Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-12-24
For the Gazette.
INTERVIEW WITH CAPT. C. f.
fHALL, THE ARCTIC EXPLORER.

For the Gazette.
INTERVIEW WITH CAPT. C. f.
HALL, THE ARCTIC EXPLORER.
We had the pleasure of several con-
versatiOns with Capt. Hall during his
stay in our town, and propose to give
the substance of them in this article.
The Captain is an earnest talker, but
his conversation is free of egotism.
Seldom, indeed, have we met gentle
man, who so completely forgot self, in
reciting story of life filled with in
teresting adventures. One leaves his
presence with a wondering admiration
of his courage and modestY. Without
further remark we proceed TO our pur-
pose, and that the report may be clear
and Intelligent, we will use the first
and second person.
Captain, you did not have vessel?
Capt. Han. Oh, no, sir, I went out
as passenger on a Whaler-Joe and
Hannah were my only companions.
We were placed on the ice and snow
covered coast, and as the good ship left
us to return to the ocean, we felt desc
late indeed. There were no Esqui-
maux nearer than one hundred and tIf-
ty miles, and as we bid farewell to the
last of civilization and watched the
vessel slowly move from sight, feel
ing of utter loneliness seized me, and
| for a moment felt all within me sink
ing. Ny nerves relaxed and 1 became
as a child. I remember to-day the
PRAYER then offered, and often offer
was only for few moments, A voice
was heard in my heart, as audible as
though spoken to my ear, "You are
not alone, am always with thee"
During my stay of five years I never
felt lonely again.
How long did you remain at the
point where you landed
Capt. Hall.-On1y long enough to get
our boat ready, and pack our goods. 1
had determined to make Repu1se Bay
my headquarters and We proceeded
thither. On our arrival we found ma
tives, and had but little difficulty in
becoming acquainted. Hannah's family
is one of the best known in the Arctic
reeion-they are the aristOcrats, and as
soon as it was found to what family
she belonged, they naturally assigned
her the notableness which her lineage
demanded. They treated me with
much kindness and respect.
Did you do much your first season
Capt. Hall.-No it was late and had
many things to prepare. We took
several small sledge trips for the pur-
pose of securing dogs and also to see
whether we could get any information
regarding Sir John Franklinas party,
some of whom still hoped to find
alive.
Captain, as your lecture contains an
account OfyOur trip and your endeayors
to track the Franklin expedition, 1
would like to talk to you of matters
which the short time allotted to q
lecturer will not permit You to treat.
Are the Esquimaux savage and vic
ious people?
Capt. HalI.-Not as a general thing.
To very great extent they are a
heartIess people. That is to say they
are not capable of great emotions
They have no passionate IoVe-no in
tense sorroWs-no broad and earnest
sympathy. They have attachments,
but it is seldom, that even these are
strong. OF course there are exceptions.
Instance, Joe and Hannah for one.-
Such as they exhibit is very rare.
Among the tribe with which 1 was in
innate, I never saw a fight among the
men. They have their differences but
never violent alterations. There are
one or two warlilze tribes, and they are
greatly feared. 1t is almost an impOs-
sibility to get any of the peaceful tribes
to go near their violent neighbors,
and several times l was compelled to
visit hostile tribes without any compa-
ny, save Joe and Hannah.
What is the condition of their NOR
ais, do they lie and steal and if so what
punishment is inflicted?
Capt. Hal1.-OccasiOna you find a
liar and a thief. They are exceptions,
however. If one is caught stealing he
is branded as thief, and everywhere
he goes, his character precedes him.
So with liar. They are hated and
despised. When map has been guilty
of either he must perform many great
actions before he is able to redeem him
self. If he succeeds in restoring his
good name he will be careful never to
lose it again.
Are their women YirtuOuS
Capt. Hall.-Taking into considera-
ton their mental and moral condition
very. Measured by our standard they
would not be. 1t is seldom any fla
grant violation of marital rights takes
place, and yet occasionally wives are
seduced frOmStheir fealty. The young
women are virtuous. It is an excep-
tion to find them otherwise. It is con-
sidered proWess to steal woman from
another tribe, which is frequently the
case. The new conner enters into her
new relations without any exhibitions
of grief, even though she may have
left her husband.
What is the greatest, or most heinous
crime known to them?
Capt. Hall.-To grow old and become
helpless. This is objectionable, and
those who are guilty of it pay the pen
atty, which is to starve to death. They
are neglected and maltreated, par
ticularly if they are women. Not
| the slightest attention is paid to them.
They become an incumbrance and the
sooner they are out of the way the bet
ter. The are left to die from want and
exposure, and no tears are shed.
What is their religious belief
Capt Hall.-They believe in a great
! spirit, as our Indian tribes. But they
1 seldom worship. 1t is only when death
! approaches that they exhibit an inter
! est of any moment. They die well,
with the full assurance that they are
| going to better country where Rein
/ deer will be plenty and musk OK and
seal abundant. The only idea they
have of future punishment is the fear
that they will be sent to a country
where game is very scarce, and where
they will always be hungry. There
are very few of them who ever heard
the story of the Cross, and so Jealous are
they of their belief that it is dangerous
to attempt to change their views. You
become an object of suspicion and ha-
tired, and it is as much as your life is
worth to be urgent in impressing your
views on them.
When they are sick do they admin
lister medicine?
Capt. Hall.-Oh, nc, they know moth
ing of medicines. They have kind Of
priest who visits the sick, and whose
remedies consist in incantatiOns and
fearful shouts. He will dance around