CLIMBERS’ ESCAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 11

CLIMBERS’ ESCAPE

DANGEROUS GLISSADING. RUSH DOWN MOUNTAIN Si DU. ONE RECEIVES BROKEN RIBS. Two Christchurch climbers, Messrs. 11. M'D. Vincent and F. Hinton, who somersaulted and rolled more than 500yd>. down a mountain side while descending from a peak near Arthur s lass iciinl Iv. had a fortunate escape from death. Mr. \ im ent had ribs broken. His right knee was wrenched and his left thumb was dislocated. Mr. Hinton was severe ly bruised, and both suffered considci ably from shock. The two nien were ineiubcrs oi' a party of four Cliristehun-.il journalists, who left Arthur’s .L'ass at 8.30 n.ni. on Sun.lav to elimb A'ahtnelio I’enli- They leuehc'd the summit- shortly after noon and began to eome down by the tidge that, leads right up to the top of the The party came to a steep snowliold and Mr. Vi'iuu'iit eommeneed to glissade. Mr. Hinton following. Both men strm k a patch of ice. The axes, with which tin y were steadying theihSelvcs, slipped front their grasp ami they began to slide and roll down the steep slope. Thev stopped rolling after more than 500yds. and, to the horror of tho other two members of the party, who were still watching from above, lay motion-

tCSS. lilt* <’iner "Il " nuinuu uvm 10 where their comrades lay. They soot regained consciousness ami began th< long aud painful walk back to the pass After struggling along for about at hour, the party met Dr. Wyn-lrwin who gave assistance and helped the in jured men down to Coberger’s shop. I In excursion train for Christchurch va held fur twenty minutes while th< climbers received attention. Mr. Vincent was put on a stretcher it the guard’s van. Members of the party are unanimuu r in their opinion that the two men ha< a most fortunate escape from death. J is considered that both of them struct ruck in the course of thi’ir tall.