The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-12

muro open, ana tue oImcunIcs OF navIgauon are
therefore not so great; but at later period than
| success on their summer fishing and conse-
| quently, return south for a ''catch" further
| down on the West American side OF Baifns Bay
This late season, however, is the most favorable
for the explorer, and August is the most suspicious
month Q, the year. g alter the new ice begins to
| thickness being about six feet. In August $780,
ran through this Melyille's Bay pack in two days
was due largely to prevalence Of easterly winds;
| CAPTAIN HALL, ON THE POLARIs
! seems to have had equally good fortune, for, &C.
| cording 10 Offlcial reports he left Tessuisak
August "a sailed through the north water. and en-
DR.. Kane and myself had all been badled and
driven back by heavy southeriy drifting ice. This
Captain Hall, Tor we find the Polaris was in latitude
81 deg. i6 min. September 2, only nine days after
leaving Tessuisak, certainly most remarkable
| voyage and altogether unprecedented In the his
tory OF Arctic navigation no vessel so far as we
| nave any knowledge OF, having penetrated so near
REPORTER-Doctor, let me ask you here. why did
not Captain Hall persevere In his luck. and en-
| brave adventures before him encountered with
| greater dihcu ties, to accomplish TO that pOintY
Dr: HAYEs-Up to this time we have not sum
Client information to enable me to answer the ques-
ton with clearness. Hall was q brave man--an
enthuslast-and his heart was set upon reaching
II the good uck thus far attending the expedition
had continued TO beckon him forward. The expe-
nedy channel, and entered new channel which
Captain Hall called ''RobesOn'' channel, in honor
OF the Secretary Of the Navy who mad done SO
It's organization and equipment. Here tor the
first time, he seemed to have encountered serious
obstacles from the ice. but whether this ice could
have been penetrated or not am unable 10 say
from any published statement that have seen.
Possibly it may have been that Captain Hall, not
being seaman, was dependent upon his sailing
master, who, lacking tall's enthusiasm, dreaded
to encounter the ice in the remote regions north
therefore, return to more 70 quarters, trusting
to sledge journeys and boat expedition for the
accomplishment OF the expedition to the North
Pole.
REPoRrER-How near, Doctor, might Captain
Hall have been to the goal Of all these expeditions
the North Polc---when his further advance, from
whatever cause, was here retardeds
think nrae ssU ana IL Is saa
through any unforeseen stress OF circumstances,
REpoRrER--1hen, Doctor it is your opinion that
Captain Hall was on the right route to the accom-
plishment OF the expedition
DIR. HAYES--ieS, most emphat1Cally. ! have for
years advocated it very earnestly as the most
feasible route to the North POle and latterly many
English explorers have come to the same conclll-
sion, and it is gratifying to me to find my views
strengthened by the result, so far as this expedi-
ton went.
You must have u very vivid recollection Of your own
situation and surroundings in these waters; brief
description on this point, think, would be inter-
esting
DR.. HAYES have been twice in Kennedy
Channel, both times in the spring, with dog
quarters at the mouth OF Smiths Sound. On my
last expedition reached open water in latitude
81 deg. As min., and was then convinced that
A PRACTICABLE ROUTE WAS OPEN TO THE NORTH
POLE;
but unfortunately did not have boat to launch
upon the Polar sea to prosecute nv design. This
is the same open water which Captain Hall reached
in the autumn. From this point returned to my
winter harbor at Port FOulke intending to push
forward with my vessel, the United States when
the ice broke up; but finding that my vessel had
hnAr In ,lIn. ftn
that further encounters with the ice would prove
DISASTROUS returned home, resolved to renew
was prevented by the breaking out Of the war in
my absence since then have never ceased to
advocate this route to the North Pole, the practi-
DR.. Kane's exploration was upon the east side OF
Kennedy Channel and he came upon the open
sea, and his expedition, which, like my own, was
made on dog sedges in the spring. was Interrupted
by broken Ice and water
REPoRTER-Then the Polaris, Doctor. was at this
time as far nOrthward by open water yourself
and DR.. Kane had previously reached by different
routes only by the aid of dog sledges9
DR.. HAYES-The Polaris was in the same channel
which we Or. Kane and myself had reached and
explored by dog sledges, and there wintered in
only about five months alter leaving home. The
winter having passed, some boat expeditions were
important results. After the command Of the ex-
petition had fallen to Captain BuddingtOn, and
Dor by the breaking up of the Ice, Captain Bud
dington resolved TO return south; but, beng
caught IN the 'pack" at the mouth OF kennedy
Channel. drltted helplessly down to the mouth OF
Smiths Sound, where, in gale OF wind, she seems
to have been badly ruhled, and in the attempt to
save the boats and provisions by throwing them
on the ice the crew became separated and the Ty-
son party were set adrft, while the Poaris ran in
for safety under Littleton Island.
REPORTER-The HERALD reports Doctor, state
that the separation between the Polaris party on
board and the Tyson party on the ice took place at
northumberland Island; that being true, was it
possible that the Polaris could have been last seen
." nr n :. INC On, soticeod r-cr, Yrv corvor
satiOn with Captain Tyson, and the general de-
scription he gave me OF the character Of the land,
that it was LittletOn and not Northumberland
Island where the separation took place, only six
miles from my winter quarters az Port Foulke, tho
location and surroundings Of which am perfectly
familiar with. Littleton Island is only four miles
from the EsquimauX settlement OF Etah, made
famous from DR.. Kane's narrative. One mile
southeast OF LittletOn Island is Cape Ohsen under
the lee OF which, according TO the HERALD reports,
the POlaris sought SHELTER and there 1t was that
she probably wintered.
REPoRTER-Had you, Doctor expressed any
opinion as to the whereabouts the Polaris might
be most successfully sought Tor before the appear
ance OF yesterdays HERALD reports
DR.. HAYEs-My opinion on this point was very
decidedly expressed before the Tgress sailed. and
Greer and his executive Of1cer, Lieutenant Com
mander White, that the objective point OF their
numerous harbors on or near Port Foulke, which
lies Immediately north OF Cape Alexander at the
entrance to Smiths Sound
REPORTER-And, Doctor you are now, no doubt,
much gratihed that your predictions on this i'm
portant point have been SO fully verified by the
HERALDs reportsy
DR.. HAYEs-Certany I am; the HERALD's
graphic descriptions OF Arcuc scenery and the
habits and manners Of the Esquimaux of that
region are true to nature, as from my residence
there OF five years can faithfully attest.
REPoRTrR-Ihen Doctor, you look upon the
success?
DR.. HAYEs-Certainly; inasmuch as the solution
of the fate OF the Polaris Is concerned The Tgress
left Tessuisak August IL, two days thereafter she
was Off Cape York, having passed the middle
ice in the same period of time occupied by myself
in the United States schooner in 1850, and this I
believe to be in consequence OF the abortion Of the
OFF sHORE INSTEAD OF THE IN SHORE PASSAGE
through Melville Bay which urged upon Com
mander Greer Tor his adoption. and which he
heartily concurred in. On the 14th OF August the
| Tigris was at Litteton island and there she
found the natives OF Etah, who gave the informa-
| ton which the
HERALD CORRESPONDENT FORWARDED
She seems to have remained there but short
time but sufficiently long, 1t appears to convince
| her commander that the Poaris had been sunk
| that her crew, fourteen in number, had from the