The New York herald., 1873-10-07
Professor Henry Explains DR.. Bessel's
Connection with the Expedition.
Secretary Robson Displeases the Eavans
Of the National Academy.
COFFIN'S POETRY.
Why Dr.. Walker Refused to Accompany the
Arctic Explorers.

morning with Captain Buddington and party.
The same course will be pursued with them as with
the Tyson party. AS already published in these
dispatches Secretary Robeson viii return at once,
and with Captain Howgate OF the Signal Corps,
and Commodore w. w. Reynolds, Chief OF the
Bureau Of Equipment, will proceed with the in
vestgaton. Professor Baird has not yet returned
from his investigation OF the fisheries, but
may be willing TO discontinue for the season in
order to be present at the examination or Bud
dington. The first examination was necessarily
long, as the Secretary OF the Navy said at
the time the Polaris might never be heard
from again, and he was bound to get as much in
formation from the party as he could. Much atten-
ton, it viii be remembered, was paid to scientific
matters and to the observation OF the party as to
the geography Of the localities visited The superior
intelligence OF the Buddington party win renew
the interest which the Smithsonian Institute feels
in the results Of the Poaris expedition, SO that an
exhaustive examination may be expected. One OF
the results anticipated proof that the Tyson party
were accidentally separated from the ship and not
driven on, as seems to have been the impression
until the HERALD's full account from Dundee was
published.
coMMoDoRs REYNOLDS INTERROGATION OF TYSON.
On this point Commodore Reynolds says :-'I was
firmly persuaded from my examination OF Captain
Tyson that after he and the Ice noe party lound
themselves adrift In Arctic waters with little
hope Of ever reaching terra trina again, that the
thought Of III treatment and wiltul abandonment
was nursed until 1t became deep seated convic-
tion and colored their views forever after. 1t
would seem natural that such should be the case,
and more so H. as represented, Captain Buddngton
was lax in discipline and addicted to drinking.
When called Captain Tyson's attention to the
EFFORT made TO put everything on the ice that the
expected to abandon the Polars, to parting with
all the boats the most valuable OF the ships
stores, arms and ammunition, he looked at me
with astonishment and an expression OF the face
which seemed tc say 'You do not believe we were
turned adrfft.'n
81 asked Tyson If he did not think 1t more reason
able to suppose that Il the vessel was in leaky
condition that Buddington would expect the ice
noe party with the boats to seek the Polaris. Such
an idea never seemed to have crossed his mind,
and ne, no doubt, believes to this day that he and
his party were the victims Of Buddington's anger.
The examination Of the Buddington party will
enable the Navy Department to get at the truth
and clear away all doubts"
SECRETARY RoBEsoN AND THE NATIONAL ACADEMY
OF SCIENCES.
There is considerable dissatisfaction among the
members OF the National Academy OF Sciences in
regard to the Of the Secretary of the Navy,
in assuming the entire control OF the subject OF
Halls Polar expedition and In publish
ing the results to the world. The law
OF Congress authorizing the expedition expressly
specified that all the records Of the scientific re-
suits OF the expedition should be turned over for
revision and publication to the National Academy
Of Sciences, OF which Professor Joseph Henry is
President. Instead Of turning over the records to
the Academy, as directed by law. Secretary Robe
ncad fhau tn na edi tod nv 0n IN
duty in the Navy Department, and published under
his own auspices as Secretary Of the Navy. In con-
sequence OF this 1t Is said q number Of annoying
bunders occurred-such, for instance as the state.
ment that at the urthsst point reached by Hall the
neodle dipped forty-fve degrees. The dipping OF
the needle in this latitude is about seventy degrees
and at the point indicated 1t must have fallen to
the neighborhood Of ninety instead Of forty-lve
degrees. The Academy was charged with the
preparations OF elaborate instructions, especially
for the scientific branch Of the expedition, and
Professor Henry wrote the letter OF general in
structions to Captain Hall, dated June O. 1871,
which was signed by Secretary Robson. Under
the circumstances therefore, it is easy to imagine
that Professors Henry, Agassiz Newcomb, Hill
gard, Baird and Others who furnished special in
strucons for the guidance Of the scientific part or
the expedition, are not pleased with the course
the Secretary Of the Navy has seen 1T TO
pursue in the matter. It is known also
that Professor Henry who is warm
champion Of DR.. Bessel, deprecated the
publication Of the Tyson party investigation, and
that he informed the Secretary OF the Navy
that in his opinion, it was not prudent TO make
any publication until Buddingtons party were
heard FROM
BEssEL ENTERS AS A VOLUNTEER
Professor Henry was in Europe when the law
aut md
on his return home found that he was expected to
organize the scientific branch, labor OF no small
magnitude and responsibility. Several scientists
volunteered TO head tnat part OF the expedition,
but all Of them ultimately declined to 70, on ac-
count OF Captain Hail. whom they regarded as IN
fitted by education to direct the explorations, and
for time 1t was feared no proper person could be
found TO ill the bill. At this juncture Dr. Bessel
appeared as volunteer, 10 the great relief OF
Professor Henry, and for several weeks
was the guest Of the latter in this
CITY, During his stay az the house OF Professor
Henry, the wife OF the latter met with severe fall
and sustained injuries Of serious character. She
was attended by DR.. BesseL who exhibited, Pro-
fessor Henry says as much ability In the practice
OF medicine and surgery as he did In general sci.
encc when discussing Polar AFFAIRS with Professors
Henry, Newcomb, Hilgard and other sdu1ns Of the
National Academy.
MURDER NO PART OF DIR. BEssEL's PROFESSION.
Professor Henry scouts the idea that Bessel
could be guilty Of so heinous crime as murder and
says he Is wholly devoted to science, is unambi-
tious except In the achievement OF scientific fri.
umphs, and that no one who knows him will for
moment believe the imputations on his character.
1t Is understood that the professor has poor opn
ion OF Morton, second mate OF the Poaris, who was
with the Kane expedition; and probably no revela-
tions which Morton might make would cause him
to modify his views with reference to Bessel. The
examination, however, will be directed to the
charge made and experts will be called In to con-
ssont pr. Bessel u his testimony. The sam Q