A MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 May 1927, Page 4

A MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY.

SCHOOLMASTER DROWNED. SWEPT DOWN RAGING TORRENT. The death occurred by drowning on Saturday morning, under distressingcircumstances, of Mr Horace Arthur Hell, principal of the Auckland University Coaching College, and one of the best known amateur alpinists in the Dominion. Accompanied by Mr .1. A. Bartrum, lecturer in geology at the Auckland University, the late Mr Holl left Pokaka at 12.30 p.m. on Friday, and proceeded up the Mangaturuturu Stream on the way to his camp site about seven miles above the railway line. Heavy rain had turned the stream into a raging torrent, and it was necessary that it be forded about 20 times before reaching the camp. About 4 p.m. they reached a particularly treacherous ford, and Mr Hall, who was leading a pack horse, was swept clean off his feet as lie essayed to wade in, and in a few minutes was taken hundreds of yards downstream. Mr Bartrum searched- for signs of Mr Holl for aii hour, and then turned back to the scene of the tragedy, secured the horse, and spent the night wet through in the open. On Saturday morning he rode into Pokaka and secured help. A search party arrived from Ohakune that night, and yesterday morning left in search of the body in heavy rain and hail. The searchers discovered the body three hours later, three miles below the scene of the tragic occurrence, and took it into Pokaka, reaching there about 4 p.m. The late Mr Holl was one of- the best-known Alpinists in New Zealand. He was a member of the English Alpine Club, Switzerland, and had many notable feats to his credit. He was the only amateur climber who ascended Mount Cook twice in fourteen days, and he knew the National Park thoroughly from end to end. He was a particularly daring rock climber. He was a member of the Ruapehu Ski Club. He had ascended Mount Ruapehu fifty times, and was the first man to ascend the dangerous precipice 500 feet high south-east of Ngauruhoe, known as Holl’s Rocks. He leaves a widow and two young children.