The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-06-28

rotary Robesop, il his letter to The
Prssident & nsl ltting Ne rer
says - sell grit aelie in pub
fishing this part ljhsl nd kssy with
out hearing Buddington's defense, but
after maturely delibersting upon the
subject he thinks Il better to do this
than to allow the vague, dark rumors
that have gained circulation to take
'shape Of themselves, u be- thinks il
better that the actual evidence be
made public than that moro suspicious
rumors should lie the foundation upon
which public opinion il made up.
It is not at all established, however,
that Captain Hall came to his death
by any foul means. It seems that he
was delirous and imagined that he had
been poisoned, but there Is no evidence
to support this theory. The insub-
ordinate character Of Buddington
seems to justify the suspicion that Hall
may have been correct.
Buddington was also very foul
mouthed and cared nothing for dis
cipline. Captain Hall had, on several
occasions, contemplated relieving him
from duty, and it is difficult to under
stand why he did not. Probably it
was because he was afraid Of him. It
seems from the evidence that on ac-
count of Buddington's perverseness
the expedition was geratly hindered;
that upon one occasion when all the
rest of the crew were DESTROYS of pro-
ceeding farther northward he swore
that it should not be done.
The scientific results of the expedi-
ton are doubtlessly much lessened if
not almost entirely lost by the con-
duct Of Buddington. The highest
point reached by the Polaris was by
careful calculation, made by Sergeant
Meyer, the meteorological, found to be
degrees and sixteen min
utes. The books and papers Of the
are either still on board the
Polaris or they have been lost, with
the exception of a small daily men,
orandum kept by Mr.. Meyer. Sur
veys were made Of a great many of
the most important points aud obser-
vationsrecorded. Sergeant Meyer has
to rely upon his memory for great
many Of his points. -.,ns
Secretary Robson has ordered the
United States steamer Junita to pro-
ceed as far north as Disco md Upper
Navik for information ~ to the fate
Or whereabouts Of the Polaris, aud has
made arrangements for the purchase
Of the English seal ship Tigress-the
vessel that rescued this party from the
be sent out as soon as pos
'ible for more extended search.
The utter unreliability of informa-
ion emanating from this city pur-
porting to be official in char
scter has become 90 proverbial that
;he correspondent who sets any value
whatever upon his reputation will
'esitate before venturing to lay any
lrdcle from his pen liable to the sus-
'icion ordinarily attached to reports
'rofessedly coming second hand from
,fficial sources.
Your correspondent happens to he
Iuite familiarly acquainted with one
# the members of the Civil Service
Board and has thereby had
opportunities for obtaining the latest
nd most reliable information not nos
essed by many others. But knowing
hat the members Of the Board did
lot wish their deliberations to be made |
'ublic, l have never taken advantage |
+ personal friendship to press sny |
uestions relative to the subject, have |
ever asked for information on the
round Of friendship and have with
TODD the temptation to make public
interest simply because fancied the
was not communicated to
re with the intention that it should
9 made public. AS matters now
land the report Of the Board to the
resident is not supposed to be pub
c property though it was submitted
ome two weeks since. Mr.. Eaton is
ally expected here for further con-
altation, and it is quite possible the
junction Of secrecy will be removed