Tragedy on Tasman Glacier

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18478, 21 January 1930, Page 9

Tragedy on Tasman Glacier

party overwhelmed IN BLIZZARD FOUR YOUNG WOMEN AND STUDENT GUIDE PERISH IN STORM. Caught in a blizzard of unprecedented violence, a party of young ladies and a guide perished on Sunday morning while traversing the Tasman Glacier between the Malte Brun and Ball Huts, in the Mount Cook region. The disaster, which is the worst in the Alpine history of New Zealand greviously shocked the whole community, but the blackness of the staggering tragedy is softened by the gallant work of the guides. Up till a late hour last night, the bodies of the victims had not been recovered, as the violence of the Alpine storms had defeated all attempts to traverse the glacier region.

LOST IN BLIZZARD. NEWS SHOCKS COMMUNITY. From the Hermitage in the heart 1 of the Mt. Cook regions, the staggering news came to Timaru yesterday morning, that a terrible tragedy had taken place on the Tasman Glacier, about half-way between the Malte Brun Hut and the Ball Hut, resulting in the loss of four young, women visitors and one young guide. With the information also, came the story of how the party had been suddenly overcome by a very severe electrical storm on Sunday morning, when returning from the Malte Brun Hut to the Ball Hut, and of how the young guide had done all that was humanly possible to save the young women in his charge. He had divested himself practically of all his warm clothes to provide the young women with warm covering, and when conditions were blackest, had set out for assistance, only to fall a victim to the intense cold. | When found, the young guide was clad only in the scantiest of clothing. Early Rumours Substantiated. The first information of the tragedy though very meagre, was received in Timaru on Sunday evening, but at that j time facts of the terrible happening were not available. It was known, however, that on Sunday, the Hermitage region was in the throes of a violent electrical disturbance, but because telephone communication was interrupted, j no information could be obtained as to j the plight of a party whom fate had led into one of the worst electrical 1 storms experienced for many years, if not the worst ever experienced. News Shocks Community. Yesterday morning, however, Timaru, and New Zealand in general, were shocked to learn of the awful tragedy which had taken place on the icy surface of the Tasman Glacier. Huddled together lay the bodies of four young women, while a little distance away lay the body of a young man, who had died in an unsuccessful attempt to bring assistance. It was a cruel blow to a < party which, two days previously, had set out from the Hermitage, in the highest of spirits, tc enjoy a tramp through thrilling mountain country which has been enjoyed by thousands. THOSE WHO PERISHED. The names of those 'who perished are:— MISS HELENA KEANE, aged 23, daughter of Mrs I. Keane, 239 Selwyn Street, Christchurch. MISS DORIS HERBERT-BROWN, daughter of the late Mr HerbertBrown, and Mrs Brown, Mount Thomas, Rangiora. MISS MARY MONTEATH, aged 20, daughter of Mr J. Monteath, Poynder Avenue, Fendalton. MISS D. SMITH, of Auckland. GUIDE E. (“TEDDY”) BLOMFIELD, aged 20, a Dunedin medical student, who spent his holidays acting as a guide at Mount Cook. Miss Keane was spending the last day of her fortnight’s holiday at the Hermitage. She was employed on the staff of Mr W. Williamson, the well-known Christchurch builder and contractor. Miss Monteath was a well-known amateur pianist in Christchurch, and was a member of the Aeolian Club. Miss Brown was a niece of Mr Guy Mannering, one of the best-known of New Zealand Alpinists. Her uncle played a big part in the development of the Mount Cook area, and his preliminary work enabled the peak to be climbed. In the early attempts to climb Mount Cook, Mr Mannering was to the front, making several attempts from 1886 to 1890. The attempt on December 6, 1890, brought the summit within about 200 feet. The “New Zealand Alpine Journal” of 1908, states

how during an ascent by Mr T. Fyfe, a guide stationed at the Hermitage with G. Graham and Jack Clark their tent collapsed under j a fallen snow break-wind during I the night. The tent was abandoned next morning, and later covered with snow. It is a coincidence that, after lying buried for eighteen years, moving down with the glacier ice, it was found in March 1913 by Mrs Mannering. The tent had been carried to a point about 4000 feet lower than that at which it had been abandoned. “Teddy” Blomfield was a son of thr late Dr E. E. Blomfield and his mother, who is a daughter of Sir John Sinclair, is now Mrs Dr McKellar of Dunedin. Blomfield was born in Dunedin and was educated at John McGlashan College. He was afterwards a student at the Medical School at Otago University, where he passed his second year examination. A keen alpinist, Blomfield spent all his vacations at Mt. Cook where he acted as guide. Lightning Theory Advanced. The theory that the unfortunate party was struck by lightning, has been advanced by Guide Hilgendorf, who has now almost completely recovered from the effects of his terrible experience. In view of the unusually severe nature of the electrical disturbance, and in view also of the comparatively short time in which the party was exposed, and this theory is being widely discussed. Guide Hilgendorf’s exhausted condition, caused some concern at the Hermitage on Sunday night, but he improved quickly yesterday, however, and will join in the relief party this morning. The Inquest. | The inquest on the victims of the i tragedy will take place at the Hermitage, but owing to the continuance of bad weather, hampering the relief work, the hour has not yet been fixed. CHRISTCHURCH SHOCKED BY TRAGEDY. YOUNG PEOPLE WELL-KNOWN IN THE CITY. . j (Special to the “Herald.”) CHRISTCHURCH, January 20. Three of the young ladies who perished on the Tasman Glacier had a wide circle of friends in Christchurch, and the tragedy has caused widespread regret. “Teddy” Blomfield was also known to many Christchurch people who have visited the Hermitage in the past few years, and his untimely death is greatly deplored. Miss Doris Herbert-Brown, elder daughter of the late Mr Herbert-Brown and Mrs Brown, of Mount Thomas, Rangiora, and Miss Mary Monteath, younger daughter of Mr J. R. Monteath, a master at Christ’s College, left Christchurch together for the Hermitage. Miss Brown had had considerable experience of alpine climbing, having made a very difficult climb on Mount Cook about six years ago, but Miss Monteath had not done any alpine climbing previously. Miss Monteath was only 20 years of age, and wa sta talented pianiste. From 1919 to 1924 she attended Rangi Ruru private school, where her quiet nature and fine personality made her many friends at school. She showed considerable musical ability. Later she continued her musical studies and became a member of the Aeolian Club.

Miss Helena Keane was 24 years of age, and the daughter of Mrs J. Keane, of Christchurch. She was a clerk in the employ of W. Williamson, builder and contractor, a position she had held for the past eight years. She was a particularly efficient worker and had an excellent career at school. She was to have returned to Christchurch today after spending a fortnight at Mount Cook, but the trip to the Malte Brun was the first occasion on which she had done any alpine climbing. Mr Williamson left Christchurch for the Hermitage with Mrs Keane this afternoon.