New-York tribune., 1873-05-12
CAPT. HALLS EXPEDITION.


CAPT. HALLS EXPEDITION.
Capt Hall, in company with many Others,
had embraced the theory of an open Polar Sea- He had
written and ecured much the subject. and had long
entertained hope OF being able to penetrate 70 its
shores For long time bis efforts we're doomed 20 dis
appointment :. but finally Congress. In lS1l, voted
an appropriation Of $4,000 TO ht out al expe-
dton under his guidance. A Government
steam vessel the PeriwinNe, rechristened the
Poaris was fitted upa Washington under the imme-
date supervision Of Capt Hail. with such appliances as
his former experience suggested OF Importance IN Arc
tic navigation The vessel which was Of 400 tons measure
ment, was panked all over the sides with solid white
oak tmDers tO'the thickness Of six inches The bows
were made especially strong, being in fact, almost
a solid mass OF timber sheathed with iron aud
ending in sharp iron prov with which to cut through
the ice OF the Northern seas. The vessel was fully
equipped with extra blades and rudder with several
sets OF spars, sails, and Me-preservfng buoy Five
boats board Of which was 20 feet long four
feet WIDE and two feet deep having carrying capacity
Of four tons It consisted frame OF hickory and ash
wood over which was stretched a waterproof canvas
weighed 2O pounds and could carry 20 men. The boat
could be folded together and transported on sledge
across fields Of or ice.
It was Capt Halls intention after leaving Washing
ton TO proceed to this city and thence to S. Johns New
foundland where he would remain for few days TO
procure dogs the and certain stores which
well "a TO ship a few experienced sailors. Thence
lie was to proceed TO Disco, Greenland where
he Intended TO establish depot for supplies
The United States storeship Supply lately
used for conveying Trieste objects destined for the
Vienna Exposition. was TO follow the POlars with pro-
visions aud necessary materials, which should put on
shore at Disco After establishing his supply station,
Can't Han intended 20 strike Bain's Bay into
Joness sound in latitude 76o and after sailing for 200
uues 70 OF sudde My the northward and TO get
the vessel into Winter quarters IN latitude sV'.
In the early Spring Of 1871 he would oegln
eledging toward the Pole, which he calculated
on having little difficulty in reaching lie con-
sidered IL not improbable that the Polarfs might
penetrate 10 and anchor at the Pole itself This falling
he reckoned that Eesmere Land. which reaches from
Joness Sound nOrthward, extended to the Pole ne
would be able % reach the Latter by means OF sedges
drawn by dogs. II, however the land and ice were
found 10 end in an open Polar sea- he prepared TO
reach IL by OF his boats which, as has been stated
could be easily carried on sedges and unpaeked, and
rendered seryceabe in very short time. The crew OF
the carefully chosen but three OF the NUMBER
deserted while the vessel remained at this port and the
places OF only two we're hed Those who finally sailed,
Numbering 80. as follows:
OFFICERS AND CREW.
c. F Hall, commander.
Dr. Emil Bissels. chief Of scientific corps
William Morton, second mate.
Captain sidney o. Buddington sailing and vieenas-
". D. Bryan, astronomer and chaplain
H. c. Tyson, assistant navigator.
Hubbard c. Chester, chief mate
Emil schuman, chief engineer.
A. A. Otell, assistant engineer.
" r CamI5eli and John W. Booth aremen
John Heron, steward William Jackson, cook Nathan
Herman seuons Frederick Antiug J. ". c. Kruger
Henry Hobbv, Joseph B. Manch. 9. W. Lng1st, Peter
johnson. WillIihn Niedemann, Frederick Jamka Noah
Joe Esquimaux, interpreter and general assistant;
Hannah, Esqumaux, interpreter and general ASSISTANT
Puny daughter OF Joe and Hannah; Hans Christian dog
driver hunter. DC. vie OF Hans Christian aud three
children.
Dr. Emil Bisseis was the chief Of the scientific corps
OF the expedition and yslng Of some reputation
as a scientist he graduate Of the University OF
Heidelberg, ana member OF previous Arctic ex-
petition under the auspices Of the Prussan
Government.
Vim. Morton, the second mate, was an experienced
explorer he had taken part in the Grinnel expedition
% years ago and also in DR.. Kane's expedition, and
discovered the open Polar sea 1854 The meteOrOOgst
Of me expedition sent out by Gen. Myers, Chief Of
the 81 gua Service Bureau.
The Poaris left Washington June o. 1871, proceeding
toward York. The passage accomplished in 50
hours, average OF seven knots per hour, under
steam alone p June 90 1871 the Polars left
the Brooklyn NavyYard and steamed up Long Island
Sound 70 New-LOndOn Conn, where she remained for
Thence she proceeded 20 St johns, Newfound
land where she arrived on July 49, Capt Hall and his
stf we're here received by the Governor and other
officials and attended q banquet given in
his honor on July 81, according 70 dispatches TO the
Navy Department the Poaris arrived at Holstenoerg
Greenland, where she found tue Swedish expedition
uuder the command Of +. W. Otter which was then
on the homeward voyage from Disco and Upernavk. |
Won otter reported the Arctic navigation as exception
ally good While at this port dispute as to the special
object OF the expedition arose between Capt |
Hail and the scientists, which was however, Queed by
the nterposton and determination OF Capt Davenport
commanding the storeship, which had speedily arrived
on Aug II the Poaris left Hostenberg, on her way 70
tue Pole In April, 1872 Intelligence received by
way OF Newfoundland 20 the effect that the vessel had
nut back 70 Greenland In February through stress OF
weather and for the purpose OF obtaining supplies.