The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-21


TESSUISAK Greenland, August 2 1873
From this, the most northern settlement Of the
| civilized globe, really commences the search for
the exploring steamer Poaris and her missing
| crew. Their whereabouts is still mystery. Here
1t that Captain Hall dated his last despatch to
the Navy Department, just as he went forth on his
fatal Arctic voyage in 1871. The final words of the
| brave explorer were hopeful in the extreme.
'There is" he wrote 'every reason to rejoice that
| everything pertaining to the expedition, under
the rulings Of High Heaven, is in a far more pros
porous and substantially successful condition than
| even l had hoped or prayed for" SO far as the
| equipment Of the vessel was concerned this was
| true to the letter, Tor never Arctic exped-
| ton more completely fitted out; but whether he
expressed the state Of his own feelings: whether
in view of the dissensions on board the POlars oil
the way from Holsteinborg to Disco where,
through the intervention of the late Captain
Davenport, commanding the United States
steamer Congress, the fast kindling fame Of
jealousy was temporarily checked, only to burst
forth again with increased fury when restraint was
gOne whether, taking into account his own sad
forebodings before he babe adieu to civilization,
and to which shall have occasion to REFER he did
not exaggerate the harmonious cooperation
of some of his ambitious subordlnates there is
room for the gravest doubt. Howbeit Hall
started on his perilOus mission in no happy frame
of mind, and If the facts reported both here and
at Upernavik be correct he had good for dis
quietude
TILE ROYAL INSPECTOR OF NORTH GREENLAND.
Mr.. ii. Krarup Smith, trustworthy gentleman,
Of superior attainments, revealed to me q few
days ago state of affairs existing prior to the de-
parture Of the Poaris from Godhavn which, while it
relieves Captain Sidney O. Buddington from
large share of the suspicion his boisterous de-
me llv tod uho
Mephistophelean like fomented the troubles
that finally proved fatal to the success
of the expedition. Mr.. Smith, with his family,
resides at GOdhavn, the chief settlement on Disco
Island, and being, moreover one of the leading Of
fcals in that part of the country, receives and
treats with all visitors, scientific otherwise.
When the Polars arrived there Mr. Smith placed
the government stOrehouse at the disposal OF
Captain Hall as a depot Of supplies and in other
respects evinced great interest in the preimi.
nary arrangements for the voyage. 1t may be in
1erred then, that, aside from those Immediately
connected with the undertaking, he knew more of
the cdSus be,H on board than any other living man.
Being obliged at stated periods to visit each OF the
districts and subordinate stations within his
inspectorate, Mr.. Smith was absent when the
Juniata arrived at Godhavn, but in company with
Commander Braine ! had the good fortune to met
him at Upcrnavik, where he voluntarily disclosed
what he latned to be
THE TRUE SECRET OF THE ILL TIMED SCHEMES AND
sQUABBLES
on the Polars. First Of all, he was not, he said,
surprised to hear of Halls death. al pitied him.,
he continued, from the bottom of my heart. To
me he impaired the source OF all his troubles and
q more distracted man I have seldom seen. My
house open to all the officers of the expedition
and / had Of course, every opportunity to learn
both sides of the story.n
ntimated that an impression prevailed else
where that the trouble, as nearly as could be as
certained arose out of feeling OF misunderstand-
ing upon the point OF superiority ut might ap-
pear So" said the Inspector, ITO those not &C
quainted with the facts. But Buddington was only
an instrume mt in the hands of third party. When
Captain Hall arrived at Godhavn he was not at
home. He Immediately sent Chester with a boat
to Rhttenbeck for me and returned with him. 1t
was not long before discovered that very bitter
feeling existed the Poaris, and, although Bud
dington was ostensibly the cause OF the quarrel,
that there was in the background far more dan
gerous element to contend against''
I'm what respect 9'
"Let me EXPLAIN continued the inspector be-
coming deeply interested in the subject and speak
ing with earnest appreciation OF the situation.
GAS far as could learn no trouble manifested
itself until the coast OF Greenland was reached.
Now it was pretty well understood that Captain
Hall was not q scientific or highly educated man,
though perfectly competent to command such an
expedition that entrusted to him. DIR. Emil
Bessel was chief Of the scientific corps and Mr..
Frederick Meyers the meteorologist, and to these
gentlemen Captain Hall looked for assistance in
carrying out the great object OF the expedition.
From what l heard, however, he was disap-
pointed in that direction; and although Captain
Hall, fully realizing the Importance OF ali scientific
discoveries was anxious to AFFORD them every
facility, he was nevertheless bound to maintain his
own right as commander of the expedition"
''DId DR.. Bessel or Mr.. Meyer arrogate to himsel
any authority vested in him as an officer of the
expedition"
SOMETHING FOR SERGEANT MEYER TO EXPLAIN.
captain Hall told me in a respondent tone that
both Bessel and Meyer carried on their operations
without regard to his authority For instance
when Hall requested Meyer to take an observa-
ton, he refused to do the ground that he was
responsible only to the government for his actions
Then commenced the dssensons on board which
broke for ever the harmony that had previously
prevailed. l believe that Meyer acted as the
mouthpiece Of Bessel, who undoubtedly an
able man. In fact, it Is my sincere conviction that
Dr. Bessel, well knowing his own superior uualid.
cations as scientist, and apprehensive lest the
result OF his labors would rebound TO the credit
OF Captain Hail. secretly conspired against him,
using Buddington and Meyer as the instruments
by which to carry out his designs"
Dr. Emil Bessel, may here state, was graduate
Of the University OF Heidelberg and man Of high
reputation as scientist. He was formerly at
tached to the German (Gotha) expedition In the
Albert which left Bremen about four years ago.
under the auspices Of Or. petermann, who strongly
endorsed Dr.. Besse
Somewhat surprised at the statement OF the In
spector concerning the movements OF the chief
scientist, and to which little or no reference had
been made during the Investigation at Washing
ton, / inquired the reason that had led him to
such strange conclusion.
captain Halls own words" replied the In
spector. "After the Polaris left Fiskernaes the
envious feeling entertained against Hall by some
OF his subordinates was openly displayed. Aware
OF Halls deficiency in scientific knowledge, no op.
portunity was lost to speak ofhim in sneerng and