MAN AND BOY MISSING
Death By Drowning Feared
SWEPT FROM HORSE IN RIVER
(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, December 26.
A man and a boy are believed to have been drowned in the lower Hollyford Valley about 5.30 p.m. on Christmas Day. They are:
David Gunn, aged 68, a station owner of Martins Bay and one of the best-known men of the Southland and Otago back country.
Warren William Shaw, aged 12, a son of Mr and Mrs J. Shaw, of Seacliff Village.
They are thought to have been crossing the Hollyford river on horseback when the horse stepped into a hole and they were swept away by the rapid-flowing river. There were four persons in the party, which was packing stores to one of the huts on the tourist tracks operated by Mr Gunn. When Mr Gunn's companions saw the accident, one left for the nearest hut and drove a jeep to Te Anau, arriving in the early hours of this morning. Word was sent to Invercargill, a search party was organised quickly, and men under Sergeant E. H. Clark, of the Invercargill police, left for the area.
Late to-night the search party reached Hidden Falls hut, three hours and a half tramp from the end of the lower Hollyford Valley road. There, the party camped for the night and expects to reach the scene of the accident early tomorrow morning, setting up a base camp at Pyke Hut, four hours further down the valley.
Mr J. Shaw, the boy’s father, left Seacliff immediately on receipt of the news and joined the search party. The search party, which consists of members of the Southland Search and Rescue Organisation, is equipped with radio and has set up a base station on the divide between the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys.
Tourist Development
Mr Gunn is probably best remembered for the development of tourist tracks in the country between the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys and Martins Bay and Big Bay, and between these bays and Lake Wakatipu. He did not open the tracks, but made them available to tourists by erecting huts and providing guides and horses for the longer journeys. He made a remarkable journey in the 1936-37 holiday season to summon help for the five occupants of an aircraft which crashed at Big Bay on December 30, 1936. He made the trip from Big Bay to the Public Works establishment at Camp on foot, in 21 hours. Experienced trampers took between three and four days on the same journey.
A stone plaque in a cairn at Marian Camp commemorates his journey, which was recognised as a magnificent feat of endurance. In addition to his tourist business, Mr Gunn had a cattle run with between 500 and 600 head of cattle at Martins Bay. He took over the run originally from members of the McKenzie family. Most years he brought a mob of cattle down to Southland for sale, a drive of 180 miles.
Mr Gunn was the victim of a serious accident in September, 1950. when he fell over a 300ft cliff in the Darran Range. He landed on a ledge only 12 feet below the brink, dazed and bruised and suffering considerable pain. He spent the night on the ledge before he was discovered.
Mr Gunn is survived by his wife, one son. Mr Murray Gunn, of Invercargill. and two daughters. Mrs I. Findlay, of Christchurch, and Mrs I. Parlane, of Tawa Flat. -Press, 27/12/1955.
Search for two bodies continues
INVERCARGILL, Dec. 27 (PA). –– The bodies ok Mr. David Gunn and 12-year-old Warren William Shaw, who are thought to have been drowned in the lower Hollyford Valley on Christmas Day, had not been found by the search party by tonight. Twelve, under Sergeant E. H. Clark, of the Invercargill police, are searching the rugged country. The remoteness of the area has held up detailed information from the party, but Sergeant Clark, in a brief message tonight, said that no trace had been found and that the search continues.
More information is slowly coming to light about the tragedy. It appears that Mr. Gunn had made the same trip some days before when the hole in the river was not there. A fresh in the river had scoured the hole into which Mr. Gunn fell. Warren Shaw left his horse in an endeavour to swim to the bank. After a few yards he also went under and did not reappear.
One of the other two members of the party, who were waiting on the far bank with the other pack horse, stripped to go into the water but the tragedy happened so quickly that it was all over in a few moments. The river was flowing swiftly and was not clear tonight.
Early messages have said that it was the Hollyford River, but reports tonight have suggested that it may have been the swift-flowing Pyke River which flows into the Hollyford. The Pyke is much more dangerous and treacherous than the Hollyford and flows through more rugged country. -Evening Post, 28/12/1955.
Boy’s Body Flown To Invercargill
INVERCARGILL,. Today (PA). –– The body of Warren William Shaw, the 12-year-old boy who was drowned in the Hollyford River on Christmas Day, was brought to Invercargill this morning by amphibian plane from Lake Alabaster. It was found at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon between the Pyke River and Lake McKerrow, but the body of Mr. David Gunn, 68-year-old Martin’s Bay station holder who was thrown into the river with Warren from a horse, has not been found. The search will continue to-day as the party makes its way out of the Hollyford Valley.
An inquest into the circumstances of the boy’s death was opened this afternoon in Invercargill. -Evening Post, 30/12/1955.
DROWNINGS IN HOLLYFORD
TRAGEDY AT FORD DESCRIBED
MAN’S BODY NOT YET FOUND
(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, December 30.
How a man and a boy were drowned in the Hollyford Valley on Christmas Day was described in Invercargill today at an inquest into the death of Warren William Shaw, aged 12, of Seacliff Village.
Although the main search party has left the Hollyford area, a small party is still searching for the body of David Gunn, aged 68, a well-known station owner, of Martin’s Bay.
The boy’s body, which was found at 9 a.m. on Thursday, was brought to Invercargill today by amphibian aircraft from Lake Alabaster. The aircraft reached Invercargill at 7.25 a.m.
One of the party of four which was attempting to cross the Hollyford river when the tragedy occurred, Paul Trevor Riley, of Timaru, gave evidence at the inquest today. The inquest was then adjourned sine die.
The party, which included Jack Jenkins in addition to the two victims, was leading three packhorses from Hidden Falls Hut, said Riley. At Lew Ford, Jenkins rode his horse across first, and Gunn, with Warren Shaw behind him on the saddle, followed. Mr Riley brought up the rear. Half-way across the ford, which was about 30 yards wide. Gunn’s horse stumbled and fell, said the witness. The boy was thrown off, and the horse rolled on to Gunn in the water. While the horse was down, the boy was able to stand, but when the horse got to its feet, the current swept him away.
The boy immediately struck out for the bank, and Riley watched him until he was about 150 yards downstream.
The witness said one of Gunn’s feet apparently caught in a stirrup. Gunn was released only when the girth strap of the saddle broke, and he was swept away.
Riley told the Coroner (Mr W. Grieve) that he knew Gunn could not swim. The witness took one bank of the river and Jenkins the other, and they searched for two hours without finding any trace of the bodies. The river was snow fed and icy cold, and it was possible to remain in it for only a short time before developing cramp.
At the ford, said the witness, the river was about three feet deep, but it was much deeper below the ford. The river was well below its normal level The boy's body was found tangled among some stumps, seven yards out from the bank, and 150 yards downstream from the ford.
The main body of the search party led by Sergeant E. Clark, of Invercargill, left Hidden Falls Hut at 1 p.m. today. It is expected back in Invercargill tomorrow. -Press, 30/12/1955.
No comments:
Post a Comment