s party. They saw an aeroplane on Thursday but could not attract at--tention. With the Carterton trampers there was a trained nurse who could render any assistance required. . '.The party arrived at the Carterton police station about 4.30 o’clock. Mr. O’Keefe had his head bound up and looked a very sick man. Miss Williams was cheerful, but thoroughly worn out and very pale. ' Mr. Hill was fairly well and Dr. Sutch was in good form. All were cheerful in spite of their terrible experiences. ■ When they started from Levin in beautiful weather and moonlight they got within three hours’ walk of Mount Holdsworth. At the Pinnacles they met a violent gale and Mr. O’Keefe was blown over, falling 40 feet on to rocks. Mr. O’Keefe was injured in the head and arm and rendered unconscious, while Mr. Hill was bruised and dazed. The others of the party pulled Mr. O’Keefe to the top with great difficulty and the party camped for the night. . . It was then snowing and was misty and windy. The trampers ,decided that next morning they would go back and make for Otaki but they found it impossible and camped again. They tramped along Mount Holdsworth and down to the head waters of the Waiohine, which they followed down till they reached Totara Flat, where they were stuck, as the river was in flood and .they could not cross it.

AU were soaking wet, as it was raining heavily all the time and it was difficult to make fires, though they had plenty of matches. A gale was blowing nearly all the time and Miss Williams was at one point blown clean off her feet. . REDUCED TO SPOONFUL OF JAM. Food was reduced to a spoonful of jam each and some dried milk per day. Only tea was left on the last day. They started to ration food on the second day out. . ‘... - .<J

The Carterton Tramping Club members were not looking for the missing party and were much surprised to see them. Both parties hailed each other and a Carterton tramper called out, “Are you the lost trampers?” The reply was “Yes.”

The missing trampers were making for the cradle bridge over the Waiohine River. The Carterton trampers were'the first to see them, Mr. Smith and his party joining up later. The Carterton v chib members gave the; famished trampers orange drinks, eggs and milk, warm tea and sandwiches.. .. . , Two members of the club then hastened, to Mr. Compton's with the news. Mr. Compton rode to meet the party and three of them—Miss Williams. Mr. O’Keefe and Dr. Sutch—were mounted on the horse and taken to Mr. Compton’s house. Mr. Hill walked about two miles.

Mr. Compton speedily gave them a hot meal and they changed their clothing. From Mr. Compton’s Mr. Ticehixrst, Matarawa, brought them to the police station at Carterton in his car.

A great crowd assembled met' the trampers and on the departure of three of them to Masterton they were warmly cheered. O’Keefe decided to return to Wellington at once, having received an - offer to take him there.

The trampers left Levin on Good Friday on the first stage of tire journey to the Mount Holdsworth mountain house, staying for the first night at Te Matawai hunt, about five hours from the starting' point. There they met other trampers, who reported that the party the hut at 4 a.m. on Saturday on the second stage of their trip. Since then they had not been heard of. The party intended to cross the Tararuas to Mount Holdsworth, leaving a supply of food for a future tramp at a cache near Mount Girdlestone, some distance along the route, and then to return to Levin. Altogether they would ’have a little over a week’s short rations. The route between Te Matawai hut and Mount Holdsworth hut is about 25 miles, or 14 hours’ walking. The country is mostly open, with a number of ridges to be crossed, but its greatest hindrance to trampers is the prevalence of mist on the heights. It was not definitely known whether any of the four had ever done the same trip before.

Other trampers stayed at the mountain house on the Saturday, leaving on the Sunday morning. The missing party should have been there by Saturday evening. From the hut it is only about an hour’s walk to a road leading to Masterton. 1 ' '

Conditions in the Tararuas were very unfavourable for over a week while the party was still missing, and the peaks on the Wairarapa side were not clear. Heavy rain fell for days, and very heavy wind was experienced. Under such conditions a traverse of the range by way of the route attempted by the missing party called for experience and stamina.