A THOUSAND FEET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 26 October 1937, Page 8

A THOUSAND FEET

TRAMPER'S FALL Crash to Death in Otira Gorge COMPANION REPORTS TRAGEDY [ Per Press Association. I GREYMOUTH, Oct. 25. Crashing down a mountainside a distance of a thousand feet, Stanley Nicholls, aged 27, an employee of Ballantyne’s. Christchurch, met his death in the Otira Gorge this afternoon. Nicholls, who was on a mountain eering expedition with a companion named Richard Simpson, also of Christchurch, was proceeding along the mountain when a ledge on which he was walking gave way, precipitating him over the side. Falling 500 feet he struck another ledge and rebounded to fall to the bed of the Otira River. Experiencing great difficulty o.ving to the rugged nature of the country, Simpson reached Nicholls some time later, finding him dead. He then made a two-hour journey to the nearest road and walked another mile to the Otira Gorge Hotel, where the police wt re communicated with. Owing to the lateness of the hour and the fact that darkness had intervened, it was decided that the task of bringing the body to Otira should be left, till the morning. Constable Gill, of Otira, will proceed to the scene with a search party early to-morrow morning. FALL DOWN CLIFF PIG-HUNTER’S death FATALITY IN TARANAKI ‘ [ Per Press Association. ) NEW PLYMOUTH, Oct. 25. Losing his footing on a rainy surface, Frank Martinelli, a single man, aged 29, of Wellington, fell 50 feet to his death near Matau, Eastern Taranaki, yesterday. He was engaged in a pig-hunt when the accident occurred. Martinelli gave chase to a pig which the dogs were pursuing in a gully. Rain was falling heavily, and the ground was dangerously slippery. Making his way down the face of a cliff he lost his foothold and fell. When his companions, who were about 100 yards away, reached the bottom of the cliff, they found that Martinelli’s skull was badly fractured. He had probably died instantly. E. McCoard, one of his companions, set out for assistance and returned about 4.30 p.m. with N. Jensen and two brothers. Constable Hughes arrived from Stratford later. Three and a-half hours were required to carry the body through several miles of rough bush country to Matau. Martinelli was employed by the P. and T. Department and lived at 70 Majoribanks Street, Wellington. He was a well-known violinist, and had taken an active interest in musical societies. He had made a number of pig-hunting trips to Taranaki. In 1916 Martinelli’s father, Mr F. Martinelli, was drowned in the Wellington Harbour while attempting to save his son Frank front a similar fate. FALL BENEATH TRAIN married woman killed [ Per Frees Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 25. A middle-aged woman, returning to Christchurch on an excursion train from Greymouth, was killed at the Addington station at 1 o’clock this morning. She was Mrs Harriett Clifford Biltcliff, of 41 St. Asaph Street. She was standing on the station platform and as the train began to move she was seen to stumble and lall backwards. She was found unlerneath a carriage. Her husband ind the guard were standing near her >n the platform at the time, but were unable to assist her.