New-York tribune., 1909-09-30
SIR EDWARD SEYMOUR
Expert IN Questions of Polar Er-
pIoratiOR and 4UiatioR.
1cnpyright. 1909 by the Brentwood Company

orouyright. 1902 by the Brentwood Company
rew IN this country seem TO be aware that Sir
-so-d Hobart Seymour, admiral of the fleet now
= New York as the principal representative of
- Edward at the Hudson-F Fulton celebration Is
- ~ the Leading experts OF the British navy IN
os,,ons OF aeria navigation and polar explora-
ttcn two subjects which just at present are en-
gInr q consid, rable amount OF popular atten-
ION While I have not heard of his making any
.snts in aeroplanes, he has done a considerable
snount Of ballooning, and has made a special
.,5v OF everything connected with air travel
,Eoreoyer such is his knowledge of Arctic condi-
,,ons in which ne much interested that he
,ent nearly year cruising board a Peter
bead whaler IN order acquire additional expert
Dce of Arctic navigation, leave being granted 10
h,ro for the purpose. that he was appointed sec
ona IN command 20 Admiral Sir George Mares, on
the occasion OF the latter's polar exploring ex-
nedition with the Alert and the Discovery, in
ig75-"76 Al the last moment, however the medical
hoard declined TO sanction his accompanying this
expedition. owing to the condition Of his health.
affected by the very severe wound which he had
received five years previously in the rescue Of an
English vessel from pirates in the Congo River,
when in command Of the Growler stationed of
the west coast OF Africa. Sir Edwards views,
both on the subject Of the Peary-Cook controversy
concerning the discovery OF the North Pole, and
also in connection with the Wright and Curtiss
aying competitions Governors Island New
York would therefore be OF more than ordinary
interest. since they would come from a man who
him, not only through study, but also from prac-
tcal experience.
Sir Edward looks very far from being an old
man-reminding one, with his marked features, his
gray pointed beard and his stately manner, de-
void of all pomposity but characterized by ex-
irene courtesy, Cor all the world Of one OF Van
dyke's cavalers-that difficult TO realize that
he is a veteran OF the Crilnean War True he
was only q midshipmite OF fourteen at the time
having entered the navy two years previously, at
bardment Of Odessa in April. 1854 and also at the
subsequent bomhardment of Sebastopol. and was
mentioned in TIE dispatches on each occasion
as having 'obeyed and carried out all orders with
remarkable cOolness.'
To those who witnessed the beautiful manner in
which Sir Edward brought his British squadron
composed Of warships OF the very latest type. UP
the North Rirea on mis- arrival in New York on
Friday last, and who observed the ease and pre-
cision with which these great monsters Of modern
warfare were hardled. il Seems hard TO realize
that the battleship Terrible. on which he
serving through the Crimean War was. like the
other wooden batteships of that day. difficult
20 manRuvre that II took steamers lashed 10
their sides and several hours in order TO place
the vessels IN tho pest position for firing at the
bombardment OF Sebastopol
Seymour was still midshipman when he COM
manded the Calcutta's launch when she was sunk
by the shot and shell of the Chinese fleet at the
time Of the latters destruction by the English in
was also present al the subsequent capture OF Can
ton and Of the Pei-FIo FORTS receiving pro-
motion TO the rank Of lieutenant for repeated acts
Of galantry under fire. In 1860 he took part in
the capture of Peking. and was present at the
destruction OF the World-famed Summer Palace.
The latter was huge that even such big royal
sbOdes as Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle
could have been comfortably tucked away in
q Its courts Indeed. the structure embraced
area OF miles, and II simply crowded with
mir Of oh
q feature being the immense Throne Room,
frely lined with eKQuisitely carved ebony. In 1862
he commanded the small armed party of the I'm
perieuse which landed for the relief of Ning-Po.
and also for the capture Of Kah-Ding In 1866 that
IS 70 say after fourteen years OF service and when
only twenty-siX years old, he received his promo
ton to the rank Of commander his extra ordinarily
rapid promotion being. as have just shown. won
not by favor but by hard fighting and by splendid
service under fire.
Sir Edward, who while still lieutenant won the
lifesaving medal for diving overheard from the
quarterback into a shark infested and stormy
10 rescue a drowning marine, does not belong TO
the great English house OF Seymour OF which the
Duke Of Somerset and the Marquis OF Hertford are
the chiefs but is an Irishman. like his friend, Ad
rnral Lord Charles Beresford. and is descended
flerz John Seymour. who was alderman and Mayor
Of Limerick in the seventeenth century. The first
Of the family 70 win naval fame Sir Michael
Seymour. who after attaining the rank OF admiral.
received a baronetcy for his distinguished services
IN connection with all those naval victories OF the
days Of Nelson. Sir Edward Seymour admiral OF
the feet, IS one OF his grandsOns. while another
Is the present head Of the family and third b2ro-
net, Sir Michael Culme Seymour, also distin-
gushed naval veteran, who holds the ancient Of
fee OF '-Vfce-adniral OF the United Kingdom" al
though he was a fun admiral for years and years
before invested with that dignity.
Sir Edwards second name Of Hobart comes 10
him through the fact that his great-grandmother
vas the daughter and heiress OF William Hobart.
OF High Mount Limerick
Sir Edward is as great a favorite abroad as in
England One OF Emperor Williams favorite pict-
ures is that painted by his own direction and poT-
tray1ng Sir Edward IN one OF the most hotly con-
tested battles during the march Peking for the
relief OF the beleagured legations there n 1900 Civ
isg the order Germans TO the 'front.'" During that
same march Sir Edward had considerable force OF
United States marines and sailors under his com
mand, while every knows how well he stood by
his old friend Admiral Dewey after the battle Of
Manila il ls2 when he in command OF the
British naval forces IN the China seas.
DIVORCE IN RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA.
So much discussion has been created by the recent
Romantic marriage OF General Suchomlinon. the
Russian Minister OF War. with the beautiful
oivorcee Nine. de Butowitch. that / have
oeiyed a number OF letters asking for information
about the grounds which divorce is granted in
Russia
As quite number OF American women have Rus
nan husbands some OF them being unhappily
ned II may be worth while stating very briefly
mat the dissolution Of a matrimonial alliance in
Russia is exceedingly difficult 10 obtain In fact.
y ls granted only the grounds which would
t1hce 70 secure decree OF nullity from American
VI English tribunals else for infidety But
eniession Of inhdelity and circumstanial evidence
are not considered adequate legal proofs. Wit
hs1ses are Indispensable These, Of course, can be
oought and the result is that perjury plays no
small role In the securing OF divorce in Russia and