New Britain herald., 1924-06-28
TOP OF THE WORLD

Near the summit of Mount Everest, the worlds highest mountain, buried in perpetual snow, frozen in the ever lasting cold, famed by terrific winds, lie the bodies of two intrepid explor- CTS. Theirs is the planets loftiest tomb.
 Nearby, like reeds that broke be- fore a completed journey, lie oxygen tanks mute evidences of the fallibility of machinery designed to circumvent the vacuum that forever broods at such an altitude.
 The towering walls of the for bidding peak, the burdening snow and the relentless grip of the glaciers. combine to form the monument for the men 1t lulled to sleep.
 Thus ends the third expedition 10 climb Mount Everest After making the most elaborate preparation for such an attempt in the history of mountain climbing. the climbers got within a short distance of the for bidding summit when George Leigh Mallory. leader of the party, and his climbing mate Irvine, were lost with out trace during last final effort to scale the remaining distance.
 Colonel Norton and pr. someryell, two others in the party attained height of 2s,o00 feet before the last assault was made by the pair who perished. Mount Everest is 2s,14i feet high. so that there remained only little more than 1000 feet to climb.
 The highest peak in North America is Mount Mckinley in Alaska, having an elevation of 2O,se0 feet The climbers on Everest who survived were up 7,7o0 feet higher than Mc- kinley's top, The highest mountain in Connecticut Bear mountain In Litch- field country, has an elevation Of only 2,S55 feet.
 Al the height of ?s,ooo feet human life can barely be sustained, yet Mal- lory and Irvine made two attempts to go on without the impediments Of oxygen tanks. but were beaten back in rout On the night Of June 6, with oxygen apparatus and eight porters, they made the last assault The porters returned with the last news Of Mallory and Irvine. who were left sucking at the oxygen tanks like in- fsnts coddling milk bottles.
 Colonel Norton himself was stricken with now-blindness at a point rcach- ed only al great risk Of life. Two com. panions led him back for so hours, bringing him in safety to lower camp, at several places with the use of ropes hung over chasms.
 pr. someryell, in making a report of the tragic finish Of the great at- tempt, said that at 275OO feet eight to ten resplrations were necessary for every step taken forward. When 90 yards were taken forward a prolonged rest was necessary to gather strength. Colonel Norton attempted 10 press on- ward when Dr. somerville gave out. but after an hours effort he had ad- vsncsd only eight feet higher Their hearts were beating 1so palpitations 10 the minute when they turned their backs to the mocking peak and gave up.
 Mallory and Irvine were iast seen ! 'ToiiinE up near the summit" The ] weather during The daytime was fair. but the nights we're frauEbt uiih the . periIs Of intense cold Sudden storms ' shounded. and the wind reached 72 mics an hour. Colonel Norton reported ] fHst no hamau bsiag could Ire in ' tbs open on tre mountain and that ! there are no hopes that Mallory and . fride. through some miracle. had survived.
 Mountain clfmHFE is tHs most rigorous srart knasu f5 man. T Hs- naads more of ;hs hauan body and sxsets EaeBar suffering. than sny other.