Daily Kennebec journal., 1873-05-15
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

A Washington despatch says that the re-
ported disaster to the Polaris is great shock
and surprise to the Navy Department, where
no uneasiness had been felt at the failure to
receive information from Capt. Hall since, at
Tossuc, Greenland, on the afternoon of Au-
gust oath, 1871, he wrote his last communica-
ton to the department as follows: THE Po-
laris bids adeu to the civilized world" His
letter of instructions directed him to throw
overheard daily sealed bottle or cylinder,
containing brief report Of situation and pro-
gress, with a printed heading in several lam
Washington, but no great expectations were
put upon this device. This last expedition
was fitted out under an act of Congress, pas
sed July II, 1870, and Capt. Hall contested
successfully the claim of DR.. Hayes to com.
mand it. A small vessel belonging to the
navy was thoroughly repaired at the Wash
ington Navy Yard, Capt. Hall being allowed
to superintend the alterations designed to fit
her for Arctic navigation, and to select his
own officers and crew. He chose Capts. Sid
ney Z. Buddington and II. c. Tyson, old
whalers and Arctic sailors, as navigating and
sledge officers, and had crew of two mates,
two engineers, two firemen, a steward, cook
and carpenter, ten seamen, an Esquimaux in
terpreter and assistant, with wife and daugh-
ter, and an Esquimaux dog-driver and hun
ter. with wife and three children.
There were also on board by selection of
the National Academy Of Sciences, Dr. Emil
Bissels of Heidelberg University as surgeon
| and chief scientist, r. w. ID. Bryan of La
fayette College, Eastern, Penn, as astrono-
mer, and Mr.. Frederick Meyer of the War
Department as meteorologist. DR.. Bissels
had been chief scientist Of a German explora-
ton in high latitude, two years before. This
scientific party were under orders to collect
| such facts and specimens as they could with
| out interference with the main design of ac-
quiring geographical knowledge Of the region
about the north pole. Minute directions as to
astronomical observations, magnetism, force
of gravity, ocean physics, meteorology, natu-
raj history, geology, and glaciers were drawn
up by Professors Henry and Baird of the
Smithsonian Institute, Hilgard of the Coast
Survay, Newcomb of the Naval Observatory,
and Agassiz, and printed and distributed by
the Navy Department. Every qualified per-
son on board was to keep a private journal,
to be turned over to the government at the
end of the voyage. Particular pains were
taken by Professors Henry and Hilgard to
secure records and specimens at once ample
and authentic. The Polaris left Washington
June 10, 1871, New York June goth, New
London July Sd, and st. Johns, Newfound-
land, July 10Th. She arrived at Holsteinborg
July 3lst, where the Swedish expedition to
Disco and Upernavik was met on its return
home.
| The Polaris was next reported by her com.
mander as at Godhaven, August 4th where
she took coal and supplies sent out in the
/ steamer Congress, under the late Capt. Dav-
enport, and left for Upernavik, August 18th,
reaching there on the Goth of that month. The
parting between the Congress and the Polar.
is in Godhaven harbor, as the latter steamed
out on her Arctic voyage, was both affecting
and enthusiastic. Capt. Hall was in an costa
tic frame of mind from the day he went on
board till the moment ofparting with civilza-
ton. He repeatedly recognized the gencros-
ity of the government in giving him so fine 4
vessel, such good officers and men, and such
ample supplies, and pledged and repledged
the best efforts and devoted services of all on
board to repay the confidence reposed in them
and their nilsson. So impatient was he to
+ reach the goal, that in his last report to the
Navy Department he announced the Polaris
as under way and leaving Tossuc harbor in
charge OF pilot to whose skill he trusted to
, escape the reefs and rocks rendered doubly
dangerous by the dense fog prevailing. This
was IN August 24th, 1871, in latitude 73o .
0 oo north, and longitude So s As" west.
1 Nothing more was heard of the Polaris till
the news came of her loss and her command
ers death.