The New York herald., 1873-12-08
THE POLARIS.

TO Congress for Payment for Shattered
Hcalth-Scnator Summers Aid In
voked-WhaJ the German Government
Did for Their Arctic Explorers.
meeting OF five OF the crew OF the Arctic ex-
ploring ship Poaris was held yesterday morning at
Mr.. Smiths sailor boarding house, No. SO West
street, to take steps toward petitioning Congress
to give extra compensation for loss Of health to
the men who had miraculously escaped on the Ice
noe after undergoing terrible privations. The
meeting was called to order at noon by Captain
John Morrison, OF South street, who was elected
President, this gentleman having shipped the crew
by orders OF the Secretary OF the Navy and the
late Captain Q. F. Hall.
After taking the chair Captain MORRISON made
the following address,
pledge myself to do all can to help
you, in furtherlng your claims upon Con-
gress lor extra compensation; for l ieel that
you have honestly earned 1t by your good conduct
and bravery. 1t IS an old saying, and true say
ing that republics are ungrateiul but trust that
the United States government Will take 1t into
consideration your shattered healths and the fear
iu nardships you have undergone In benall OF the
scientific kne wedge OF this country. When l en-
gagged you to go TO the Polar regions you agreed to
go Tor $25 month, and signed shipping articles TO
remain by the ship, or TO go on sledglng parties,
and to remain absent Tor five years from this coun
try, If necessary. Captain Hall explained to me
and repeated 1t to you that the wages stipulated
were mere matter ofiOrm,and that II you rendered
important services TO the government you would
be handsomely recompensed. l believe that Con-
gress will not dispute The justice OF Your claims;
starry nag to 81 degrees north latitude. You all
shipped on the understanding tnat you were TO
be rewarded II successful. l'That's s0,' from sew
cra voices.)
THE MEN OF THE NORTH GERMAN POLAR ExPE-
DITIoN.
who went out to the Arctic regions were paid OF
with a gratuty Of 1000 thalers in god TO each
man, and l hope this country will do at least as
IN m nad UnrI
noe, with death staring you in the face
Der r' have have been % permanently injured in your your
health, by su1erlngs endured on the ice. In COM
pliance with your request, ! shall put myself in
boar and other congressman VINO advocated the
grant OF public iunds for the Polaris expedition.
discovery OF the North Pole, and friend of Lady
Franklin; Mr.. Brevoort the eminent engineer, botn
oil which gentlemen were intimate friends OF our
respected friend, the late Captain Hall, Will also.
feel sure, do what they can 1oryou. In conclusion,
be 1n 70 say e a Of % Mr. 70
set forth your claims upon the country. had
long talk with Captain Buddington few days
back who spoke OF the services rendered by you
all in the highest terms
REPLY OF MIR. g. W. CRUGER.
CAPTAIN MORRISON AND CoMRADES-0n behalf OF
my mates let me say few words. What you say
about extra pay being promised to us, II we were
successful, is quite true. In August 1871, in lati-
tude 81, after divine service one Sunday, Captain
Hall told us that he felt sure Congress would act
generously towards us, ana said that he thought
lars. lie he said this to us several times, as can be
attested by ali the officers and crew; and he also
remarked that II we were forced to return then
and there to the United States we need not be
ashamed OF what had been accomplished. You
never thought when you engaged us on the 5th OF
June, 1870 lor i've years active service that $25
month would recOmpense us Tor trying to navi-
gate the Poaris to the Pole, did you, Captain Nor
rlson
Captain MoRRIsoN-No, trusted then, and do
now, that you will receive gratuty.
Mr.. CRUGER-If the German government paid
their exploring crew. which only got 76 latitude,
81 900 gratuity, l think Uncle Sam might at least
do the same to US. All OF us present suffered
cruelty in the 196 days we were on the ice noe;
nearly all OF us here racked to the present DAY
by rheumatism, which we caught while drifting in
Polar waters, not knowing how many minutes we
had to live and drinking blood from seals and eat
ing raw seal flesh. Every moment we apprehended
we might be separated from our party, by the ice
breaking, and when | think OF the darkness and
terrors through which we passed. 1t seems q won
ing. A quarter oi pound OF food a day does not
put much soul into man, can tell
you, and SO can my mates. We all look upon
Esqulmaux Joe as our saviour, alter Cod and
hope that II Congress thinks fit to give any thing
the biggest sum should go TO "Old Joe.n We once
wrote letter TO Captain Hall thanking him Tor MS
Kindness TO us ALL TO which he replied. aud the
letter can be produced:-" need not assure you
that your commander takes the liyeliest interest
in you all, Just as iathcr does for his children
and | thank you for your good will towards me-
You have lett your homes and friends to discover
the mysterious parts OF the earth, and my ervent
PRAYER Is that we may be successful in achieving
fresh laurels Tor our c0untry.n
MI. Cruger terminated his remarks by saying
that there were several other little matters which
had to be eXplaned-viz, why the secretary
Oi the Navy had not gwen discharges to all
the Polaris men, and also why Captain Greer, OF
the Tigress, declined taxing three OF the Polaris,
crew whom secretary kobeson had desired should
return to the Polar regions to search their lost
comrades, and why other sailors were taken in
their stead. Six had presented themselves by
order OF the Navy Department and only three had
been accepted.
The meeting then adjourned for a fortnight.