CLIMBING EVEREST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19199, 16 June 1924, Page 7

CLIMBING EVEREST

EXPEDITION RETURNING TO DARJEELING. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. DELHI, June 13. It is reported that the Everest Expedition is returning to Darjeeling. The extent of their success is not known. —Sydney Sun Cable. CAUGHT IN BLIZZAED. EVEREST EXPLORERS’ STORY. BEATEN BACK TO BASE. LONDON, May 31. A thrilling story of a struggle with a blizzard on the slopes of Mount Everest is told in a despatch from the Bruce expedition which has been beaten back to xts base camp. The expedition sustained its first reverse early in May, when weather compelled the advanced pai'ties to retreat to the base camp. A despatch dated "Base Camp, Hongbuk, May 13,” states: “The three parties quitted the base at the beginning of the month, and sucessfully established three caiixps, as far as tlxe wall of the north 001. The first indication of adversity came on the evening of May 6, when native porters were descried staggering and straggling down the glacier. They had been driven from the farthermost carhp by exposure and exhaustion. ‘‘This reverse upset all calculations, as it was necessary to suspend operations, in, order to attend to the needs of these sufferers. Their story shows that the temperature was 22deg below zero, Fahrenheit. The terrible wind and tlxe inability to transport provisions, took the heart out of the stoutest natives. Some of the porters were so down-hearted that it was necessary to compel them to leave tlxe tents and don their boots. After resting, they returned to the farthermost camp, but a blizzard began, and Listed 48 hours. The wind steadily increased, with the lowered temperature, and on the morning of May 10, the camp was inches deep in powdered snow. ‘‘lt was hoped to stay here and acclimatise the climbers, but we were compelled to abandon the project, and to de- • scend to the next camp, where the tenta were nearly uprooted by the gale, arid almost filled with drifted snow. The only possible course was to retreat to the base camp to recuperate for a few days before a fresh attempt could be made. We ' reached the base on May 12. The end of round one finds us discomforted, though by _no means defeated. One man haa serious frostbite in the feet, and another has a broken leg, two men are in a serxous_ condition, suffering from bronchitis, while one of the leaders of the Gurkhas, who had hemorrhage of the brain, died to-day. The Britishers are in perfect health, but we lost nearly a week on our programme.”