MOUNT EGMONT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144051, 22 March 1913, Page 5

MOUNT EGMONT.

THE LATE FATALITY. REMARKS BY MR. RYAN. 'Writing from Tolga, via Cairns, N. Queensland, under date February -c, Mr. T. It. llyan says: — . “It is with regret that I read in the Budget tho sad fatality on Mount Egmont. I have read both Mr. Colhs and Mr. Ross’ letters on the matter and uphold the same, barring Mr. Ross statement that Egmonfc is more dangorous than tho Southern Alps. Mr. Oollis suggests a wire leading from the crater. That is a good idea, if nothing should sweep it away, as is liable to occur at any moment, and I emphatically say no person not used to Alpine climbing has any right to attempt climbing Kgmont without a guide, no matter how bright and clear the morning looks, and I can say without the least hesitation tlidt both Mr. Morns and Mr. Hurrv Peters will endorse the above, and 1 claim that we three should be tho best judges as far as this side of the mountain is concerned. It was Mr. Peters who chilled into my head the clangors of Kgmont without a guide, and no hotter instructor could I have had, as 1 found out when X had learned the mountain that ho knew like a hook.

“If anything occurs on tho mountain the blame is cither put on to the manager or tho committee without any justification whatever, because warnings often given are merely laughed at. For instance, during my management a parly of four arrived at the house, two ladies ami two men. At the time nf their arrival it was raining in torrents. and continued so until C or 7 the next morning, when it eased off and a very heavy fog enveloped the mountain, Tho gentlemen asked me was it advisable to rljmh and I tolci them it was impossible, and gave the usual advice, hut nevertheless tliey-said they would stroll about in tho hope ot tho mist lifting, and away’ they went. This was about 8 a.in.

“At 3 p.m. they had not returned, and the mist hadn’t lifted, so I gave them an hour’s grace and then started oil alter them. On the moss Ikio I came on to one of the gentlemen lying down, resigned to his late. On asking him where tho others were, ho replied “Tp there.” Any further inlormatiou was nor to he obtained. Tho man was simplv gone, and could do nothing for himself, so I half dragged and carried him to a nest of rocks, gave him a god nip of spirits, and set off to find t:ie others. Tho other three 1 found tothj right of the Lizard, and I look upon it as a miracle. A strong westerly was blowing, and as I was crossing tho tail of the Lizard the wind blow a lady’s hair pad on to my face: Turning in the direction from whence 1 knew it must have com© I searched until it was just dark, when I found the three of them in a really pitiable state, tho ladies with their hair blowing all over their faces, and all three with a look of utter despair. I must have passed very close to them at different times calling out, but got no reply and the mist was too dense to see an' object unless you walked right on to it.

“I will never forget the agony those people suffered on the descent. On getting tho four of them to tho scrub X left the men and brought the ladies on to tho house, where Mrs. Ryan cared for them. On returning for the men I found them gone, but after a little trouble found them in tho bush. It appears that after my leaving them they tried to follow the light of my hurricane lamp and got bushed. I got them safely back to the house and fixed up, and then turned in for a good night’s rest. I learned from ‘the ladies that they started off with the intention of going to the top, ignoring my warning to them. “That is only one of many foolish plights people get into. 1 kept the above incident dark on account of the ladies, but not on the men’s account. In conclusion I must say that the committee and manager have always done their best to safeguard tho public, and if asked if Egmont is u dangerous mountain to climb I will always maintain it is dangerous and it is not dangerous, moaning, dangerous without a guide, and safe with a guide,”