New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-20
THE POLAR SEA.
WAN HALLS EXPEDITION.

FIT-THB ROUTE.
9be steamer Polaris, now lying at the
v,uot,vu NavyYard, win sail in about ten DAYS on
ne az thOse expeditions about which SO much OF
80 mystery clusters and which have already cost
= nanv valuable ves-viE., on Q voyage to the NORTH
Poe In spite of uniform failures OF SO many pre-
ecessors Capt Hall looks forward with the greatest
hope to solving the problem before him, ana Is &c
termined to do all that modern ingenuity taught py
mast experience can do complete the map Of the Arc
&c regions.
The Polaris formerly the Periwnkle, Is trim vessei
81 about tuns measurement. Her sides have oeeh
sreaty strengthened and her bows are sheetheu WIN
iron and terminate sharp iron PROV, with "heh W
ent through the ice. Her engine Is very powerful anu
occupies very little space. One OF the TWO polors an
ranged TO use whale oil fuel The vessel heateo py
steam Polaris has also the rigging OF iore'opsi
schooner and depend her canvas IL necessary
new e-preserving buoy, placed at the sterD can NC
lowered by touching spring in the pilohouse ana an
electric light on the buoy win render 1t conspicuous On
ne darkest night.
Cant Halls a native OF Cincinnati where he was for
come time Journalists In 1860 he sailed in search OF SIT
John Franklin getting upan expedition by ms own eher
ons and throu gh the liberaty private citizens Oec
ten has raised TO his commanding the present expe
dton because he is not man OF thorough scientific t
ing and liberal education and cannot be denied 'na'
the expedition is not strong in its corps OF scientific men
Yet Cant Hall is many respects admirably suited Iol
the task before him. lie has been thrice resldeit VI
the polar regions, once for two years and three
and once for over five years. He lie Thoroughly Nv
ouanted with the known regions of the North anu pro
pared 10 guard against the trials before him. lie ls 'oo
thorough navigator and has applied MS leisure .ie y"
late wears 70 the study sciences so tha whe not
nroIessng 10 be capable Of sustaining all the demands
upon the voyager into unknown regions ne 49, as cap
tain far superior 10 those generally called 10 Els place.
In those of his assistants engaged he mas the most per-
feet confidence and only regrets that other men, recog
pzd devoees TO science have not come forward for the
massage which has awaited their asking.
The chief of the scientific corps is Dr. Emil Besses
member Of the late Prussian Polar expedition. He Is
graduate Of the University of Heidelberg, and is recon-
mended by DR.. Peterman and Prof. Agassiz. The APP
pontment Of astronomer has rested with Prof s. f.
Baird OF the Smithsonian Institute and Mr. Hnyard OF
the Coast Survey, and they have decided on young
graduate Of Lafayette College, EastOn, Penn, now at
tached to the Coast Survey. His name is not yet an
nouneed. The meteorologis Sergeant Meyer OF the
Signal Corps who has been stationed at ST. Louis.
The first mate Of the vessel is Mr.. Hubbard Chester
Of Noank Conn. He has had twelve years experience
IN Arctic life. The second mate is Mr.. VIM. Morton of
the Kane expedition the discoverer OF the Open Polar
Sea. The sailing master is Capt. o. s. Buddngton OF
Connecticut who has been Arctic navigator for p
years Besides these are two engineers Emil sehu
man and John Wilson, cook steward blacksmith,
carpenter u seamen, and Joe and Hannah, the Esqm
nsux. -
TIE EQUIPMENTS.
capt Hail VIII uepenu DOlu O uOat' 'iN NS "i4N
she ice region reached His canvas boats have been
already described. They weigh go pounds each, and
easily carry 90 men. The framework is Of hickory and
ash over which, when used is stretched covering OF
canvas made waterproof These boats can be taken
apart and folded by In eight minutes On the
See the boat is folded and carried the sledge When
water is reached the boat receives the sledge and its
contents One OF Kanes Old sledges on board, but
Il Is not intended for use.
The officers cabin is neatly fitted UP. The berths are
hung with lilac rep curtains A parlOr organ, black
walnut table and chairs the principal furniture The
captains cabin is in the center of the ship When in
Winter quarters the whole upper deck will be inclosed,
and the entire ship fitted fortress against the cold
THE ROUTE.
Leaving this port in eight ten days, he Will touch
Of Newfoundland TO obtain part of his dogs and will
theHce to Disco. Greenland, where he will estab-
Hsh rendezvous. From here he proposes to sail due
west to Joness sound through which he viii attempt to
pass north TO the-Pole Should he find this mpracticabe
he will choose easterly course, but avoiding as
wuterng place any harbor facing the north as the drift
ice moving SOUTH presses into such harDOs, and as III
the case OF Kane makes exit impossible
Capt Han hopes reach latitude 500 or SO before
going into Winter quarters Dr. Kane reached only 800
Daring the Winter the will be training themselves
for an Arctic life, and early in April the sedge journey
will begin. The Captain wishes to acclimate his men
thoroughly believing that the failure Of most previous
expeditions and loss Of many lives have occurred
from dependence on provisions taken from home
rather than on the natural products of the land in which
they travel. Raw meat and oil are necessary to an
Arctic life and 1t is believed that thorough training
will render the crew as capable of enduring the Arctic
,old ne are the native EsQumauX. stOreship will
accompany the Polaris to Disco As the expedition
poets to remain north at least five years, If its objects
are not sooner accomplished may be necessary to re-
turn to Disco and take new departure The principal
article Of food taken from home is the pemmican,
preparation Of dried fresh meat, which combines more
i'm a smaller than other known
preparation This will be depended largely in the
sledGe Journeys.
THE HOPES AND DANGERS OF EXPEDITION.
An Arctic expedition Of to-day sails forth under very
different circumstances from those under which the
earlier formed Futile as all previous expe-
dons have been in solving the great question Of the
Polar seacoast each has brought back fuller chart
and larger experience to bequeah toits successor The
narrative of Kane, in itself ia guidebook to the frozen
regions and the who sail up to these chill do
mains have not only the good wishes OF the
century, but all its experiences added to their
own, 20 assist them. OF the great obstacles
10 be overcome, the intense cold is one Of the
most serious. Capt. Parry found temperature Of
SO below zero on the 18th OF February 1872 at Melville
Island and Capt Backnoed temperature Of 1902 IL our
damp climate such cod would be at destructive Of
life In those northern regions, however the dry air
,ntigates its effects. Sir John Richardson In his last
tourney could go from his stngroom 10 the magnetic
observatory without putting an overcoat although
passing from temperature or 1O' TO -5O capt hairs
sedge Journey will be his greatest trial With no warm
ship to shield him. forest to break the force Of
the cutting Winds he must journey over the barren ice
wastes at the mercy Of the elements.
Another question Of Importance is to he solved In
what condition will he find the Polar Sea- viii 1t be
sheet Of solid ice, of moving ice, or an open
oceani Here of the question Of Arctic tempera
ture some II the Arctic Winter is so intensely cold
is not the prOporOnately soi Certainly not.
The long Winter whose sunless days grow 80 chill, is
followed by the long six months Of uninterrupted sun
IL. LIN. MI ahsnrh inter.