The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-13
OPINIONS ON THE EXPEDITION.


GleaninCs by Herald Reporters-Sharp
Criticisms Of the Polaris and Her Conn
mander-A Vessel Untitled for the
Work of Arctic Exploration.
The disastrous end Of the Arctic expedition which
sailed from this port under command OF Captain
Hall on the evening OF June 20, 1871 and the mar
ve.lous statements OF Captain Tyson one OF the
survivors, have excited deep and absorbing interest
among scientists seaarng men and the general
public Everything bearing in the slightest de-
gree on the subject Is sought after with astonish-
ing interest, and the narratives OF the men who so
providcntlay escaped from the inhospitable ana
cherries region OF the much sought-aiter North
Pole appear so truly remarkable that not few
sceptics have been awakened TO utterance
and gravely shake their heads and express
doubt OF the correctness OF the stories
told. With view OF ascertaining the views OF
some OF those who have preceded Captain Hall,
and OF getting their opinions HERALD representa-
tive yesterday encountered Captain S. J. McCor-
mick who with DR.. Isaac Hayes, commanded an
expedition OF exploration in 1851, equipped and
sent ont at the instance OF and by various scientific
societies OF the United States The Captain was in
his office at the corner of Park .row and Beekman
street. and at once accorded the desired interview.
CAPTAIN Mccormick opened the conversation
himself by saying that he was not little as
tonshed to find reported in the HERALD OF Sunday
last, in an interview with DR.. Hayes, statement
that purported to have emanated from that gentle
man to the eject that it was probable that Captain
Hall had been murdered by his crew.
REPORTER But what, Captain, is your estimate
OF Captain Hall as an arctic explorer
Captain MCCoRMIcK-With regard to Captain
Hall, must say that do not think he was a COM
petent man to conduct such an expedition as
no Tha nariap or
i have had in seamanship and navigation impels
me to say that the qualities OF an active and ener
getic mind, quick perception and strong deter
mination, must be possessed in an eminent degree
by an yOne assigned to the command OF an eXpedi-
ton to explore the Arctic regions. Hall was
NEITHER A NAVIGATOR NOR AN ASTRONOMER
neither was he q seaman His whole dependence
was necessarily upon the men under him. Such
men, being far more able than their commander,
would not have that implicit reliance on him that
would be necessary, and consequently would not
obey his orders with the alacrity and promptness
that would be desirable In fact, they would re-
ceive no dictation from such man.
REpoRTER-What do you think OF the ship-the
POlaris, Captain
Captain McCoRMICK-I visited and inspected the
Polaris prior to her departure-that is, two days
before she set sail, and was very kindly conducted
over the vessel by Captain Buddington. In in
specting her, knowing as much as / did OF the
Arctic regions, expressed my disapprobation to
Captain BuddIngton. She was O craft that would
not have sailed In for any inducements that could
be offered. 1 said at the time that did not be-
leve the ship would ever be brought back. In the
first place her perpendicular fore foot what they
call the stem post, was defective and again. i OBJ
jected to her on account OF her wa!l-sdedness,
that would take the nip OF the ice at the water
n hpr cad nj
her up. The ship selected should have been round
instead OF fiat bottomed, SO that when she caught
it. Trat is all Important in Arctic surveys.
THE PoLARIs UNFIT FOR THE NORTH POLE
| REPORTER-So that, in your Judgment, the
Polaris was utterly unfit for the purpose she was
used for
| Captain McCoRMoK-Decidedly, sir
REPoRTER-What do you think Of the statement
| OF Captain Tyson?
Captain McCoRMIcK-In regard to Captain Ty-
sons explanation OF leaving the ship, cannot I'M
derstand for moment why they should have
abandoned her. From the latitude and longitude
he gives they must have been from six to eight
miles from Northumberland or Hakluyte Island, in
the vicinity Of which there are at least half
dozen harbOrs / cannot comprehend either how
Captain Tyson says that the morning alter
abandoning the noe in his boat he saw steamer,
had the wind from the northwest and his drift to
the southwest. This Is something that Arctic navi-
gators cannot understand. II they saw a steamer,
the steamer must have decidedly seen them IN dis
treSs. He also says that after travelling all night,
on the ensuing morning he found the boat they
they attained the latitude OF 50 degrees IL minutes
This l do not believe. There must have been
some
MISTAKE IN THE OBSERVATIONS
taken, for from the observations that have had in
Conada Channel, the most northern channel that
has ever been reached, 1t Is my firm belief that the
narrowest part is closed rcm year to year, from
the discharge of the Humboldt glacier; con-
sequently / do not think they could nave rot
o far from those observations Both Morton, Hayes
and myself from the nortncrnmost point ON the
south coast OF Canada Channel found the land
Ia ula npa
degree to the south Of where Tyson claims they
navigated to the northwest point. II such point
had been gained by Captain Hall he must have
been within the Arctic circle or Open Polar Sea;
and such being the case am at loss to conceive
why he should have returned to the SOUTH instead
OF pushing his vessel into the Open Polar sea, and,
II necessary, abandoning her, as he had plenty OF
boats with which to secure mis- return.
INSTRUMENTATION you do not credit that part OF
the statement
Captain McCoRMcx-My firm belief is that Cap
tain Hall never attained the northern latitude that
Tyson says he did. The barrier of ice dischargng
rom
THE HUMBOLDT GLACIER BLOCKS The WAY
from Cape Hoberton upward. That being the
rowest part OF the strait, is, in my opinion,
possibly be, with extreme tides. that d passage,
particularly with northern wind, may be opened
to the Polar Sea- In 1860 from Lttleton Island a
reach, forming mere canal. Into this we at
tempted 70 enter, but it was closed upon ua, nip
ping the vessel and throwing her up out OF water
many feet. We then retreated rom the opening
to the Etah Bay, distant about twelve miles and
there sought winter quarters, the season being so
far advanced and we having had so much conten-
ton with the ice. We Wintered in Port Faux, in
latitude 20 degrees, IL minutes and IL seconds
REPoRTER-Do you THINK Captain, Hall reached
as far thsY
Captain MCCoRMcX-No. sir; don't think he
did. They claim, though, that they penetrated
about twelve miles farther north.
acknowledgement, what have you got to say
with regard to
THE OPEN POLAR SEA?
Captain McCogMICK-With regard to the Open
Polar sea have this TO say; have already traced
the Gulf Stream to Archangel Bay, IN the White
Sea. AT the North Gate, which Is at point of
Greenland the Gull Stream splits. one part re-
solves itself into the White Sea- the other has never
yet been traced, but goes to the north via Spitz-
bergen, OF the most northern points OF the
earth and an island. There II forms what we call
the Open Polar Sea, and discharges Itself through
Canada and Smiths channels as an under current.