Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-05-21
THE END AND FAILURE OF THE
GREAT ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
Death Of the heroic Hall,

0hQ recently IcluIueu IIOLQ y uOILus
ern sledge expedition, in which he
had attained the latitude of 820 16'.
He seemed in his usual health, and
had called the crew into the cabin to
encourage them with hopes of future
rewards, and stimulate them to re-
newed exertiOn, when he was sudden
ly stricken down and expired, to the
great grief of those around, to whom
he had endeared himself by his kind
ness and devotion.
ADVENTURES OF THE SURVIVORS.
In September, 1871, the Polaris en-
tered winter quarters, and left August
II, 1872. The ice was very heavy, and
set in 3 southern direction. She was
forced south, and SO continued drift
ing till Captain Tyson and party were
driven from her.
The sledge party crossed Kane's Po-
lar Sea, which they pronounced to be
a strait about fifteen miles wide
There was an appearance of open wa.
ter to the north. The rescued party
suffered very much during their
dreary drift from hunger and cold
For the last two months they ate raw
seal and polar bear as they could get
1t. When
MET BY THE TIGREss,
they showed evident signs OF their
great sufferings, but during the nine
days they have been on board they
have improved vastly, and are now in
fair health. The party Is in charge OF
the United States Consul, and arrived
at st. Johns on Monday.
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN TYSON.
On the oath of August, 1871, we left
Tessinsack and went through Smiths
Sound. We succeeded in getting as
far north as latitude $50 16', when we
returned and wintered at Polaris Bay,
latitude S1o So, longitude 61o AZ. We
were frozen up until the 5th of Sept
ember. On the 10th of October Cap
tain Hall started on a sledge journey
north, and returned on the oath, when
he was taken sick, and died on the sth
of November. he was buried on the
11th. The attack that carried him of
was said to be spoplexy. We passed
the winter at Polaris Bay. On the sth
Of June, 1872, we attempted to reach
the north with two boats. We hauled
our other boat on shore, and returned
overland on the Sth of July. We
started for home on the 18th Of Au-
gust, and on the 18th were beset with
ice in latitude 80o 02f. We drifted
from there down 10 latitude 10 So,
when. We encountered heavy SOUTH
west gale, the ship being under heavy
pressure. On the night Of the 18th
we commenced landing provisions.
&C., on the Ice,
THE VESSEL BEING REPORTED LEAK
very badly at times. We continued
landing provisions for two or three
hours, when the pressure. ceased. I
went on board the vessel and asked
the sailing master If the vessel was
making any more water than usual.
He reported that she was not. / then
went to the pumps and ascertained
that she was not making any more
than she was doing all summer.
BREAKING OF THE ICE.
Invent on the ice again and shortly
after 1t began to crack, and in few
minutes afterwards broke in many
pieces The vessel broke from her
fastenings, and was soon
LOST TO SIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
AND STORM.
On the broken ice were most Of our
provisions to sustain heparty through
the winter, and seeing nothing of the
vessel, we attempted to reach the
shore, in hopes of finding natives to
assist US in living through the winter.
Getting about half way to the shore
with our heavily laden boats, our pro-
gress became hard by the drifting ice,
and I was compelled to haul on the
ice again.
PROVISIONS SAVED.
At this time 1 succeeded in saving
fourteen cans Of pemIpican, eleven
and q half bags of bread, ten dozen one
and two pound cans Of meat and soup,
fourteen hams, one small bag of choc-
olate, weighing twenty pounds, some
musk OK skins, q few blankets, 8 num-
Der OF rifles and abundant ammnni-
ton. In the morning, knowing that
/ had
NOT PROVISIONS ENOUGH,
and other articles Of food, clothing,
compasses, &C., on the abatement Of
the gale endeavored to shoot as many
seals as possible, both for food, light
AID fuel, but could only get three,
owing to bad weather having set in.
supposed the wind to be about SOU
west. On its clearing up found my
self within about eight miles of what
supposed to be the east coast, and
about thirty or forty miles below the
ship. The ice being weak, could
not transport boats and provisions to
land until it grew stronger. While
here | discovered my other boat,
bread, &C., and saved all. The
ICE GREW FIRM.
I made another attempt to reach
the shore, carrying everything in the
boats, and dragging them on their
keel. The ice being exceedingly
rough we stove both boats. We sue
ceeded on the 1st Of November in get
ting about
HALF WAY To SHORE.
Night came on US and very stormy
weather. In the morning the ice was
broken and we were drifting south
ward very fast. We saw no more land
for many days, bad weather eontinu-
ing all through the month of NoveIn-
Der. We built snow houses and made
ourselves as comfortable as We could. |
We were ten white men, two Esqui-
naux, two women and five children |
n all. We succeeded in killing 3 few |
,eals, which furnished US with light |
md fuel with which to warm our I
,canty allowance of food through the !
darkness Of an Arctic winter. In the I
after part of February we lived prin-
,ipally upon birds, and in March com /
nenced to catch seals. Through that |
month we supported ourselves on
BEARS AND SEALS FLESH, /
wasting neither skin nor entrails.-
We collected enough food in this way
o last US until the middle of May,
lad we not been driven to sea by
trong westerly gale in the latter part
# March, our foe piece being then
educed from five miles in circumfer-
nee to about twenty yards in diane
er. We left the piece on the 1st OF
April, and abandoned nearly all of
iur meat, large amount Of ammuni-
ion, clothing, skins and other arti-
les, taking a portion Of the meat in
be boat, which we were obliged to
brow overheard on account Of the
oats being so deeply laden. 1 re.
aimed
THE OUTER EDGE OF THE PACK
f ice on the Sd of April, and succeed
d in getting q little further in on the
'ack. On the 4th q heavy northeast
ale set in, heavy sea running under
he ice, which broke it in small pieces,