Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-03
The Lost Eirn.

Scarcely had the fate of the J~eannette be-
come known when the world began to feel
anxious about another vessel in the Polar re-
gions, from which nothing has been heard
in months. The Ezra, Leigh Smith in COM
mand, started from Peterhead for Franz
Joseph Land last June, and since July Sth
nothing has been heard from or of her. A
search expedition has been contemplated for
some weeks, and at a meeting of the Royal
Geographical Society, last Monday, Lord
Aberdare, the president, stated that two as
scci ates of the society, Colonel Grant and
Sir Henry Gore Booth, were about TO under
take Il voyage to the edge OF the ice in a
small vessel named the Kara, now fitting
out at London, to aid in the search for the
Ezra. 1t is also announced that Oscar
Dickson has sent a circular TO the magis-
trates of Tromsoe, Hammerfest and Vardoe,
Offering a reward of e222 TO whoever
first brings assistance to Leigh Smith;
el6S to whoever forwards a report in
writing of the crew of the Ezra of a later
date than November /, 1881, and e55 for
the fret information by telegraph in regard
to the picking up of any of the Eira's crew,
or for letters from them of a later day than
November. Leigh Smith was not a novice
in Arctic navigation. His first voyage was
made to the Arctic regions in 1871 in the
yacht Sampson. His object then was to
reach the highest possible latitude, and to
CA Ii dIA ~ taC
of Spitzbergen. During this expedition he
discovered the eastward prolongation of
North East Land, and reached latitude 81
pa north. In 1872 he made a second voyage
in the new yacht Diana, during which he
encountered much ice and made no progress.
In 1878 he made another voyage in the
Diana, in the course of which he rendered
great service to the Swedish expedition, sup.
Lying them with provisions, for which as
istanoa ha wa1 hon0rad with the Ordar nf
the Pole Star by the king of Sweden.
The most important and successful
of Mr.. Smiths Arctic voyages was
made in 1880, in the Ezra, then a new steam
yacht OF $50 tons burden, built expressly for
Arctic 8 rvice. The Ezra rounded the south
point Of Spiizbergen by July 31st, and Mr..
Smith determined to cross the ice-laden sea
of Berantz 10 Franz Joseph Land, which had
been discovered by the Austrian expedition
of Payer and Waybrecht. The Ezra reached
Franz Joseph Land August 18th, and proved
that at least in some summers the route is
easily navigable. The results of the voyage
were of great scientific value, and it was
demonstrated that much might be done for
Arctic discovery In a single summer season.
Mr.. Smith and his tweuty-four companions
started on their last expedition from Peter
head in June, 1881. The Arctic season of
1881 was very different from that of 1880,
and it is probable that the Ezra was inclosed
by the ice, and probably suffered the fate of
the Jeanette. Even if she was not
crushed by the ice Mr.. Smith and his
companions, if alive, will, in order
to effect their escape, be compelled
to desert her long before the sea would
open to afford her release. They had with
them provisions sufficient to last only until
August next, and they would hardly dare
run the risk of having to spend another win
ter in the Arctic regions. II is probable that
the Ezra has already been abandoned, and
that the party have started on the tedious
and fatigning journey to the open sea. How
tedious and fatiguing such a journey IL the
Arctic regions is can scarcely be conceived,
except by those who have experienced it.
The Jeanette survivors for weeks advanced
only at the rate of a mile a day; while the
Austrian expedition of Waybrecht and Payer
found that after two months of such labor
they were but two miles from their deserted
ship, the wind having blown them back. 1t
is to be hoped that Leigh Smith and his
company may be more fortunate, and that
they will be enabled to make their way in
safety 10 some settlement and receive the care
they will doubtless need.