Evening star., 1933-01-22


gathered in this remote skyland of Asia. Of
course.
F0fmer expeditions have observed GEOLOGICAL
formations and described the wild life of tho
mountain. Snakes we're unexpected inhabdt-
ants seen at hot springs in one Of the high
passes and spiders were found in crevices of
Ice $4,000 feet high. Odell, q geologist found
fossils at height of $4,000 feet
The medical officer of the last expedition
TOOK records OF blood pressure pulse rate knee
jerk and other physiological data on the
chmbers at heights up to 900 feet. He even
set his fellow climbers to doing mental tests
and found that they could multiply and divide
sums with mo definite deterioration of mental
activity"
He added humorously, 1T will not please
the members Of the next expedition to hear
that more complicated and worrying tests ore
required"
QUT valuable as the scientific data from
Everest may be- the attempt on Everest Is
to British explorers primarily a great adver-
ture. one of the last adventures left in the
world Explorers are coming to the gloomy
view Of Alexander the Great who could see no
more worlds to conquer Little wonder that
the British are determined to make Mount
Everest British achievement
This viewpoint is clearly expressed by Lord
Clydesdale. In announcing his plans to act as
chief pilot for the flight over Everest, he said:
THE objects of the expedition are first and
foremost to promote British prestige in the
world and especially in India. Americans
have flown over the North Pole and the South
Pole. the Pacific Ocean has been crossed by
air and the Atlantic has been frequently flown
in recent years
There Is only one original flight worth
while; that is the flight over Mount Everest.
which stands out as the only significant part
of the world which has not been flown over"
He added that flying over this mountain
would have a great psychological effect on
India, dispelling the fallacy that England Is
weakening and that the British are no longer
virile and active race. Such q feat would
strongly emphasize British daring and hardi-
hood.
A THOUGH three previous expeditions have
been sent out by the Mount Everest Com
mittee, only two can be said to have failed in
reaching their goal
The first expedition set out in 1921 to sur
vey the scene and lay the campaign for climb
ing the peak. This was done successfully. The
explorers advanced northward from Darjeeling,
India. into Tibet They journeyed through m-
known valleys and plains up to the glaciers
of Everest.
From the northeast side of the mountain.
where the ice cliffs seemed least formidfble.
they pushed their way closer to the peak they
would some day climb. They stood on one of
the ridges $4,000 feet high and were able to
see how the climb should be made.
Before that accommodating trip. the nearest
approach to Everest by a white man had been
made by the explorer Capt John Noel, who
got within 40 miles of the mountain. in 1913
Yet as far back as 1893 there were plans out
lined for climbing Mount Everett
The first dash for the top came in 1922 in a
campaign planned with military thoroughnesS
Native porters carried supplies. The caravan
moved up to one camp after another. resting at
each upward stage for the men to become q
little accustomed to the rarefied air.
DEFORE that ascent. the altitude record for
u mountain climbing was held by the Duke
of Abruzzi, who attained "a 600 feet on Bride
Peak in the Hmalayas. Now. on Everest, men
slept in camp at 25,500 feet, without oxygen.
demonstrating that human lungs and hearts
grow accustomed to such extreme. almost
fantastic conditions of human life.
At 27,300 feet Bruce and Finch set q new
record and could go no farther. Almost 1000
more feet OF climbing stretched ahead of them.
but the season was late and the men weary
On June II. the mountain gave terrible warn
ing by sweeping seven native porters into eter-
nifty in an avalanche of snow.
The 1924 expedition some of the same
men, even relatives of the dead porters, back on
the slopes of Everest more determined than
ever They established chains of camps as high
as 27 900 feet, higher than native porters had
ever carried loads.
Two explorers Mallory and Irvine made an
attempt to reach the summit. Other members
of the party, watching from lower station.
saw the two climbers pass out of sight in the
mist. At GOO feet from the top their forms
came into sight for an instant, then they were
never seen again.
From these experiences. British explorers feel