Science: Everest Progress

An unconfirmed radio dispatch received by a British archeologist in Paris, and cabled to America by a Hearst correspondent: “Nepal crowd hear Everest peak reached May 16. Bruce cannot confirm.” The principality of Nepal in the Himalayas adjoins Mt. Everest on the east. General Bruce, the original commander of the expedition, has been at Darjeeling convalescing from the attack of malaria which compelled him to abandon the trek.

Since then, however, official dispatches from Lieut. Col. E. F. Norton, the new leader, have been published by The London Times and The New York Times. Written from the base camp on Rongbuk Glacier, May 18, they gave no intimation that members of the party had any immediate likelihood of attaining the peak. Indeed, tentative starts by two parties which had established advance camps were ruined by frightful storms, temperatures of 22 degrees below zero, injuries, illness, death among the native helpers and the latters’ fear and reluctance to go on. At the time of the dispatch, the whole, party was back at the base camp waiting for a break in the weather. The British members were still undaunted, however, and expected better fortune in a few days.