THE EVEREST EPIC

Southland Times, Issue 19290, 8 July 1924, Page 5

THE EVEREST EPIC

WAS THE SUMMIT REACHED? INTERESTING SPECULATION. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 6. Colonel Norton, of the Everest Expedition, in a despatch from Rongbuk base camp, dated June 14 says: “Every one of the surviving members has shot his bolt. I have before me a medical report showing each has a more or less dilated heart, besides various minor disabilities. The trouble will right itself in the lower altitudes to which we are bound, but would probably be permanent if further high climbing were attempted. This Dr. Kingston definitely forbids.” Colonel Norton, like Lieut. O’Dell, is of opinion that Messrs Mallory and Irvine actually reached the summit and perished while descending. Lieut. O’Dell’s narrative adds: Mallory and Irvine sent back five porters, who accompanied them to 27,000 feet, carrying provisions and oxygen apparatus. They brought an optimistic note, saying the explorers had used a minimum of oxygen and the weather was perfect. When I saw the two moving on the snow they were moving with considerable alacrity, evidently realising that not much daylight remained in which to reach the summit and return to camp. It is remarkable they were so late getting to where he saw them. Mallory anticipated reaching it several hours earlier. Probably they encountered bad going, though this is unlikely as close scrutiny with binoculars showed easy climbing. Lieut. O’Dell goes on to relate that he went up to camp No. 6, arriving as a blizzard started and prepared food for the climbers’ return. He whistled and called through the driving sleet to give them correct direction, but soon realised it was a useless task. The blizzard passed within two hours and the sun shone out. The Lieutenant searched searched the crags with the glasses and made signals, but saw no sign of Mallory or Irvine. Next day, assuming they were still asleep after a late night return to camp No. 6, he started carrying oxygen and provisions. He found the tent exactly as he had left it. LieutO'Dell worked along the face of the mountain seeking a clue, but as evening approached he reluctantly abandoned the search close up to the tent and left it there with the last relics of his lost companions. Lieut. O’Dell concludes: “The question: ‘Has Everest been climbed?’ will ever be a mystery. Considering the circumstances and position reached, I am personally of opinion that Mallory and Irvine reached the summit.”