New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-30
CAPTAIN HALES JOURNEY.

! CAPTAIN HALES JOURNEY.
The narrative Of Captain G. F. Hail. which
We print this morning, though it adds nothing
toSur knowledge of Arctic geography, is replete
with deeper interest than we had any reason to
anticipate In some respects his has been the
most remarkable joarney ever undertaken IN
the polar regions. He was not an cxpe-
rcnced explorer he was not even sailor,
but n plain citizen Of Cincinnati, when he con-
ceived the idea of prosecuting, upon plan
hitherto untried, more nitrate search after
tho relics of the Franklin expedition than
any previous traveller lad been able to
make. He put no trust in ships, but
depended entirely upon sledge Journeys, living
with the Esquimaux. learning their language,
and adopting their customs and diet. This
involved greater hardships and required more
heroic patience than even the memorable voy-
ages of DR.. Kane but Captain Hall has passed
ia his two expeditions no less than seven or
eight years among the frightful Arctic SHOWS,
aud has got thereby the knowledge which he
went to seek. The problem of Sir John
Franklin's fate wa already 50 nearly
solved that there could be no reasonable
hope that any one survived ont oil that
gallant commanders party. 1t was
Erebus and Terror, he had discovered the
long-sought, useless Northwest Passage
which had cost the world so many lives, and
just Mt the goal OF his voyage had been
hopclcssly locked in the grasp of the ice. II
was known that Franklin died during the
neat years. captivity ,uat amer tnc silp' in'u
remained motioncss for nineteen months the
survivors. iOj in number, under command of
-. cot m afn
strait which separates King Williams
Island from the Northern line Of the
American continent in the hope of reaching
the frontier stations of tho Iludson's Bay
Company; and that many, and probably all of
the party, died on the way. Their relics were
found by McOintock all along the coast of
King Williams Island, and the natives assured
him that every one of the party had persisted.
Still McClintotk's discoveries left room for n
faint hope thd one or two might have escaped
the fate Of Die rest. Anderson in 1850 lad
heard of some of the missing adycnturcIS ~
far south as Montreal Island, mt the mouth of
the Great Fish River; and FAINT rumor
reached Hall n his iiTst voyage OF three white
men who, as recently as 1854 or 1870, had been
wandering among distant EsquimauN tribes,
seeking in vain for doliycTancc. Ii was 10 clear
up this last mystery and complete the inyesti-
cations of NcCintock that Hall sailed from
New London in 1861.
For the story of his explorations we refer
our readers To the letter addressed to Mr..
Henry Grinnell, who boro large shaIe OF
the expenses of the expedition. 1t Is sad
tragieal narrative. There is no longer even
shadow of hope that any one survives out oil
Franklin's company. 1t Is ascertaincd, accord
ing to this report, that none OF them reached
even rs far as Montreal Island. and their bones
lie scattered along the coast of King Williams
Land, some il isolated graves, others in the
camping places where they fell and died in
companies. The melancholy history has its
crownng horror ia the knowledge that they
| died of starvation through the base behavior
of the Esqumaux. and that in learning their
fate Captain Hall was reduced to the awful ne
cessity of taking the life of one of his own
mutnous men.
If he could have persuaded any one to re-
main with him long enough for Summer
exploration of the island. Captain Hall is con
vnced that he would have found the com
plete manuscript records of the expedition
which the last of the unfortunate crews twenty
years ago undoubtedly deposited somewhere
on their line of march Except rs memorial,
of heroic adventure, or as personal relics, suc
records, however, can have no great value
now, and 1t will not be worth the risk of an
other life to go in search of them. The prob
lem which Franklin lost his life III soly
ing has been solved by others since
his death, and has proved of no us'
to mankind. If there is any pncti
cable water passage through the Arctic re
gions, which it will be worth while for an,
ship to attempt, that passage will be foun'
far to the North, through Kanc's Open Sea
and how to reach it we dare say will turn on
, to be a question rather Of navigation thai
, of geogrphy-that is, we shall get it rather b.
studying ocean currents than by tracing tn
{ cOnhguraliog of ice. bound coasts. For wha
J secrets the inhospitable regions of the North
, West Passage OF Franklin, Mcclure, an
, McClintock may yet inclose, We must await tina
great day of universal enlightenment whe
, the sea shall give up its dead and all the mys
, tcrics of earth shall be revealed.
10. IAN