This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22691415
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
The press battle to report Everest climb | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
As Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to scale Mount Everest 60 years ago, a fierce battle raged among journalists vying to report the story. | As Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to scale Mount Everest 60 years ago, a fierce battle raged among journalists vying to report the story. |
For decades, Everest had been the ultimate climbing goal and reporters were desperate to break the news first. | For decades, Everest had been the ultimate climbing goal and reporters were desperate to break the news first. |
The Times newspaper sponsored the expedition and had exclusive access to the climbing team. | The Times newspaper sponsored the expedition and had exclusive access to the climbing team. |
When word arrived that Hillary and Tenzing had succeeded, their correspondent, James (now Jan) Morris, wanted to get his message down the mountain before his rivals. | When word arrived that Hillary and Tenzing had succeeded, their correspondent, James (now Jan) Morris, wanted to get his message down the mountain before his rivals. |
Morris's closest competitor was Reuters correspondent Peter Jackson. | Morris's closest competitor was Reuters correspondent Peter Jackson. |
Now 87 and living in south London, Jackson has told the BBC how - in spite of the Times's hold on the story - he still became the first journalist to take photographs of the climbers and get them published. | Now 87 and living in south London, Jackson has told the BBC how - in spite of the Times's hold on the story - he still became the first journalist to take photographs of the climbers and get them published. |
He has kept all his pictures in a cardboard box for the last 60 years, and most have never been published until now. | He has kept all his pictures in a cardboard box for the last 60 years, and most have never been published until now. |
Agonising wait | Agonising wait |
Several of the pictures show his long and arduous journey across the Himalayan ranges towards Everest to cover the story. | Several of the pictures show his long and arduous journey across the Himalayan ranges towards Everest to cover the story. |
He needed 11 porters to carry his equipment and supplies - one just to carry a heavy box of coins because the hill people did not use paper money, and another to carry a portable radio and spare batteries. | He needed 11 porters to carry his equipment and supplies - one just to carry a heavy box of coins because the hill people did not use paper money, and another to carry a portable radio and spare batteries. |
After several weeks of climbing and perilous river crossings, Jackson arrived at the Thyangboche Monastery. | After several weeks of climbing and perilous river crossings, Jackson arrived at the Thyangboche Monastery. |
The monks there looked after him while he waited for news. | The monks there looked after him while he waited for news. |
It was agonising not knowing what was happening to the climbers, he told the BBC. | It was agonising not knowing what was happening to the climbers, he told the BBC. |
"I sat out under the sun with a wonderful view of Everest but not learning a thing because the Times insisted on not telling anyone," he said. | "I sat out under the sun with a wonderful view of Everest but not learning a thing because the Times insisted on not telling anyone," he said. |
Two weeks later, a messenger raced through the monastery with an urgent despatch. | Two weeks later, a messenger raced through the monastery with an urgent despatch. |
Jackson discovered the runner had been offered 200 rupees to get to Kathmandu in six days and he suspected the mountain may have been climbed. | Jackson discovered the runner had been offered 200 rupees to get to Kathmandu in six days and he suspected the mountain may have been climbed. |
Tricky Times | Tricky Times |
He trekked down to the small town of Namche Bazar where an Indian police officer manning communications let him see the message. | He trekked down to the small town of Namche Bazar where an Indian police officer manning communications let him see the message. |
It was from the expedition leader, Colonel John Hunt. | It was from the expedition leader, Colonel John Hunt. |
"It said, 'snow conditions bad, advance base abandoned, yesterday'," Jackson recalled. | "It said, 'snow conditions bad, advance base abandoned, yesterday'," Jackson recalled. |
"The policeman said I could send a message as well but I didn't. I knew it must be wrong as I thought they had got to the top." | "The policeman said I could send a message as well but I didn't. I knew it must be wrong as I thought they had got to the top." |
On the trail back to the monastery, Jackson said he met Morris heading down to Kathmandu, and the Times reporter claimed the expedition had failed. | On the trail back to the monastery, Jackson said he met Morris heading down to Kathmandu, and the Times reporter claimed the expedition had failed. |
The next day, All India Radio announced Everest had been conquered and the Times was able to break the news on the day of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. | The next day, All India Radio announced Everest had been conquered and the Times was able to break the news on the day of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. |
Jackson's hunch had been correct - the message had been sent out in a pre-arranged code. | Jackson's hunch had been correct - the message had been sent out in a pre-arranged code. |
"Snow conditions bad" meant Hillary, and "advance base abandoned" meant Tenzing. Morris had not taken photographs and was rushing to Kathmandu to file his story. | "Snow conditions bad" meant Hillary, and "advance base abandoned" meant Tenzing. Morris had not taken photographs and was rushing to Kathmandu to file his story. |
Iconic picture | Iconic picture |
Jackson then waited for the climbers to come down to the monastery and was thrilled to be able to meet them. | Jackson then waited for the climbers to come down to the monastery and was thrilled to be able to meet them. |
There were no other journalists in this remote place, and it was there he interviewed them and took the iconic picture of Hillary and Tenzing smiling at each other. | There were no other journalists in this remote place, and it was there he interviewed them and took the iconic picture of Hillary and Tenzing smiling at each other. |
He said: "Hillary said to me, 'I feel very happy, I feel bloody good'. I changed it to 'damn good' as they wouldn't have printed it otherwise. | He said: "Hillary said to me, 'I feel very happy, I feel bloody good'. I changed it to 'damn good' as they wouldn't have printed it otherwise. |
"Tenzing said he was happy but not tired... and having attempted the Everest climb seven times, he said he wouldn't do it again." | "Tenzing said he was happy but not tired... and having attempted the Everest climb seven times, he said he wouldn't do it again." |
Jackson spent the night with the team and then followed them down to Kathmandu, taking more pictures. | Jackson spent the night with the team and then followed them down to Kathmandu, taking more pictures. |
Hillary and Tenzing were mobbed along the route - crowds flocked to meet them, and hordes of journalists tried to speak to them. | Hillary and Tenzing were mobbed along the route - crowds flocked to meet them, and hordes of journalists tried to speak to them. |
Still in their expedition clothes, the climbers and Col Hunt had an audience with King Mahendra of Nepal. | Still in their expedition clothes, the climbers and Col Hunt had an audience with King Mahendra of Nepal. |
'Warm congratulations' | 'Warm congratulations' |
Locals drew a banner showing Tenzing on top of Everest with Hillary nowhere in sight, and there was much nationalistic speculation over who had actually set foot on the summit first. | Locals drew a banner showing Tenzing on top of Everest with Hillary nowhere in sight, and there was much nationalistic speculation over who had actually set foot on the summit first. |
Jackson said he had been told the two climbers worked as a perfect team and had got a few feet from the top together. | Jackson said he had been told the two climbers worked as a perfect team and had got a few feet from the top together. |
Tenzing had then apparently told Hillary to go up to the summit first, before Tenzing himself stepped up carrying the flags of Britain, India and Nepal. | Tenzing had then apparently told Hillary to go up to the summit first, before Tenzing himself stepped up carrying the flags of Britain, India and Nepal. |
The expedition included an official photographer, but his work was published after the team got home. | The expedition included an official photographer, but his work was published after the team got home. |
Jackson's work was splashed first across the Sunday Express and then newspapers all over the world. | Jackson's work was splashed first across the Sunday Express and then newspapers all over the world. |
Soon after, he received a telegram from Morris of the Times. | Soon after, he received a telegram from Morris of the Times. |
It said: "Ed Hillary and I send our warm congratulations. Here's to our next adventure!" | It said: "Ed Hillary and I send our warm congratulations. Here's to our next adventure!" |