Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-07-05
The Polar Sea Expedition,

lHo IOlk STU LApcuitlOns
The Polaris, Capt. Halls vessel boun
for the Polar Sea, is trim vessel Q
about 400 tuns measurement. Her side
have been greatly strengthened, and he
bows are sheathed with iron and ter
inmate in sharp iron PROV, with whicl
to cut the ice. Her engine is very power
full and occupies very little space. On
OF the two boilers is arranged to us
whale oil for fuel. The vessel is heate,
by steam. The Polaris has also the rig
ging of fore-topsail schooner, and cal
depend on her canvas, if necessary.
new life-preserving buoy, placed at tn
stern, can be lowered by touching
spring in the pilot-house, and an electri
light on the buoy will render it con
spicuous on the darkest night.
Capt. Hall is q native of Cincinnati
where he was for some time journalist
In 1860 he sailed in search of Sir JOIN
Franklin, getting up an expedition b,
his own exertions and through the liber
atty of private citizens. Objection ha
been raised to his commanding tn,
present expedition because he is not
man of thorough scientific training ant
liberal education, and it cannot b,
denied that the expedition is not strong
in its corps of scientific men. Yet Capt
Hall is in many respects admirably SUITED
for the task before him. He has beer
thrice resident of the polar regions
once for two years and three months
and once for over five years. He il
thoroughly acquainted with the know
regions of the North, and prepared tt
guard against the trials before him. HI
is, too, thorough navigator, and has ap
piled his leisure time of late years tc
the study of the sciences, so that, while
not protesting to be capable of sustaining
all the demands upon the voyager into
unknown regions, he is, as captain
far superior to those generally called tc
his place.
The Chief of the scientific corps is Dr.
Emil Bessells, q member of the late
Prussian Polar expedition. He is O
graduate of the University of Heidelberg,
and is recommended by DR.. Peterman
and Prof. Agassiz. The appointment OF
an astronomer has rested with Prof. S.
f. Baird of the Smithsonian Institute,
and Mr.. Hilyard of the Coast Survey,
and they have decided on a young
graduate of Lafayette College, Easton,
Penn, now attached to the Coast Sur
vey. His name is not yet announced.
The meteorologist is Sergeant Meyer OF
the Signal Corps, who had been station
ed at st. Louis.
The first mate of the vessel is Mr..
Hubbard G. Chester of Noank, Conn.
He has had twelve years experience in
Arctic life. The second mate is Mr..
VIM. Morton of the Kane expedition.
5he discoverer of the Open Polar Sea.
The sailing-master is Capt. O.S Bud
lington of Connecticut, who has been an
Arctic navigator for % years. Be-
sides these are two engineers, Emil
ochuman and John Wilson, q cook, a
steward, blacksmith, a carpenter, IL
and Joe and Hannah, the Esqui-
nauX.
Capt Hall will depend both on boats
md sledges when the ice region is reach
ID. His canvas boats have been already
described. They weigh $50 pounds
Zach, and easily carry 20 men. The
is of hickory and ash, over
which, when used, is stretched cover
ng OF canvas made waterproof. These
boats can be taken apart and folded by
wo men in eight minutes. On the ice the
BOAT is folded and carried on the sledge.
When water is reached the boat receives
he sledge andits contents. One of DR..
Aane's old sledges is on board. but it is
lot intended for use.
The officers cabin is neatly fitted up.
The births are hung with lilac red cur
aims. A parlor organ, black walnut
able and chairs are the principal furni-
ure. The captains cabin is in the CEN
er OF the ship. When in Winter quar-
ers the whole upper deck will be in
losed, and the entire ship fitted up as
fortress against the cold.
Capt. Hallwi touch at Newfoundland
o obtain part Of his dogs, and will steer
hence to Lisco, Greenland where he
viii establish rendezvous. From here
le proposes to sail due west to Jones'
sound, through which he will attempt
o pass north of the Pole Should he
ind this impracticable he will choose
more easterly course, but avoiding as a
place any harbor facing the
lorth, as the drift ice, moving south,
'resses into such harbors, and, as in the
ase of Kane, makes exit impossible.
Capt. Hall hopes to reach latitude 800
+ 80 before going into Winter quar-
ers. DIR. Kane reached only 100.
During the Winter the men will be train
ng themselves for an Arctic life, and
arly in April the sledge journey will be-
IN. The captain wishes to acclimate
is men thoroughly, believing that the
allure OF most previous expeditions
nd the loss of many lives have occurred
rom dependence on provisions taken
rom home, rather than on the natural
roducts of the land in which they travel.
'aw meat ana OIL are necessary to an
.rctic life, and it is believed that a
borough training will render the crew
s capable of enduring the Arctic cold
$ are the native Esquimaux. A store
hip willaccompany the Polaris to Disco.
IS the expedition expects to remain
orth at least five years, if its objects
re not sooner accomplished, it may be
ecessary to return to Disco and take
ew departure. The principal article of
bod taken from home is the pemmican,
preparation OF dried fresh meat, which
more nutriment in q smaller
pace than any other known preparation.
his will be depended on largely in the
edge journeys.
Prospects of the Wheat Crop.
The June returns of the statistical d.
sian pf tho nanorir,nnt &C A H.