Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-31
SIR ALLEN YOUNG'S CRUISE IN
SEARCH OF THE EZRA.
How Relief Was Brought 90 . CAST
away Crew-An Experts Opinion
on she Wisdom OF Future Expedi-
tiOns-SuggestIOns as TO the Loss
of Ihe Jeannetfe-Terrible Force
OF the Ices
NeO York Herald .


NeiC York Herald
A Herald correspondent had an Interview
with Sir Allen Young, on his arrival in Lon
don, ut his residence In st. James street, on
the results or Mr.. Leigh Smiths voyage.
Sir Allen said: "The Hope was fitted out
with every appliance and requisite for an
Arctic voysge-trsveling gear, sledges.
clothiug, provisions for wintering In the ice
II necessary for two years, with full rations
for its own crew, besides one year for the
Eira's, to be placed at depots. Fortunately,
as we found the crew OF the Ezra on the
coast OF Nova Zembla, these resources
were not touched. The Hope had a
prosperous though somewhat stormy voY-
age, and met with gales, fogs and some fee
between the coasts of Norway and Nova
Zembla. proceeded to lay depots in ac-
cordance with the instructions given me.
In carrying out this work, which necessarily
kept her very close to the shore, she unfor-
tunabelY struck reef, receiving consider
able damage, and had to put back to Ma
tocbkin Straits to repair. | considered that
we had more chance of finding Mr.. Leigh
Smiths boats on the coast Of Nova Zemblh
than by going through the fee to Franz Josef
Land, which he probably would have left
before | could have arrived, and so 1t turned
out. The Hope was repaired and ready for
sea on August 3, and was proceeding to sail
northWard, having landed q depot, when
the Eira's crew fortunately arrived, were
received on board and berthed according to
their rank, rating with the Hopes crew.
The mission OF the Hope having now been
fulfilled l ordered the ship Immediately to
be prepared for her shomeward voyage.
She was ready for sea on August 6, and took
her final departure for Nova Zembla, ar
irving In Scotland on the Goth, after a bois-
ferrous voyage.
81 believe it is Mr.. Smiths opinion that,
with good ship properly equipped, an ex-
pedition might proceed in any year to Franz
Josef Land, and IL the ship were placed in a
proper place OF protection there is no reason
why she should not return safely In the fol
lowing season through the pack, which from
Mr.. Smiths experience proves much more
open, especially about meridian As east,
than has hitherto been supposed. An expe-
d1t1on intending to winter there might do
good service to science by sending out
sledee parties either along the northwest
shores or through any Of the Fjcrls which
might lead nOrthward. An expedition
prepared for this purpose might possibly
reach very high latitude pro-
vided the land were found to continue
north. IL, however, the land terminated,
all sledge parties must be arrested. AS is
well known, 1t is impossible to carry the
weight OF sledges travelling through the
oceanic pack. Mr.. Smiths voyage proves.
moreover, the fact that men can live In
Franz Josef Land on the resources OF the
country, provided they had plenty of
ammunition, bread, meat and preserved
vegetables, as the birds remain late and
arrive early In the season. Bears may be
shot throughout the winter and Walrus in
any numbers whenever the storms open
lanes In the ice. The voyage, moreover,
proves that well kept party, with boats
under proper disciplined leadership, could
In all probability accomplish retreat to
the coast OF Nova Zembla should the ship
be lost.
'I am strongly of opinion that there
ought TO be a second ship in any expedition
that might be sent, and also that depots
should be placed on prominent points of
Nova Zembla In order to insure the return
In case of disaster. Mr.. Smith, by feeding
his crew upon the resources OF the coun-
try, was enabled to save some timed pro-
visions rescued for the contemplated boat
journey. He had, moreover, supplemented
these provisions by canning seals and bear
aesh during the winter. This retreat
proved well organized and well con-
Quoted, and when it is considered that
even the sails of the boats were made from
few tablecloths saved from the
wreck, and that the ship sank within an hour
after the alarm, and very few things could
therefore be saved, he must be congratulate
ed. He was fortunate, indeed, In more
ways than one, for the crew would have
been quite unable to drag the heavy boat
over the ice had the main pack not opened
out, but just previous to his departure a
heavy northerly gale drove the ice seventy
miles clean off the coast, leaving a clear
space to sail in southerly direction"
Correspondent What is your opinion as
to the bearing of Mr.. Smiths expedition on
that of the Jeanette?
Sir Allen Youug-It must be borne in
mind that the Ezra retreat had the advan-
tage OF being much earlier in the season.
and consequently experienced finer weather.
Inc crew arrived, moreover, upon a coast
where relief ship awaited them. Even
without her they would have found depots
placed on the points they intended to make
for, while, on the other hand, the Jeanette
crew, after the splendid retreat so brsvely
carried out over so much larger area.
unfortunately arrived on desolate coast at
the worst possible time-namely, when the
soft snow was beginning to fall, and when
travelling was practically impossible.
spon6ent-What is your opinion on
the crushing Of the Jeanette =?
Sir Allen YOung-The fact of her having
passed nearly two hours in that formidable
pack proves that every care and caution
AAASD AoFO DCcu Gdh6u ny QSr brave COM
mander and crew. Otherwise she must long
before have succumbed to the pressure of
the ice; and when we reflect that the Ezra,
which was specially built and strengthened
Tor the ice, fell victim to frs terrible force
at SO early period of her career, we must
conclude that the chances are very
great Of ship being crushed under
the many adverse circumstances to
which she is exposed, however great
her strength and however ably she
may be commanded. In conclusion, Sir
Allen expressed himself very glad to hear
that an inquiry was proposed into the cir
cumstances Of the loss of the Jeanette. He
felt confident that the responsible evil
dence" which such court would have the
advantage Of would tend to prove how ably
the ship was equipped and conducted: how
gallantly the crew struggled through two
winters, determined not to abandon their
ship so long as she was still afloat under
them, and how the final disaster was brought
about by elements beyond all human con-
troll.