New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-22
LEJGH SMITHS TOY1GE

Leigh Smith has had thrilling experience,
but has not enlarged the domain OF geographic
cal knowledge. Franz Josef Land was first
deserted in 1913 by the Tegethoif, which had
been drifting ce-bound with the pack from
Novaa Zemlia for more than "A year The
vessel had been driven with The ice as far east
as longitude TO east, but had been carried
northwest to longitude 59o latitude 79' 81,
where she was frozen in close to land. During
the following spring Lieutenant Payer who
had acquired experience III sledging on the east
coast of Greenland under Holloway conducted
three land expeditions, iOurneying 40 miles
and penetrating rs far as the SD parallel,
whence outlying mountainous masses could be
seen at least degree further north. The
southern coast was not explored beyond the
57th meridian, the expedition being compelled
to abandon the ship and retreat across the ice
to Novaia Zemia. Weyprecht and Payer
were convinced that Franz Josef Land could
not be reached in open water. The Dutch
schooner Barentz, which singularly enough was
the first vessel to render aid to Leigh Smith 5
crew, reached the new land III 1879 and the
Ezra followed her In 1850. These passages
were made through lane of open water on the
55th meridian. Leigh Smith skirted "A cOnsid-
cradle portion of the southern coast which had
not been previously explored, and returned to
England to receive the mccall of the Royal
Geographical Society. His success encouraged
him to repeat the passage during 1881, when
an open lane was found on the same meridian
as before. Following the coast which he had
previously explored, he endeavored to pass
eastward to the Tegethofi's winter quarters
with view to tracing the main line OF Wilczek
Land northward. The unexpected loss OF his
vessel forced him to fOrego exploration and to
retreat southwark in his boats after eleven
months Of inactlon-
While Leigh Smith has not added to the dis
coveries made by him in 1850, nor reached as
high latitude as that attained by Lieutenant
Payers sledging party, his experience may
have an important bearing upon the future OF
Arctic exploration. For three successive seasons
Franz Josef Land has been easily reached on Il
meridian four degrees west of the IegethOifs
winter quarters, and as the Elra's boats sailed
southwark eighty miles without seeing any ice,
it is evident that the passage could have been
made with equal facility few weeks later
during the present season. The, theory that
Franz Josef Land can only be reached by an
ice DOulu snip ullltlhE III hNb'i h'ip'N'Hh'''
must be abandoned. The passage seems to be
practicable every summer provided westerly
course be taken, the explanation being that the
Cult Stream breaks up the ice between Spltz-
bergen and Franz Josef Land, whereas further
east it is massed by nOrthwesterly currents from
the direction of Cape Chelyuskin We shall be
surprised if the Gulf Stream rUute to the west
ern coast Of the Austrian Archipelago. which in
Baron Nordenskiold's judgment stretches in tie
direction of Petermans ellis Land, # not
toward the Pole itself, does not become the
favorite line of advance.
Leigh Smiths success in killing bears, birds
and walrus, and in maintaining the good
health of his crew for eleven months, proves
that this desolate land is far less inhospitable
than the Austrian explorers represented.
Payer who only had two glimpses OF walrrs,
described the country as destitute of every form
of animal life except bears and migratory
birds. Leigh Smiths tent seems to have been