DEATH IN AVALANCHE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 308, 31 December 1942, Page 4

DEATH IN AVALANCHE

CASS VALLEY CLIMBERS Timaru. Dec. 28. An inquest was opened at Timaru into the deaths of Frederick Oswald Tozer, aged 24. and Albert David Jackson, aged 45, who perished while on a climbing trip in the Cass Valley at the end of August. The inquest was adjourned sine die. Tne bodies of the two men, which were found on Monday, were brought to Timaru on Wednesday. This was a difficult task and was accomplished in remarkably short time by meml e (rs of the South Canterbury section of the New Zealand Alpine Club, with the assistance of a party of members of the armed forces. The body of Mr. Tozer was only partially covered by snow, but as the body of Mr. Jackson was under three feet of snow it was some time before this could be cleared away. Death in both cases had apparently been caused by suffocation, said Dr. G. H. Ussher, giving evidence. In the inquest on Mr. Jackson, evidence was given by Lindley Kennedy Murray, a master at Timaru Boys' High School, where Mr. Jackson had been senior mathematics and science master. Murray explained that the bodies of the two men had been found lying close together. Bo'h were fullv clothed and were wearing crampons. There were no outward si "ns of injury, and they were apparently overwhelmed by a minor snow avalanche while attempting the ascent of an unnamed peak.