MISSING CUMBER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 179, 1 August 1933, Page 6

MISSING CUMBER

LOST ON MOUNTAIN SIDE UTTLE HOPE OF BEING ALIVE [ Per Preas Association. ! CHRISTCHURCH, July 31. Grave anxiety is felt for the safety of Mr. Edgar Russell, a Teachers’ Training College student, who wa.s , missed from a party which attempted to dimb Avalanche Peak, Arthur s Pass, yesterday. He may have been caught by a snow slide which injured 1 two others, but his absence was not noticed until the party was returning to the township. The party, which included a number of Canterbury College students and members of the Otago ’Varsity debat ing team, found the trip up the peak strenuous. Only eighteen proceeded higher than the bush line. It is not established whether Russell climbed the peak, as shortly aftef the bush line several members were caught in a fourfeet deep snow slide, which broke ] without warning, crashing 200 feet. ■ Two of the party, Mr. W. 8. Gilkinson Otago), who was cut on the head, and : Mr. W. Hursthouse, who bad a leg abrasion, received slight injuries. By the time the party reached Springfield on the return trip, it was made certain that Mr. Russell was not on the train, so six men returned to Arthur’s Pass by motor lorry. The search was continued this morning by two parties, but so far it has been unavailing. It is feared that Mr. Russell was buried under the snow slide. SEARCH PARTY TURNS BACK BAD WEATHER MET WITH. [ Ter Press Association. 1 CHRISTCHURCH. July 31. Up till 1 p.m. there was no news of the missing climber Mr. Edgar Russell, aged 23 years. The search party had to turn back while on Avalanche Peak owing to the wretched weather. This morning they found the snow slide, 1-50 yards. 90 yards wide, and 8 feet thick. It is about 200 feet from the peak. Mr. Russell, it is believed. ig buried in this snow, but the blizzard now raging following the frost makes a search impossible; in fact, Guide Coberge says that the body may not be found until the thaw in the spring. More snow has fallen over night. UNDER SNOW SLIDE FATE OF MISSING CLIMBER [ Per Press Association. I CHRISTCHURCH, July 31. It has since been definitely established that Samuel Russell was lost in the snow’ slide which injured two other climbers. Until the weather at the pass changes, it will be impossible for the search to be continued, and the [ members of the Canterbury Mountain- ! eering Club who were at the pass re- ; turned to Christchurch to-day. There was some doubt when Russell was first missed whether he had actually been with the party when the ; snow slide occurred, but it is now : known that he was seen well above the i snow line, and was therefore almost j certainly among those who encountered . the snow slide not far from the top. i The party to-day made as thorough a search as was possible under the difficult conditions, but found no trace of Russell. During the night there had been a heavy fall of snow.