The New York herald., 1873-10-01
interview HNith DR.. Emil nessel.

called upon the CHIEF OF the scientific corps OF
the Poaris expedition and the following con versa
ton resulted:-
CoRREsPoHDENT-Dr. Bessel have been asked
by the New YORK HERALD to give you any oppor-
tunity you may wish to make statement as to
this unfortunate expedition, and to AFFORD you
opportunity, II you feel disposed, also to give
the American public some notes OF the scientific
aspect of the cruise you have been engaged in.
DR.. BEssEL-I shall be very glad indeed to submit
TO you such scientific facts associated with the
exploration as do not seem to me to touch on the
information / must retain exclusively for the
United States government. With regard to the
details OF the voyage and any matters pertaining
exclusively to the sailing masters department.
should rather not enter on these as they are not
in my department, ana / understand that you
have already exhaustivey interviewed the oifcers
OF the ship. / am further particular on this latter
point because since arrived here we find, from
the American papers, that several
VERY SILLY AND ABSURD RUNoRs
of a mischievous tendency have been abroad. 1t
is just possible the Washington government will
prefer that we do not enter on these, reserving
what wehad to say Tor any graver occasion, should
such unfortunately arise. But must most en-
phatcally contradict the statement that Captain
Hall died other than a natural DEATH lie died OF
ap0plexy. He was i'll about fortnight.
CoRREsPoSDEST-Did DR.. Hall appear to you to
be In perfect health when entering ON the voyage2
Dr. BEssEL-He did.
CoRREsPoSDEST-You noticed nothing unusual
in his health up to the period OF his ness2
DR.. BEssEL-I did not OF course, like all others,
he was liable to ordinary indispositons.
CoRREsPoSDEsr-would you say what you think
were predisposng causes to his fatal illness9
Or. BEssEL-werc to do so should have to use
medical technology, ana 1t is a matter had rather
enter on with medical man. am uneasy lest
inaccurate information by any accidental slip
should get abroad. / feel that am treading on
ground where
MUST De WARY
CoRREsPoNpENT-You have heard OF the rimors
or poson2
DR.. BEssEL-I have, but IL is too absurd to be
seriously entertained
CoRREsposDEsT-May not this rumor have been
founded on the hallucination OF raving paticnt2
Dr. BEssEI,-yery possibly; but you know this is
really matter which feel that In Difference to
the United States government should not enter
on.
CoRREsPoSDESr-May give you the option, DR..
Bessel, OF saying whether there were at any time
any breaches OF discipline on shipboard before or
alter Captain Hans deathY
Dr. BEssEI,-I cannot enter on this matter, but /
think may say the relations OF the crew and ON
GERS were not inharmonious; but shall pass
from this subJectY
CoRREsPoSDEHT-Most certainly DR.. Bessel
since you wish IL, and shall be glad to take any
notes you may give me OF your scientific explana-
tlOns.
Dr. BEssEL-Thesc ! viii give you with the
greatest pleasure In the world. Where shall we
begin 2
6oRREsroSDEsr-Just ten me your story in your
own way.
DR.. BEssEr,-we left New York and proceeded to
New London, thence to Newfoundland QaughiDg).
Every place theTeabout, you know, IL "new.u
From Newfoundland we went to DISCO, where we
met the United states ship Congress, and then
went to Tessnsak and on our way north. After
having got into winter quarters the observatory
was set and scientific labor was begun. Metcoro-
logical observations had been taken every
three hours; now they were taken regularly
every hour. We observed carefully the barome-
ter, p6ych0meter and temperature OF the air,
force and velocity OF the WIND and amount OF at.
mospheric preciptation; we carefully measured
these matters, they being OF high Importance In
regard to the form OF glaciers besides hourly and
otener tidal observations having been made and
interesting fact being discovered that
THE PACIFIC TIDAL WAVE
enters Robson Channel This channel was 80
named after the Secretary OF the Navy by Captain
Hall, the cotdal hour not differing from that OF
Jnlianshab, in South Greenland. Astronom
ical observations We Kept taking the
whole tune With vieW 70 dstsrmine