LOST IN THE SNOW.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1735, 10 May 1888, Page 3

LOST IN THE SNOW.

Mr A. 0. Brooks, deputy coroner for the Hundred of High Peak, Derbyshire, held an inquest at Ashopton Inn, twelve miles, from Sheffield, the other day, on the body of William Walker, aged 17, son of Mr Mark Walker, farmer, of Ridinghouse Park, in the parish of Derwent. The circumstances of his death are very sad. Only three witnesses were examined—the father, and brother of deceased. The evidence showed that on February 27, two of Mr. Talker’s, sons, William, aged 17, and Frank, aged 13, left home between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, to look alter the sheep on the moors. The lads took with them two collie dogs, Nell and Dot, and they were seen going in the direction of Winstone Lee Tor. On the way the lads met their father, who said they had better put their coats on, and.they took his advice. Some three hours "later the dogs returned home alone, and appeared to be very restless and peculiar in theirmanner. The father and mother then set out to find the, lads. The dog* went along and kept “ waffling ” (as the people calL it) eager in their desire to get on. After going a considerable distance Mrs Walker noticed a dog’s footprints, but noticed .no bootmarks in the snow, The dogs, especially the old one, appeared to « settle ” near a mass of fallen snow, which had slid over from Winstone Lee Tor. The snow had evidently drifted to the edge of the cliff, and subsequently slipped over in a huge mass, weighing many tons and the path under the face of the tor was buried. Mrs Walker soon discovered a foot aud ankle projecting from the snow, and raised the alarm, recognising that it was the feot of her youngest son, Frank. Her husband who was some distance away, came with all possible speed, the mother, meanwhile, working at the snow to save her boy, who was head downwards and must have been there three or four hours. A fierce wind was blow ing at the time, and the snow was whirling about n clouds. She in a short time rescued her son, but the body was stiff and cold, and the face blue and discolored, The mother used every effort to restore animation. Partially succeeding, she at once asked, « Oh, Frank, where is Willie?” and he answered, “He was here last night,’ evidently being under the impression that he had been there all night. As the search was being continued, the husband observed the old dog “ Nell ” again scratching and •‘waffling,” and he went up to the.animal, who barked impatiently. On reaching the place indicated by the dog be noticed the feet of the other son, Willie, projecting through the face of the solid mass of snow, which was at that spot several feet deep. This body was buried deeply, the snow being firmly wedged, and the body “ jammed ” in so closely that it could not be extricated until a ■hovel was obtained and the snow cut. It was found that the body was face downwards, in a slanting position, over four feet of show being on the head. After hard work the body was got out. It was evident that life had been extinct for a considerable time. "Prom the statement of Frank Walker, who was with his brother, it seems that the. two boys, after attending to the sheep went to look at the snow on Winstone Lee Tor. W hile they were looking they observed the snow slipping down upon them, and ran to get out of the way, hut both were overtaken by the hugh mass and buried. The jury returned a veidict of “ Accidental death,” and expressed their sympathy with the parents.