The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-26
CAPTAIN HALLS POLAR EXPEDITION
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
There appears to he much misunderstanding IA
great part OF which, doubtless Is wllful regarding
the proposed North Polar expedition OF Captain Hall,
now nearly ready to sail from this pore; and it seems
advisable to correct If possible, or the errors
which have been made public through the medium
OF the press. or his vessel the Poars--it Is ne
cessary TO say but little. Possibly she not the best
vessel That could have been procured the service
but her Strengthening and bracng is complete as
wood and iron can make IT, while she is fitted with
every appliance for comfort and convenience that
experience or ingenuity can suggest. On the pas
sage around from Washington, winch was accom-
pshed IN siXty-two hours, actual sailing time, she
proved herself good sea boat, standing up well in
neavy sea ana averaging about seven knots an hour
under steam alone. This may be considered good
work, wnen we remember that the machinery Is all
new. and she may be expected to make better time
alter the engines have been used several days con-
secrtively
Her service officers have all had experience In the
Arctic seas and, being imbued with a right spirit,
there is little doubt that we shall hear good ac-
count OF them and their vessel, whether the North
Pole Is reached or not.
Since the Poaris arrived mere several alterations
have been made as TO her internal arrangements,
for the purpose OF giving more light ana roon but
II has not been found necessary TO depart much
from the Original plais. me ROOF OIL the wheel
house has been raised about sS inches, to give the
helnisinan better opportunity for looking out
ahead and the foreyard placed about TWO feet lower
on the mast, so tnaL IL VIII not come in contact
win the forestry when braced sharp up. Win
these two exceptions tue alterations pertain to the
joiner WORK IN and around the cabin.
Leaving the vessel, let Us look at her proposed
route. Leaving SANDY Hook she will proceed To
81. Johns, NewOulAiland, and thence 10 DISCO, on
the coast or Greenland. III about latitude 70
degrees north-a distance IN round numuers Z, 500
mics Here she will repenisn her stores nom Il
ffr linn and
skins ior winter clothing, ana then go on 10
UpernavIck, some three hundred niles further
north, aud, with the exception OF an out-station
81 place called Tessnsak, The most northern
Danish settlement IN Greenland Alter completing
her Quilt at THIS place the route lies through Mel
vile Fay and across the North water to Jones'
Sound, In latitude 20 degrees north. THIS sound,
or strait, mas not been Elucn visited by navIgatur5
since It's first discovery by Bafn In 1910, more than
30 years ago. For TINS reason, II fer no otncr
captain Hail seems TO think II worthy Of thorough
exploration, ana through 10 he hopes to ind tic
desired passage to the North. Captain Inlieiied
entered TINS sound In 1852 and experienced lutte
dIhlculty In reaching longitude "a degrees west
where The coast tTenGei away 10 north and west.
Thick weather intervening however, ana 1t De.ng
late I'm tue season tSeptenDer II that there was
danger oil his vessel being frozen In, no attic npl
was made 10 explore tins apparent passage which
may or may not exist; but IL Is not Impossible anu
Is more than probable that q large body OF open
water extends TO the westward OF EIlesmere Land
as ingleneld encountered lccDcrgs 100 hgn or
sir Robert Iuglls' peak moving uOwn with the cur
rent, winch could scarcely DC the case II Jones,
Sound was not open for long distance TO the
subsequent discoveries OF sir Edward Belcner
through Wellington channel there IL u distance OF
nearly ninety geographical miles hitherto totally
unexp!ored. ms 10 more tnan Twice the width VI