The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-10
The POIaris.
ruZzLING CIRCUMSTANCES.

FULIIiNG CIRCU INSTANCES.
In Washington on Saturday the 9Th inst
The examination of Sergeant Frederick
Meyer, of the Signal corps. one of the par
ty rescued from the ice-floe by the Tigris,
was in many respects more important than
that of Captain Tyson. More time was de-
voted to Meyer than to Tyson. 1t has al
ready been stated that both agreed that
Captain Hall was delirious, and his suspi-
cious were only spoken of as accusations of
foul treatment made when out of his mind
The testimony of Joe, Hannah and Hans
Christian, given Saturday, it has been as
ccrtained, confirm the statement that Cap
tain Halls death resulted from ordinary
causes, but the separation of the Tyson par
ty from the Polaris is still unsatisfactory
explained.
Both Tyson and Meyer testified that
Captain Buddington was drunk at the time
the order was given for them to leave the
ship, and the stores were prccipitated on
the ice. The engineer reported to Bud
dington that the vessel was leaking badly
and advised preparations for abandoning
her. From that time there was nothing
but confusion on board Neither Tyson
nor Meyer were liked by Buddington. The
former he regarded as a supernumerary
added to the ship after her complement had
been made up ; the latter, belonging to the
army, thought he was not subject even to
the Captains orders, and was necessarily
insubordinate from the time the Polaris
left Disco to the separation. That these
two persons, with Heron, the steward,
who also did not have Captain Buddingtons
friendship, and the inferior seamen, should
have formed the party, puzzles the secre-
tary and the examiners assisting him.
On the other hand, it is known that be-
fore the departure of the Polaris the child
of Joe and Hannah was great favorite of
Buddington's So much so that she was
allowed many privileges, and was the OBJ
ject of devoted attention on the part of the
sailing master. Why she and her parents
and the wife of Hans. Christian, with a
helpless babe, should have been put off the
vessel, under the peremptory orders of Cap
tain Buddington confuses the examiners in
forming their opinions Before the expe-
diton started, Captain Hall, who was an
advocate of total abstinence, made com.
pact with Buddington not to tolerate the
use of liquor of any kind ON board the Pc.
laris, and none was allowed to be taken on
except such as was purchased as medical
stores and under the immediate charge OF
DR.. Bessells.
The chests and private property of the
crew were carefully examined before being
slowed away, and every precaution taken
to have the agreement strictly regarded. II
is also asserted that Buddington was not O
man addicted to the use of spirituous liq
uors, even on shore, and never while al
sea. The shifting of the last boat from
the Polaris to the ice is regarded by Com
modore Reynolds as evidence of serious
intention to abandon the vessel; but the
testimony of Tyson Meyer goes to show
that the discipline on the vessel was very
bad and the precautions invariably taken
to guard against danger from ice packs
were almost left unattended to.
1t was at first the impression of the ex.
aminers that the separation of Tyson and
his party from the ship was accidental
The subsequent statements of the Esqui
maux, however, disprove this belief. Those
to whom have been confided the lates,
Developments are of opinion the Secretary
should despatch vessel in search of the
Polaris without delay. The friends of Bud
dington will insist upon it, while naval Off
GERS consider it duty the Secretary owes
to the service to act promptly.
The shot gnn owned by Captain Hall
the Maynard rifle and the Remington rifle
used by the party on the ice foe in killing
seal and bear, together with the powder
TASKS, nickle plated shells for cartridges
for the rifles and other relics brought by
the rescued party, will be placed in the
Smithsonian Institute museum, side by
side with the Frobisher and Franklin relics
brought home by Captain Hall.
The Kayak is also on board the Fr0lc
and was used to-day by Joe in sailing abou
the vessel