FIVE KILLED IN MT. COOK TRAGEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18972, 20 January 1930, Page 9

FIVE KILLED IN MT. COOK TRAGEDY.

FOUR WOMEN AND STUDENT GUIDE CAUGHT IN BLIZZARD.

Disaster Overtakes Party Whilst Walking From Malte Brun. The worst alpine disaster in New Zealand occurred on Mount Cook yesterday, when a party of four ladies and a guide were caught in a blizzard between the Malte Brun and Ball Huts, and killed. The dead are: — MISS DORIS HERBERT BROWN, elder daughter of the late Mr Herbert Brown and Mrs Brown, of Mount Thomas, Rangiora. MISS MARY MONTEATH, aged 20, younger daughter of Mr J. K. Monteath, of 23 Poynder Avenue, Fendalton. MISS HELENA KEANE, aged 24, a clerk, employed by W. Williamson, builder and contractor, Christchurch, and residing at 239, Selwyn Street, Sprey don. MISS D. SMITH, Woodhaugh Avenue, Epsom, Auckland. STUDENT GUIDE TEDDY BLOMFIELD, aged 23, of Dunedin, an Otago University student. The party had left the Malte Brun Hut for the purpose of walking to the Ball Hut. As far as could be gathered from the early reports the weather was fine when they set out. The fatal blizzard apparently arose practically without warning and the party was caught far from shelter, and all its members perished. Another guide from the Malte Brun Hut found the bodies, and he pushed on with all speed to the Hermitage with the news. Immediately the entire staff that was available at the Hermitage was organised, and, together with thirteen unemployed who were being given work on the Ball Hutt Road, they set out to recover the bodies. It is expected that the party will get back to the Hermitage to-night. The weather on the mountain today was very bad, and it was anticipated that the rescue party would have a difficult task in bringing in the bodies.

BODIES HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED. WERE FOUND HUDDLED TOGETHER ON GLACIER. Per Press Association. TIMARU, January 20. Amid a desolate region of ice and snow high up on the Tasman Glacier, four miles from the Malte Brun Hut, a party from the Hermitage was overwhelmed yesterday afternoon by a terrible blizzard which sprang up with tragic suddenness. Pour women and a young man are dead. At noon to-day, their bodies had not been recovered, the severity of the weather making it impossible to send a search party from the Ball Hut. It is believed that the party of four ladies, in charge of Acting-Guide E. Blomfield, had left the Malte Brun Hut on the return journey to the Ball Hut, which is twenty miles from the Hermitage, when they were caught in a blizzard at De La Beche Corner. They were unable to make any progress against the fury of the elements and all perished, the bodies being found huddled together on an exposed face of the glacier. According to information received by the Mount Cook Company, the unfortunate party left the Malte Brun Hut in good weather, but had only progressed three or four miles when it was caught in a raging blizzard. It was impossible to continue the journey, as visibility was limited to a few feet. There was no place where the party could find shelter, and apparently they huddled together on the ice, where they were subsequently found by Acting-Guide C. Hilgendorf, who had remained behind at the Malte Brun Hut to clear up and put things in order for the next party. AH Dead. He went out to catch up on the party, but was driven back to the shelter of the hut by the blizzard, which suddenly swept the Tasman Glacier region. When the storm, which was accompanied by vivid and spectacular lightning flashes and peals of heavy thunder, had abated somewhat. Guide Hilgendorf set out with all haste in search of the stricken party. His mission was destined to be a fateful one. for the four ladies and the guide had succumbed to the fury of the elements. When Guide Hilgendorf reached the little party, all were dead. In spite of the terrible conditions that prevailed, Guide Hilgendorf did not spare himself in a dash to the Ball Hut, and on his arrival there he was “all in,” but was able to give the news of the tragedy that had taken place on the white expanse of the Tasman Glacier. Bodies Not Recovered. Word was immediately conveyed to the Hermitage and a rescue party was despatched to the Ball Hut, but it was not possible to recover the bodies last evening on account of the terrible weather conditions in the Alps. This morning there was practically no improvement in the weather. The unfortunate happening has caused widespread regret, and it was the one topic of conversation in Timaru this morning. Acting-Guide Blomfield is well known in Dunedin, being a student at Otago University. Alpine climbing was his one recreation and he was a regular climber at the Hermitage during the summer vacation. He was usually employed as an acting-guide. MISS SMITH S HOME NOT TRACED SO FA R. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, January 20. A Miss Smith booked through the Tourist Office for Mount Cook as from January 10 to January 20. The address was given as Woodhaugh Road, Epsom, but it has not been traced so far.

DEAD GUIDE WAS MEDICAL STUDENT. SPENT HIS VACATIONS AT MOUNT COOK. (Special to the “Star.”) DUNEDIN, January 20. Acting Guide Blomfield was 20 years old. He was a son of the late Dr E. E. Blomfield, and his mother, now the wife of Dr McKellar, is a daughter of Sir John Sinclair. Mr Blomfield was born at Dunedin and was educated at the John McGlashan College, subsequently attending the Medical School at Otago University. He had just passed his second year examination. He was a keen alpinist and spent all his vacations at Mount Cook, acting as an amateur guide.

MISS MONTEATH WAS TALENTED MUSICIAN. GUIDE BLOMFIELD HAD BEEN VERY POPULAR. Miss Mary Monteath, aged twenty, was the younger daughter of Mr J. K. Monteath, a master at Christ’s College, who resides at 23, Poynder Avenue, Fendalton. From 1919 to 1924 she attended Rangi Ruru, where her quiet nature and fine personality made her many friends. At school she showed considerable musical ability. After leaving Rangi Ruru she continued her musical studies, becoming an accomplished musician. Miss Doris Brown had had considerable experience of alpine climbing. About six years ago she made avery difficult climb on Mount Cook. She had also done a lot of climbing on the Franz Josef Glacier. Student Guide Teddy Blomfield was twenty-three years of age and was a student at Otago University. He had been a visitor at the Hermitage every year for a number of years, and was very popular with the alpine climbers. He had climbed all the minor peaks, and this year he had taken up a lot of equipment with the idea of climbing Mount Cook next month. Among the peaks he had climbed this season were The Footstool and Mount Hamilton. Miss Helena Keane was employed as a clerk with W. Williamson and Co., builders and contractors, Montreal Street—a position which she had occupied for the past eight years. She was a particularly efficient worker and had an excellent career at school. Miss Keane was spending the last day of a fortnight’s vacation at Mount Cook. She was a daughter of Mrs I. Keane. BLOMFIELD GAVE HIS CLOTHES TO WOMEN. ATTEMPTED TO GET AID BUT WAS OVERCOME. (Special to the “Star.”) TIMARU. January 20. A representative of the Mount Cook Motor Company states that the party left the Malte Brun to reach the Hermitage and were overtaken by a severe blizzard at De la Beche corner. Guide Charles Hilgendorf, who had remained behind at the Ball Hut on the return journey, found the bodies on his journey back. The weather was fine when they left the Hut. It is understood that Guide Blomfield gave most of his clothes to the women and endeavoured to make his way back, but perished in the attempt. Two of a party who were at the. Ball Hut at the time stated that Charlie Hilgendorf staggered up to the Hut about 4 p.m. and asked: “Where’s Teddy?” On someone answering, “He hasn’t arrived yet,” Hilgendorf replied, “He left before me.” Hilgendorf then collapsed. This story fits in with the fact of Hilgendorf having found the bodies of the women.