The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-10
TIE INCEPTION OF THE ENTERPRISE

owed his distinction chiefly to his search for the
remains OF the Sir John Franklin expedition. The
absorbing theory Of his life was the existence Of
an open Polar sea, which he felt IL was perfectly
possible to reach by crossing Its ice-bound margin
on sledges. Captain Hall wrote and lectured
good deal on the subject OF the North Poe and like
all men imbued with singleness OF purpose. he
made his way In the long run to the attention
Of the public. Finally Congress voted an appro.
pratiOn Of $4,000 to ut out an expedition
for the object of giving practical test to the
theory Of Hall and aiding the progress of science
and civilization. There was great deal OF inter-
est felt throughout the country In the enterprise,
and this became more evident when Congress,
which just then happened to be in parsimonious
mood appropriated liberal means for Its equip
ment. government vessel was set apart to be
fitted up specially with view to Arctic naviga-
ton. This was the Polaris formerly the Peri
Wrinkle. She was exceedingly stanch and well
fitted and Captain Hall gave his days ana nights
TO experimenting her equipment.
THE LOST PoLARIs.
She was about 400 tons measurement, larger than
the Advance, in which DR.. Kane undertook his
former voyage. She was planked all over her sides
with six inches OF solid white oak timbers, and was
throughout nearly doubled In strength, her bows
being almost solid mass Of timber sheathed with
iron and terminating in sharp iron prov, with
which to cut through the ice. Her engine, which
was built some years ago at Messrs. Nea1es
LEWIS works, Philadelphia, was exceedingly COM
pact and powerful, and took up comparatively
little space. The propeller was arranged
In such manner that It could be unshipped ana
lifted up deck through shaft or propeller well
in the stern. supply Of extra blades were pro-
vided so that If one should by accident get
broken it could always be replaced. There was
also extra rudder on board and several suits Of
sails and sets Of spars Of all dimensions. OF the
two boilers one was supplied with an apparatus to
use whale oil for the generation Of steam not only
to furnish the propeling power but also to heat up
the vessel throughout by steam. The Poaris was
rugged as foretopsai schooner, and fully able to
sail and steer under canvas only. She also had
new life-preserving buoy placed on the outside in
the stern that could be lowered into the water by
touching q spring placed near the pilot house.
BY touching another spring an electric light affixed
to the buoy, about two feet above the water, could
be ignted by completing the circuit Of an electric
current from a galvanic battery on board; and
thus the buoy could always be distinctly seen, and
a man falling overheard would know In what d.
rection to swim for help. She had also
FIVE EXTRAORDINARY BOATS,
one OF which Is worth describing. 1t was about
twenty feet long, four feet wide and two deep.
1t had carrying capacity OF four tons weighed
only $50 pounds, and carried with perfect and
safety twenty men, IL consisted OF an interior
frame built OF hickory and ash woods, over which
was stretched canvas cover previously soaked in
preparation to render 1t perfectly waterproof and
the boat could be taken apart and folded together
In space less than one-eighth OF its original size
in about three minutes and by the assistance OF
couple OF men only. When folded up it was per-
fectly Nat, and could be transported on q sledge
across the ice without the slightest difficulty.
When open water was reached the order OF things
was exactly reversed-the boat unpacked and
spread out and the sedge and its contents taken
on board, dog team and ALL
The accommodations OF the Poaris for crew and
officers were perfect. The cabin was neatly fitted
up, and had In it an organ, presented to Captain
Hall by the Smith Organ Company, and aft she car
ried small brass howttzer. From Captain to deck
hand the crew Of the Polaris was composed OF
heroes worthy to be sung with Zetes and Orpheus
and Jason and all the other Argonauts.
SKETCH OF CAPTAIN HALL.
Captain Hall was about five feet eight inches in
height, with compact firmly knit frame, indicative
OF great vigor and strength, and weighed probably
about one hundred and ninety pounds. He had
large head, with profuson ofthiek, brown hair and
heavy brown beard inclining to curl. His forehead
was broad and massive with full development OF
the temporal ana coronal regions His eyes were
blue and the whole expression Of the countenance
firm, but very agreeable, kind and pleasant. Cap
tain Hall hailed from Cincinnati, where ne was
once engaged in the newspaper business, publish
ing the occasional and afterwards the Daily Penny
Press. In mis- earlier years he was blacksmith,
working at the Jorge, and his robust development
beyond question, was in some measure attributable
to the exercise OF that ardent occupation. He was
in no wise scientific or highly educated
man, bu, had remarkably practical
mind, with great deal OF force OF
character. He had never studied the
science OF navigation even, though he was,
through experience and aptitude, as competent to
navigate ship or conduct an overland exploring
expedition as any OF the daring band OF discover
ers that had endeavored to solve the great Attic
problem. He sailed northward in 1850 In search OF Sir
John Franklin, since which time his name and
fame have been the common property Of the world.
DR.. EMIL BIssELs