The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-08-22
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
The Leigh Smt,h ExpediliOo


rived ct Peierhead, with the entire crew
Of that vessel. The Hope picked them
up In Matotschkin Straits, Nova Zsm bls,
on the Sd of August, they having lost
their ship of Franz Josef Land, and
ljourneyed IN boats to the straits through
the ice. Leigh Smith, commander OF
the Ezra expedition, gives the following
scco1nt OF Its experience: On July 18Th,
1881. we steamed through pack ice, and
ten days later sighted Franz Jose Land
We proceeded towards Cape Ludlow
which was close to the pack 20 the north
ward. On August I'd we went up Night
ingsle sound, and thence to Eirs hsrbor,
and erected q 6torehouse. On the 10Th
We started east to look for the Jeanette,
but were unable to pass Berrant Hook.
On August 21st the Era got nipped be-
tween land foe and q pack of ice 8
mile east of Cape Flora, and sank before
we were able to save many stores. We
built q hut on Cape Flora Of turf and
stones, and covered it with sails. We
wintered there, and during the whole
time no signs of scurvy appeared.
Twenty nine wslrus and thirty-six
bears we're killed and eaten.
We left Cape Flora on
June 2lst, 1882, in four boats. Sailed
eighty miles without aeeinR any ice, and
reached Nova ZemblR on August I'd.
When the ETiG was nipped the leak
gained 30 rapidly that in two hours after
it Was discovered it was necessary to
abandon the ship. Hardly had the last
man left the vessel when the ice closed and
the ETiG rapidly sank. A tent was first
crested on the ice, and the house was
lsubseduentlV built.
New York, 2l.-1TerGld'S London has
the following details: A telegram from
Aberdeen says that the Hope, with Leigh
Smith and his crew, arrived there to-
day. All are we'll. The Ezra was
nipped in the ice and sank on August
21st last yesr of Cape Flora. The crew
Wintered at Cape Flors, suffering con-
siderable hardships. They were picked
up on the Nova Zembla coast By 8
Dutch schooner and conveyed on board
the Hope. Leigh Smith gives she
following narrative: "On the 18th of June
1881 the ESTG lett Petershesd. The ice
WAS very far south. No opening could
be found to enable her to get north until
the middle Of July. Franz Josef land
was reached July 23d. The Era
steamed along the coast to within,
fifteen miles of Cap9 Ludlow. The ice
was closely packed to the north, so de-
cided to return to Gray Bay and wait till
q more favorable opportunity should
present itself to go north, On August
the 9Th, Era was made fast to q land-foe
near Belle Islands. A store-house was
Ierected OF material taken out Of the
Era. On August 18th, the Era lett
Belle Islands, snd being unable to pass
to The eastward OF Bsrrents Hook,
was made fast to land foe IF
Cape Flora. The next few days were
spent in collecting plants and fossils
which, ur fortunately, we're lost with the
vessel on August 21st. The Era Wal
heavily nipped about 10 am. A leak
was discovered, and sill hands we're set to
the pumps. The donkey engine was also
started. but was soon disconnected from
the pumps, and by means Of the steam
winch elk casks Of flour and about three
hundred weight of bread were saved
from the main hold. By this time the
, leak had gained to such an extent tina
nothing more could be saved from
the lower deck. The engines sgsiI
started the pumps, but were soon
drowned out. All hands were then en-
gagged IN saving the stores in the attel
I cabin, which consisted chiefly of vege-
tables and barley Two hours elapsed
from the time the leak Vas discover GO
till the time when the vessel had to bC
J abandoned. The bosts were saved. Most
!, of the men saved some clothes and bed
ding. Hardly had the lsst man left the
ship when the ice closed up and the ElrO
rapidly sank. Nothing came up except
a'few Bpars and young polar bear ia q
cAsk. Some Of the sails were cut away
and with them and some oars tent wa
erected on the ice. a FIRE WA
lit and coffee was made which
with bread and pudding that had beer
made for the days dinner, made some
what spare meal for twenty-five men
who had been working nearly the whole
day without food. Many Rrumbled, al
everyone knew he would have TO learn u
govern his appetite, ss the stock of mea
would not sufice for months anC
months. Next morning everything Wal
moved to the land; tent WAS put 10 o.
Cape Flora and the crew went 10 bee
with lighter hearts, as Two bears
had been shot cUring the day,
@It was 5000 evident that the winter
would have to be spent at Cape Flora, SC
q hou=e was built of stones and turf, Gov
cred with sails. For sixteen nights all
the crew lived in the tent. and sometimes
, ware almost hoste1 out by rain, at other
times spending most of the night in en-
deavlng to keep up the house during \
heavy gale. Before the wind set in SIX
teen Walruses We're shot, and seVeral bears.
Our princip.l food consisted Of Walrns
and bear meat, which, boiled with vege-
tables, was served out three times day
into twenty-five plates made out of Old
IproYision tins. The cooking had to be
done inside the house. TIE fire was
mostly made by means Of blubber and
lrope, as very little coal and wood had been
saved nom the ship. Many times
every body was compelled to 20
Tout Of the the house TO avoid being
suttocated with the smoke which the fire
Iemitted, whenever an inexperienced
hand took upon himself the duties Of
cook. Frequent visits from bears were
the sources OF excitement during the long
dark days, They often prowled around
the tent, and many q man got scared on
rushing out in the dsrk The only safe
plan was to send dog in front Of any
body going out, ss he always gave good
warning when bear was near. One day
about the end Of October, two men were
walking o. the ice IN front of the hut,
when dog rushed home, WagEing his
tail and barking furiously uatii some of
them followed him. To their delight
some walrus we're seen lying on the
ice' The two men returned to the
house. and pvnrv rina - ,,-aDarnd