ON EVEREST.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18101, 17 June 1924, Page 7

ON EVEREST.

PARTY FORCED BACK.

FIFTY-SIX DEGREES OF FROST.

PORTERS GALLANTLY RESCUED.

(BT CABLE—fRESS ASSOCIATION COPTMOBS.) C'THB TIMES.") LONDON, June 15. Advices from the Everest expedition, dated May 26th, show that the advance has again been temporarily defeated. After ascending to camp four on North Col, the expedition is now recuperating at the baso camp and camp two-before making a fresh attempt. But for the superhuman efforts of some of the mombers of the party, a number of porters would have lost their lives. Conditions at camp four, at a height of 23,000 ft, wero found to be most dangerous, and it was decided to evacuate it. While Mr; Hazard was shepherding the porters down a treach> erous descent, four lost their nervo and returned to the camp. Their only food was a sack of meal. Tho others reached camp three. Snow was falling heavily, and tho cold was extreme, with 50 degrees of frost. It was realised that unless tho marooned j>orters were quickly rescued their <loom would be sealed. The next morning Mr Mallory, Major Norton, and Mr Somervell started on the dangerous ascent and managed, after tremendous efforts, to reach the porters and bring them safely to camp three, which is at an altitude of 21,000 ft. They were all terribly exhausted and almost frozen.- . . , Snow fell continuously for 26 hours, with 56 degrees of frost; the lowest temperature experienced on any Everest Sleep was impossible, not only due to the extreme cold, but to prolonged fits of coughing. There was no sign of improvement in the weather, but there were many indications of the monsoon breaking, con* sequontly on May 24th the main party retreated to the base camp, the smaller party remaining at ; camp two., , ; ;: