LONG TASK ENDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 115, 19 May 1942, Page 5

LONG TASK ENDED

WRECKED LOCKHEED BODIES BROUGHT OUT (P.A.) Nelson, May 18. A remarkable exploit in which they had to contend with adverse weather, exceedingly rough, mountainous country, flooded rivers, danger, ami cold wa*» completed hy tin* return to Nelson last ' evening of lhe police party with I the bodies of the victims of the Lockheed airliner crash on Mount Richmond. “Heroes all’’ was the description given the police and soldiers concerned by Sergeant T. Matthews, of the Nelson police force, who was in charge of operations. The party left at 6 o'clock yesterday morning to complete the job of bringing the bodies of the victims out of the bush. Among the men were Detective Trlpney and Constables Ancell, Bourke, and Shea, of Nelson, Constables Bourke and Wilson, of Blenheim. and some of the soldiers who had seen the journey right through. The expedition went up Timms' Val- . ley again to pick up the local guide, - Mr. R. T. Fowler, and then, owing to j Timms’ CrecK being still rather high, • they were forced to walk around the , valley skirting the river, arriving in ■ good time at the place where the - bodies had been left. They conveyed , the bodies back some considerable distance. By this time Sergeant Mati thews had arranged for another seti tier, Mr. G. A. Mortimer, to ford the i river with a horse and return to where ■ he had abandoned a dray on Friday. ■ The river was receding quickly, but was still fairly high and fast. How- > ever. Mr. Mortimer managed to negoi tiate it and get back to the dray, three ■ miles upstream. Soon afterwards the ■ party arrived at the dray with the ■I bodies, which were transported from . there in a cart to Mr. Fowler’s residence. The party forded the river on the wav eight times. The house was reached at 1.15 o’clock. The party ■ then made its way back to the base camp at Langley Dale, and, eompkt- • ing preparations, left for homo, arriv--1 ing back at Nelson at 6.15 o'clock last evening. Sergeant's Tribute. Warm tribute to the men who car- . ried through lhe task was paid to-aay I by Sergeant Matthews, "j nese men went over lhe most difficult countiy you couid find,'' he said, “there were precipitious cliffs, rugged rocK country, and big boulders, and lor miles they had to cut their way through busn to make a Hack through which to carry the bodies. I “it was an almost impossible task to bring the bodies down that mountain. Tne police and members oi the Army stucK to it like heroes. The soldiers, who are only young men. . showed grit and courage and were a ’ splendid example. “It was a very trying time for • everyone." said the sergeant. "Local settlers gave wonderful assistance in providing provisions and facilities." i Sergeant Matthews mentioned with appreciation Messrs. Hebberd, Fowler. Mortimer, C. Lovell and Mr. and Mrs. A. M. W. Adams, of Langley Dale : Station. , , . The sergeant said he stayed at the camp and organised affairs as best he could. Naturally, it was an anxious time for him, with the worry of his men up on the mountain with no • blankets and little food and knowing the tremendous task they were ’acing. ’ On Saturday he reconnoitred •( he route, but found water over the road, making it difficult to get through. A motor-lorry got stuck in the water several times on the way up. He returned to make preparations to bring the bodies out on the following day. wet or fine, because they had learnt, from a settler another route which obviated having to ford the river, which was 20 feet deep in places. As it was. the men were wet to the waist all day. but kept at it gamely. An inquest for the purpose of identification was opened before the cor- . oner. Mr. T. E. Ttfaunsell, at the Nel- . son Public Hospital this morning, and ■ was then adjourned. I ' !2_'—.-2L