The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-10

about 400 tuns measurement. Her sides
have been greatly strengthened, md her
bows are sheatled with iron and ter
inmate in sharp iron PROV, with which
to cut the ice, Her engine is very power
ful and occupies very little space, One
of the two boilers is arranged to use
whale oil for fuel. The vessel is heated
by steam. The Polaris has also the rig
ging of n forc.topsail schooner, and can
depend on her canvas, if necessary. A
new liie-preserying buoy, placed at the
stern, eau be lowered by touching q
spring in the pilOt-house, and an electric
light on the buoy will render it con-
spicuous OH the darkest night.
Capt. Hall is n native Of Cincinnati,
where he was for some time q journalist
In 1860 he sailed in search of Sir John
Franklin, getting up IN expedition by
his own exertions and through the liber-
atty OF private citizens, Objection has
been raised to his commanding the
present expedition because he is not q
nun of thorough scientific training and
liberal education, and it cannot be
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 Inns been
thrice resident of the polar regions,
once for two years and three months,
and once for over five years. He is
thoroughly acquainted with the known
regions of the North, and prepared to
guard against the trials before him. He
Is, too, d thorough navigator, aud has mp.
Piled his leisure time OF late years TO
the study Of the sciences, 80 that, while
not protesting to be capable OF sustaining
all the demands upon the voynger into
unknSwn regions, he is, Us d captain,
fur superior to those generally called to
his place. Id, ,l, r.s. ....s.Fi 5e~
The Chief Of the scientific corpsis DIR.
Emil Bessells, member Of the late
Prlssian Polar expedition. He is a
graduate Of the University Of Heidelberg,
and Is recommended by DIR. Peterinail
and Prof. Agassiz. The appointment o!
IN astronomer has rested with Prof. s.
T. Baird of the Smithsonian Institute,
and Mr.. Hilyard Of the Coast Survey,
and they have decided on a young
graduate Of Lafayette College, EastoG,
Penn, now attached 10 tho Coast Sur.
vey, His name is not yet announced,
Tho. meteorological is Sergeant Meyer Of
the Signal Corps, who had been station
ed at ST, Louis. .5.i4e uglgsog in =
The first mate of the vessel is Nj.
Hubbard G. Chester of Noank, Conn,
He has lad twelve years experience in
Arctic life. The second mate is Mr..
VIM. Morton Of the Kane expedition,
the discoverer OF the Open Polar Sea,
Tho sailing-master is Capt. 0.S. Bud.
dington of Connecticut, who has been al
Arctic navigator for % years. Be
sides these are two. engineers, Emf
Schuman and John Wilson, o cook, 3
steward, a blacksmith, n carpenter, L
seamen, and Joe aud Hannah, the Esqui
maux. lll thlJ lis i7a!- " '1.
Capt. Hall will depend both ON bout,
and sledges when the ice region is reach
ed. His canvas boats have been already
described. They weigh $50 pounds
each, and easily carry. 20 men. Tho
framework is Of hickory and ash, oyel
which, when used, is stretched n cover,
ing of canvas made waterproof. Thest
boats can be taken apart and folded by
two men in eight minutes. Onthe ice the
boat is folded and carried on the sledge
When watar is reached the boat receives
the sledge andits contents. One Of DR.,
Kane's old sledges is Oh board, but It is
not intended for Use. ''' ''' >'''-' '-'
The officers cabin is neatly fitted up
The births are hing with lilac red cur,
tains. A parlor organ, black walnut
table md chairs are the principal furni
turc. The captains cabin)is in the cen
ter Of the ship, When in Winter quar-
tiers the whole upper deck will be in
closed, and the entire ship fitted up q,
fortress against the cold. '''s''-' ''''
Capt. Hall will touch ut Newfoundland
to obtain part Of his dogs, md will steel
thence to Lisco, Greenland where he
will establislia rendezvous. From herC
heproppses to sail due west to Jones
Sound, through Which he will uttcmp
to pass north OF the Pole. Should III
find this impracticable he will choose /
more easterly course, but avoiding Ms {
wintering place any harbor facing the
north, psthe drift ice, moving south
presses into such harbors, and, as in the
case Of Kane, makes exit impossible.
Capt. HILL hopes to reach latitude so:
or SO before going into Winter quar-
tiers. DR.. Kane reached only 100,
During the Winter the men will be train
ing themselves for mn Arctic life, and
carly in April the sledge journey will be-
gin. The captain wishes to acclimatS
his men thoroughly, believing that the
failure Of most previous expedition,
and theloss Of mhny lives have occurred
from dependence on provisions taker
from home, rntler thRn on the naturi
products Of the land in which they travol
Raw meat and oil are necessary to NJ
Arctic life; and it is believed TINT {
thorough training will render the crew
rs capable Of enduring the Arctic coli
rs are the native Esquimaiix. A store
ship will accompany the Polaris to Disco
As the expedition expects to remait
north at least five years, if It's object
arc not sooner accomplished, it mayb,
necessary to return to Disco and take
new departure. The principal article o
food taken from home is the pemmican
n preparation of dried fresh meat, whicl
combines more nutriment ina smallel
space than any other known preparation
This will be depended on largely in III,
sledge iourneys.s i1il ~ ,sil. " nd
'-d Prospects Of the Wheat Crop.
Tic June returns Of tho statistical di
vision Of the Department Of Agricnltur,
indicate a small Increase in the acreag,