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Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov
Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov - Russian hydrographer, polar explorer, senior lieutenant. The organizer of an unsuccessful expedition to the North Pole, during which he died without reaching the stated goal, having traveled about 200 kilometers.
Coming from a fishing family, naval officer (captain; 1911), full member of the Russian Geographical Society, honorary member RAO (Russian Astronomical Society).
Participated in expeditions to explore the island Vaygach, mouth of the river Kara, New Earth, Kara Sea, Caspian Sea, mouth of the river Kolyma and sea approaches to it, Cross Bay.
In Soviet times, Sedov's activities were given special attention, since he came from the poorest strata of the people.
Expedition to the Pole
Traditionally, the expedition of G. Ya. Sedov is called the "First Russian expedition to the North Pole."
B 1912 Sedov had the idea for an expedition to North Pole. By this time, the Americans had already announced the conquest of the North Pole Frederic Cook and Robert Peary .
For some reason, Sedov considered the fundamental condition of the expedition to be ahead of the pole Amundsen, although the latter failed to reach North Pole was undertaken only in 1918 on an expedition on the ship "Maud".
From that moment on, Sedov drove himself into time trouble, since there was practically no time to prepare the expedition. The reason for this haste, according to L. G. Kolotilo, next.
Initially, the expedition involved government funding.
Having considered the plan presented by Sedov to reach the North Pole, the commission of the Main Hydrographic Department rejected it because of its absolute fantasy and unreality, and refused to allocate funds, although the commission included many specialists who were very sympathetic towards G. Ya. Sedov (for example, A. I. Varnek) and even F. K. Drizhenko, who openly patronizes him.
Request for allocation of 50 thousand rubles sent to State Duma on the initiative of the Russian National Party, was also refused.
With the support of F.K. Drizhenko, Sedov was granted a leave of absence for two years with pay.
Sedov, with the active support of the newspaper "new time» and its co-owner M. A. Suvorina, organized the collection of voluntary donations for the needs of the expedition. Numerous publications in Novoye Vremya caused a great public outcry in Russia. A private contribution of 10 thousand rubles was also made by the emperor Nicholas II. Suvorin gave the expedition money on credit - 20 thousand rubles. It was possible to collect about 12 thousand more. Donors were handed signs with the inscription "To the donor for the expedition of Senior Lieutenant Sedov to the North Pole." A full-length skier is depicted in the center of a round token made of dark bronze among the polar ice and snow. The badge was worn on a white-blue-red ribbon. Three signs were made of gold. They were received by the chairman of the committee M. A. Suvorin, Fridtjof Nansen and Captain 1st Rank P. I. Belavenets.
With the funds raised on July 23, 1912, Sedov rented from animal trader B. E. Dikina old sailing-steam schooner "Holy Great Martyr Foka", ex Norwegian farming barque "Geyser" 1870 built, formerly owned by "Murmansk Scientific and Fishing Expedition". The ship had a displacement of 273 tons, a steam engine with a capacity of 100 liters. With. and rigging provided speeds of up to 6-7 miles per hour, the metal-plated oak hull was 133.3 feet long and 30.2 feet wide. Because of the haste, the ship could not be fully repaired, and the crew was worried about a leak. "Holy Great Martyr Foka" was equipped radio station, however, the Maritime Ministry refused to send to the expedition radio operator, and Sedov failed to hire his own, because of which the equipment turned out to be useless and was left in Arkhangelsk. Of the 85 sled dogs, only 35 were purchased in the Tobolsk province. The rest - mongrels who were caught right on the streets of Arkhangelsk - subsequently did not justify themselves, many of them died on Franz Josef Land. Navigation instruments were provided by the Hydrometeorological Service of the Department of Commercial Ports, the Main Physical Observatory and the Main Hydrographic Department.
August 19, 1912 it turned out that load capacity Foki does not allow you to take all the supplies necessary for the expedition. As a result, after partial unloading, some food, fuel, drinking water and equipment were left on the shore (including stoves).
On August 24, 1912, Captain Deakin, assistant captain, navigator, mechanic, assistant mechanic and boatswain of the "Holy Great Martyr Foki" refused to go to sea with Sedov due to poor sailing preparation and quit the ship. Sedov had to urgently recruit a new team.
February 2, 1914 sick Sedov together with sailors G. I. Linnik and A. I. Pustoshny on three dog sledding (having only 20 dogs) left Tikhaya Bay for the Pole. Wiese, Pinegin and Pavlov accompanied Sedov's group to Cape Markham.
In the course of the movement, the illness of Georgy Yakovlevich progressed, a week later he could not walk and ordered to tie himself to the sled, but to continue the campaign. February 20, 1914, on the eighteenth day of the campaign, Georgy Yakovlevich died among the ice near Rudolph Islands. His companions buried the body on Rudolf Island - they wrapped it in two canvas bags, made a cross out of skis and put a flag in the grave, which Sedov intended to set at the North Pole. Then they headed back. One of the dogs, Fram, remained at the grave. Linnik and Pustoshny could not catch her and left a small supply of food in the hope that the dog would catch up with them, but Fram did not return.
On March 1, 1914, the first mechanic, J. Sanders, died of scurvy. He was buried on the shore of Tikhaya Bay.
On March 6, 1914, Linnik and Pustoshny, almost getting lost, with difficulty returned to their ship.
On the way back, July 20, 1914, the crew of the Fokie at the old Jackson base at Cape Flora (Northbrook Island, Franz Josef Land) accidentally discovered and rescued the only two survivors of the expedition G. L. Brusilova: navigator V. I. Albanova and sailor A. E. Konrad.
On the way south, the Foca experienced a severe lack of fuel for steam engine. The crew had to chop on firewood furniture, deck superstructures and even ship bulkheads. The ship reached the Rynda fishing camp at Murman 15 August 1914 in a dilapidated state. Further path to Arkhangelsk members of the expedition did it on the regular passenger steamer "Emperor Nicholas II" - at the expense of the captain of the steamer, since none of the polar explorers had money. Upon their return to Arkhangelsk, sailors Linnik and Pustoshny were suspected of killing Sedov, but after an investigation they were released.
On August 23, 1914, a memorial service for the deceased G. Ya. Sedov was served at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior of the All Guards, which was attended by his widow V. V. Sedova and Lieutenant General F. K. Drizhenko.
