National Republican., 1873-06-20
THE PnLAR VOYAGE.

THE POLAR VOYAGE.
We surrender the greater portion Of our
space this morning to Secretary Robeson's
report Of the examination Of the portion Of
the Polaris crew rescued from the "ice-hoe,'
and very full abstract Of the testimony Of
Capt. Tyson, Mr.. Myers and the EsqulmauN.
The report ls q paper Of rare value as
viewed from a scientific standpoint, embrace
ing, rs Il docs, q clearly written compendium
Of Capt. Halls voyage, and q lucid state
ment Of the success which had been rea;hed
previous 10 his death. Il shows that Ameri-
can enterprise has accomplished most fortu-
nate results In reaching q higher latitude
than the eye Of civilized man ever gazed upon
before, and that an inlet exists In latitude 81
deg. 81 min. north, which may be, In fact, a
strait leading to Francis Joseph sound, which
was discovered by the Germanla and Hansa
expedition. II this surmisc Is correct the
northern limits or boundary Of Greenland
have undoubtedly been ascertained, and the
presumption that open water exists beyond
this point suggests the probability that the
north passage was seen by our hardy ex-
plorcrs.
But this astounding fact docs not comprc-
hcnd all the success Of the result, as II Is
shown that the Polaris is stored with treas
urcs and novelties, consisting Of specimens
Of animal and vegetable life OF the polar
region, which arc invaluable to the scientist,
and which, when recovered and placed In
some proper receptacle, will remain for ages
to come lasting Illustration Of the skill and
daring Of the present period.
A. a.. ill.,. 49, L,
which have vexcd the mariners Of every coun'
try on the face OF the globe, receive par
tlai elucldation, and the effect Of the electric
currents which control the mariners com
pass Is thereby rendered moro explicable.
Added to these are astronomical discoy'
cries which arc strange as they arc I'M
portant, and meteorological data on which to
base further Investigations into a science
which Ia yet In its infancy.
The effect Of cold upon animal life as well
rs vegetable may also he ascertained, ever
from the meAgrc date which we present this
morning, showing that while mammals oI
lesser size arc able to exist, no FISH are to b
found In the waters OF the mysterious region
The calm and dispassionate character oi
the examination Into the circumstances con
nected with Captain Halls death Is worthy
Of the gravity IL the subject, and the dednc'
tions, while they may not satisfy many anN
ious and suspicious minds, will serve to clcal
away much Of the mystery with which 1t hai
been surrounded. And there is a pathetic
feature connected with II, TO be found In th'
unselash devotion Of Joe and Hannah to thei
friend In the hour Of his fatal need. whlcl
will serve TO perpetuate grateful memories o
them 40 long as the record Of this grea
achievement shall last.
The mystery surrounding the separation o
the ice-foe heroes from the Polaris IL no
satisfactorily cleared away; but the caution
manner In which the or pdrte testimony
treated commends itself to the favor Of ever
unprejudlced mind.
Secretary Robeson was careful to associat
with him In tho conduct OF the examination
gentlemen who were not only competent +
aid him, but whose verdict will meet wit
little less confidence than his own carefully
formed opinions, and his determination TO 0
out vessel, as already announced In the RI
PUBLICAN, will be hailed with warm ap
proval.
The announcement Of this determination I
his letter to the President carries with 1t th
impress Of unhesltatlng energy, which vii
hnd a responsive throb wherever any sympa
thy for the imperlled crew exists. Referring
to the necessity Of employing a sailing vessel
aud particularly to the purchase Of the tt
gress, he says "a vessel Of this feet, sallln
as they do under foreign register, can onl
he used for the purpose Of an expedition OF
ganlEed and sailing under our own flag, b
heing purchased and put 10 commission b.
the Navy Department, In accordance wit
the feelings Of our people, and whatever 7,
sponsibillty Ia incurred by this act OF lmperi
tive public duty and national humanity, ii
neither authorized to cvadc nor unwilling |
meet"
The preservation OF Capt. Halls prlvat
papers appears to have been miraculous, an
the unninching fidelity with which Joe clun
to them during dangers which would haS
daunted the brayest Is simply heroic. Whe
the box containing them was opened, a nun
her OF private letters were found, includin
the latest dispatches to Capt. Hall from h
Navy Department, but closer examinatio
revealed 4 secret apartment, In which Il
dispatch to Secretary Robeson was disco
cred.