SPIRIT OF THE SEARCHERS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1934, Page 9

SPIRIT OF THE SEARCHERS

SUDDEN TRANSFORMATION EXPERT AND NOVICE WORK WELL. LONG TRUDGE THROUGH BUSH. TRAGEDY AT THE CONCLUSION. The response to the call for searchers was magnificent. At one stage there were 80 men scattered about the thickly-wood-ed mountain slopes. There was the hardened bushman to whom the highest and steepest grade provided no obstacle, the efficiently equipped mountaineer, and lastly but by no means last the novice, to whom the hardships and dangers of such an expedition were unknown. However tragic may be the circumstances such excursions, relying entirely upon co-operation for a successful termination, inevitably produce that spirit of fellowship and earnestness of purpose that reflects the best in man.

Daylight was breaking on the horizon when the first steps were taken to commence the search. Cheerfully and hopefully the party of dark figures, aided by electric torches, tramped through mud and slush en route for Burrow’s Camp. There the bushmen held decided opinions as to the proper procedure and many of the the men were satisfied to let the experts decide the deal. At last came the order to advance. The party made good progress over the easy stages. However, the pace began to tell. Steadily and solidly the novices stuck to their task. After a series of stops to enable the tail-enders to make up lost ground it was agreed to send the bushmen on ahead. SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE. Led by a bushman of wide experience the main party tramped mile after mile. A halt was made for a snaqk at 10 a.m. Share and share alike was the policy, and everyone was greatly refreshed. Excitement ran high when the signal that the plane had been discovered was reWeary legs, bruised bones and minor complaints were forgotten in the brisk dash for the locality. Full of hope they rushed for the scene hoping against hope that all was well. What a transformation! All hope crushed, the men grimly set about conveying the unfortunate victims to the open country. With grim determination each man, novice and expert, shoulder to shoulder, took his part in the sad procession. For four long hours they trudged footweary and tired, but not one word of complaint was heard. Willing hands were always prepared to do their bit. Tragedy alone can produce that fine spirit of comradeship and determination. A party was organised to go up Mangorei Road, and three cars left New Plymouth at 10.30 a.m. with about 15 searchers, including four pupils from the New Plymouth Boys’ High School. The cars could go no further than about three miles below the radius line, and the party then tramped on to Wood’s hut, a private hut just outside the radius line. This was made the headquarters of the party, which was led by Mr. King, chief 'draughtsman of the Lands and Survey Department, and included Dr. J. S. Church. This party was not among those who found the wrecked machine, but it searched assiduously the area above the Mangorei Hut. Before the party divided for the search a tally was taken of the names and probable direction of each member, and checked again later. It was then found that one of the boys, W. Geddes, was missing, and some of the party remained to search for him. Word was received' at New Plymouth from Mr. J. D. Pearce, Mangorei Road, at about 9.30 o’clock last night that he was safely back with the party again, and the searchers then began the homeward tramp' at about 9.45, and returned to New Plymouth by car late last night. ANOTHER BRANCH OF SEARCH.

Members of the Taranaki Alpine Club and the New Plymouth Aero Club drove to the top of Kent Road, where, augmented by Korito and Kent Road residents, a search was commenced in that part of the country. After discussion it was agreed the party should divide, Mr. J. Lehrke conducting a search of the Kent Road track and Mr. J. Hine leading a party up a spur which converged on the track at a higher level. When the parties rejoined forces tramping was continued up to about 4500 feet. There an object in the Waiwakaiho Gorge attracted the attention of the party and it was decided to make in that direction. There was no track-and the going was particularly hard until Mr. Burrow’s trap line was reached. The party followed the track down until some of those who had discovered the plane were communicated with. The party continued in the direction of the wreckage and met the successful searchers returning to the Burrows’ camp.

Meanwhile Mr. Waterson and four others went to the top of the ranges and crossed over to a peak that lay in the direction of the mountain. From this vantage point the smoke signals were seen, and the trampers set out to join the main party. RADIO EMERGENCY CORPS FIRST CALL SUCCESSFUL - THREE STATIONS AT WORK An unassuming but none-the-less useful part in the day's search and rescue work was played by the Taranaki section of the Radio Emergency Corps. Operating with three stations, one at Wood’s Hut, a second at the North Egmont mountain house and the other at New Plymouth, the service kept the three places in constant communication and posted with the latest reports. The outpost station, comprising Messrs. J. Girling and C. Ambury, left New Plymouth at 10.30 a.m. yesterday with a party headed by Mr. King, chief draughtsman of the Lands and Survey Department, and established an output at Wood’s Hut beside the radius line in front of the Pouakai Ranges. From there they established communication with Mr. P. W. Ward, whose station was at the mountain house, and with Messrs. P. Fairbrother and S. Huggard at New Plymouth. After 10 hours’ of continuous duty the two outposts packed up at about 10 o’clock last night. The Mangorei Road party then had to face a tramp over the roughest of bush tracks for about three miles through mud and rain to the waiting cars, which could climb no further, and returned to New Plymouth at a late hour last night. The work of the radio corps was particularly interesting in that while several “dress rehearsals” had been arranged, this was the first occasion that it had been called on in the district.