LOST IN THE SNOW
On Sunday the 22nd ult. a packer named James McIlwain left Campbell's Diggings at the back of the Old Man Range, on his return to the Teviot, where he resided. He had under his charge six pack-horses, owned by himself, for he had been engaged in the toilsome and dangerous occupation of conveying stores over the mountain to Campbells for several years. The morning was fine at the time of his leaving Campbells, but he had not proceeded far on the way when a terrific storm of snow and blinding sleet burst upon the mountain, and continued without abatement during the whole of Sunday night. McIlwain never reached his home. His arrival had been expected at the Teviot, and as no tidings of him were heard on Sunday or Monday, a search was made, and his body was found on Thursday, about half-way down the eastern side of the mountain, near the fork formed by the junction of Black Jack's track with O'Brien's. The horses, with the packsaddles on their backs, were discovered at some distance from where the body lay, and were as might have been expected, in a most emaciated condition. The remains of of Mr McIlwain were conveyed to the Teviot, where an inquest was held on on Saturday, and the funeral, we understand, took place on Sunday. It is stated that Mr McIlwain had often been warned of the the danger of crossing the mountain during snow-storms, but he had become so inured to the dangers of the route that he would it undertake the journey in almost any weather. [For the above information we are indebted to the driver of the Dunstan and Tuapeka mail-coach.] -Cromwell Argus 1/6/1870.
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| Behind James' grave, the scene of his last journey. |
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| Campbells Creek mining area - about 1200m altitude. Showing a patch of snow in midsummer. The area was notorious for its sudden changes of weather from the south. |
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