THE ALPINE TRAGEDY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 23 March 1927, Page 8

THE ALPINE TRAGEDY.

DEATH OF AIRS CONDON,

Further .particulars concerning the death of Mrs John CondoO, in the Hooker Valley, show that the party, of which Airs Condon Was one, fet out from AVailio to cross the Copland Pass to tho Mount Cook Hermitage. 'Hie party consisted of Atr find Albs John Condon, and a young man named Addison, while Air Bannister, of Biiice Bay (below Waiho) was guide. For a time all wont well, aiid the party negotiated t>j Pass safely, v They were half way down tl’.W Hooker Valley when Airs Condon slipped and fell. To all appearance Mrs Colldon was not injured by the fall, blit spoil afterwards Hie showed signs of weakness, and found it difficult to proceed. When she realised how lar she Was from a resting place the knowledge appeared to affect her, aiid to the dismay of the other members of the party, she collapsed. After that it took the travellers about four hours to descend 200 feet down the valley. it was decided that the party should go for clothing and blankets, pushing on to the Hooker Hut. Airs Colidon was placed ill the shelter of a large rock, and made as comfortable as possible, while the others left on their urgent expedition. When they got back it was about ten o’clock at night, and the nil fortunate lady W» s still in a very collapsed condition. Efforts were made to restore warinth and animation, but shortly afterwards she died in her husband’s arms. Air Bannister then made a joUrhe.V to the Hermitage, where he arrived at eight o’clock on Saturday morfiiug. A relic'' nart.v was organised by Air Clark (the manager), and oet out for the scene of the tragedy. The body was conveyed on a stretcher over a distance of twelve miles to the Hermitage. Airs Coiulon was the Wife of Air John Condon, a well-known settlor Of South "Westland. She leaves A. family of three sons and three daughters.

IN BUNDING BLIZZARD. AIR CONDON’S STORY. Air and Airs Condon, accompanied by Air Leslie Addison a schoolmaster at Bduce Bav, 130 miles south of Hokitika and Air Geo. Benmster, road man at ’Bruce Bay, who acted as a guide, set out from Waiho to cross the Copland Pass to the hermitage. Bannister was a guide at the Hermitage until about three or four years ago, ago. knows the country well. All wei|t well with the party until they reached, witliin about a mile of Hooxer Hiu, when a terrible blizzard came up. Affected bv tho intense cold and blinah,<r snow, Airs Condon became exhausted, and was unable to progress. On the advice of Bannister, it was decided that Air and Airs Condon should take refuge in the shelter ot a rode, while he and Addison went lot blankets and assistance. the sbeltei of the rock was reached at about halt past six o’e’oek on I riday eiemtog. Airs Condon, who was 55 years Oi age, rod had not done any Alpine climbing previously, was made as <"oniton able as possible, but was , through. She had no heavy clothing. Bannister and Addison then set out through the blizzard to the Copeland Hunt, which was only about a nine away, in order to get blankets. lhey were unable to make good progress, and it was not until scv.era* hours later that they returned. The untorunate ladv was their st ill alive, but 'ei weak, baving suffered terribly as . a result' of exposure to cold tor neatly two hours. Efforts wore made to restore warmth ancl animation, but without success. . . .. Bannister then made a journey to the Helrmitage, about Seveu mites from the scene of the tragedy, wnerehe arrived at eight o c'oek on Saturday morning. A relief party was organised bv Air Clark (manager), consisting of tlie head guide (Clem AVilhamS), and other guides. The relief party reached Condon about two o cMek oti Saturday afternoon. Airs Condon s bedv was conveyed on a stretcher to the' Hermitage the sad Jouiney being completed about six o clock- that 6 The'body was brought to Timaru oa Sunday and was taken to Christchurch on Monday. Yesterday morning it was taken to the West Coast for burial at Hokitika. .... Mr Condort states that it was tlie first time he and his wife had set out. for the Hermitage, and neither haa nnv previous experience ot A.p.ue climbing, except many years ago, when tliev did a little clitubrt'i on a mounm near their farm. Bannister knew the country thoroughly, and they would have got through to the Hermitage safely if they had not . been, caught in tho blizzard. The blizzard came up when they were only about a rude from the Hooker Hut, but it was quite impassable to get there wittt “Wo wore too far down this side to turn back,” said Air Condon, ‘and there was a big ridge-between us alia the hut. Aly wife really perished with cold Silo was so weak that she collapsed. It was quite impossible for us to cany her to tho hut through the blizzard, oven though it was dnty a mile away. When we readied the shelter of the rock it was still bitterly cold. There was no means of getting warm. Our clothes were wet through, and there was no wood or anything with which to light a fire. Me also had very little food, and no heavy clothes. AVlien Bannister and Addison returned with blankets we made every effort to restore AHs Condon, and though we rubbed her continunily for about two hours, wo cou d not* bring her round.” . Air Condon suffered no ill effects himself, as a result of his experiences, although he remained at the rock froilhalfpast six o’clock on Friday owning until two o’clock on Saturday aitwnoon, when he sot out for the Hermitage.