New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-16
Ay ARc7JC ERRAND OF MERCY.

An ARCTIC ERRAND OF MERCY.
The search for the Arctic yacht Ezra is the
most interesting episode of the year IN hlgh
latitudes. Leigh Smiths vessel was last de-
serted on July 10, 1881, 10y Norwegian
wbaler off the southwest coast OF Novala
Zemla. lie was evidently searching for
lane which would lead him northward toward
Franz Josef Land, but having been headed OIL
by the pack was steering southwark when ne
was last seem AS the season had barely opened
and as he had been so successful during the
previous year in reaching high latitude, 1t IS
nrobable that he returned to the edge OF the ice
and renewed his effort to find an opening and
TO cut his way through. Now the pack ice ex-
tends ordinarily at least 200 miles below Franz
Josef Land, obstructing the sea between Spltz-
bergen and Novaa Zemlia. In favorable sea-
sons the barrier is forced back fifty or one hun
dred miles. Payer and Weyprecht, retreatlng
over the ice from the TegethOf, found the
omen water much further north than they had
looked for it. Although they were convinced
of the impOssibility of reaching Franz JOSEF
Land in open water, the Barentz IN 1919 ana
the Ezra i'm 1880 threaded their way through
lanes in the pack to that desolate coast Now,
il is possible that the Ezra was equally fortu-
nate last year, but that she tarried too long
and was finally frozen in off the shores of that
mysterious land. 1t is more likely, however
that her commander, while looking in vain for
an omen lane. was caught in the ice. The drift
of his icebound ship would have been in the
direction of the Franz Josef Archipelago, Dut IL
is by no means certain that he could nave
reached land in that way.
One circumstance simplifes the search for
the Ezra. She was barely prOvisioned for
single winter Her commander, whether on
land or in the pack ice, could not with INSULT
cient supplies face the hazards OF a second
wintcring. Prudence would dictate an lmme-
date retreat across the ice, even If he were to-
day in the vicinity of Tegethoif Island, Tor the
chance of his getting open water IN August
would be too narrow to justify delay. IL the
vessel were beset by the ice and crushed like
the Jeanette, retreat would be begun at
once Even if the ce-pressures were stoutly
resisted. the decreasing stores would compel
the abandonment of the ship. The relief ex-
nedition. therefore, will naturally search, not
for the Era herself but for her boats and
sledges There are two quarters III when
these are to be looked for: The western coast
of Novaia Zemlia, where Weyprecht and Payer
were rescued, and the northern coast Of Spltz-
bergen. which Leigh Smith has explored IN
previous years 1t is probable that the Hope
which has been chartered by Mr.. Smiths friends
and hastily fitted out for this service will make
her first call at Mossel Bay, SpitzberGen, where
there is house used by Arctic navigators as a
rescue depot, and that her subsequent course
will be along the edge of the pack to NOvaia
Zemlia The Dutch exploring ship Barentz
will assist in the search in the latter quarter,
and two English yachtSmen will also lend aid.
The commander OF the Hope has been eau
toned against mourning the risk of wintering,
so that it is not probable that he will make any
effort to reach Franz Josef Land.
The English expedition will have the advan-
tace of definite information in regard to the
condition of the ice in the Barentz Sea during
the last eighteen months, and will also profit
nv the advice of three of the most competent
Arctic explorers. During August and Septem-
Der of last year the prevailing winds in the
quarter where the Ezra was last seen were from
the east and south, so that if beset by the ice
she would have drifted further to the west
than The Tcgethoff The winter was undOubt-
edly an open one, and the ice probably has
broken up earlier this season than is usual.
On this account Commodore Jansen, of the
Dutch Navy, concludes that the vessel, if ice
bound, has been crushed as the Jeanette was a
year ago. He thinks that Leigh Smith could
only have reached Franz Josef Land after
abandoning the ship, and advises a cruise in
the quarter where the Austrlans reappeared in
their retreat He also mentions Wyches Land
(east of Sptzborgen) as the possible scene OF
the wreck and suggests that a second relief
vessel shall be sent in that direction. Captain
Won Payer assumes that the Ezra has shared the
fate of the Tegethof and the Jeanette, and
that her men, after drifting helplessly north
ward with a scant supply of provisions, are
making desperate effort to save themselves.
Baron Nordenskiold is apparently the most
sanguine of the three explorers He deems 1t
not impossible that the Swedish Arctic Colony
on reaching Spltzbergen in July will find Leigh
Smith at Mossel Bay, but evidently expects
tidings of his rescue from Novaia Zemlia. He
does not conceal his fears lest the crew may be
too exhausted to drag their boats across the ice.
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