RUAPEHU TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Age, 18 June 1936, Page 7

RUAPEHU TRAGEDY.

INQUEST ON J. A. GORDON. FINDING OF CORONER. TATJMARUNUI. .Tune 17. ( The adjourned inquest before the Caroner, Mr. A. S. Laird, concerning the death of James Alexander Gordon, solicitor, was held to-day. Mr. D. Bayfield, manager of the Chateau, stated that a notice was posted up, “Hints to Mountain Climbers.” The deceased’s party notified its intention of climbing. Chief Guide Carl Risberg, recalled, said he experimented two days after the accident with sliding on a similar-ly-graded slope and found that the ace axes w<fuld not hold or make the slightest impression in tfrfe ice. Even with crampons and a rope they could not hold a thirteen stone man from sliding down. W. S. Rennie, late secretary of the Ruapehu Ski Club, gave evidence that the Tourist Department had been repeatedly approached to have more equipment at the huts and to have the huts connected by telephone to the Chateau. The club offered assistance in erecting a ’phone line but there was no response from the Department. Witness said each member of a climbing party should be equipped with an ice axe and be roped together if there war. a danger of sliding.

A verdict that deceased was accidentally killed and died from internal injuries, shock and exposure was returned. The Coroner considered that the deceased had an attack of syncope or fainting, rendering him unable to attempt to save himself. The Coroner highly common led the work of Messrs A. Sandel, J Bryan and Guide Bis berg in the recovery of deceased’s body —(P.A.)