LOST IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1031, 2 February 1882, Page 4

LOST IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS

It is rumored that Lord Northbrook will shortly receive a deputation of the Royal Geographical Society, urging him to despatch an expedition early next year to the relief of Mr Leigh Smith, who with Captain Lofley, of Hull, Dr. Neale, and a crew-of 25 men are held fast in a prison ’house of Arctic ice. Mr Smith, whose friends are now pressing this course upon the Government, sailed from Peterhead in June last. The vessel was provisioned for 14 months, but he had not calculated upon passing the winter in the neighborhood of the North Pole, and he had fully intended returning home at the end of the summer. His ship, the Eira, was seen to be pushing northwards off the Coast of Nova Zembla, July 8. The ice was at that time low, and it is conjectured that Mr Leigh Smith entered a passage leading to the north -and east of the Nova Zembla group, that the ice closed behind him, and that thus the exit was barred. By the end of August next their provisions will be exhausted, they will then have to desert the Eira, and dragging their boats across the ice will try to find some open water. Two vessels, the Dutch schooner William Barents, and a sailing ship of Sir H. G. Booth’s are going to make Arctic voyages next year. They will, of course, endeavor to discover some signs of Mr Leigh Smith and his crew. But sailing vessels cannot penetate ice as well as steamers, and therefore, on the plea Mr Leigh Smith ’has rendered great service to geography, has expended £lB,OOO in Arcficresearch, and was last year selected one of the gold medallists of the Royal Geographical Society, it is argued that the State should undertake the duty of extricating him from his present position.