Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-20
THE POLARIS.
Report OF the Examination OF Tyson
and Party,

OF inquiry recently engaged in investigating the
Polaris disaster. In his letter transmitting the
report the Secretary says relative to
THB CHARGES AGAINST CAPT. BURLINGTON
that he feels great reluctance in publishing the
testimony against him while he is absent in the
discharge OF a dangerous and responsible duty
but that he is constrained TO believe that it Is
better for him and will be more satisfactory to
his friends, as well as to the friends of those
stll on board the PolaTis, that they should be
published as they were given. 1t must however,
be clearly understood that in permitting this
publication the department neither make nor
declare and judgment against MIR. Buddington,
who Is still absent in the midst OF dangers, and
has no opportunity for explanation. The facts
show that though he was perhaps wanting in
enthusiasm for the grand objects of the expedi
ton, and at times grossly lax in discipline, and
though he differed in Judgment from others
to the possibility, safety and propriety of TAX
ing the ship further north, yet he is an expert
enced and careful navigator. and. when not
affected by liquor, of which there remained
none on board at the time of the separation a
safe and competent commander.
THE SEARCH FOR THE foLARIs.
In reference to the proposed expedition to
look for the Polaris, he says it viii be purely
naval, experience having confirmed him in the
conviction that there is little of either success
expedition which is not organized, prosecuted
and controlled under the sanction Of military
discipline.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION,
which consisted OF the Secretary of the Navy,
Prot. s. F. Baird, Commodore VIM. Reynolds,
and Acting Signal Officer H. w. Howgate,
details the course of the Polaris and the various
difficulties she encountered before her separa-
ton from Tysons ice-ioe party. In regard to
the separation the commission say: 1t is the
uniform opinion OF the witnesses, and our unan
imous conclusion from their testimony and
from the circumstances detailed, that this sep
aratiOn of the ship from the men, women and
children upon the ice foe was purely acct.
dental" They add, however, that I" it is most
likely the ice foe party was seen from the
POlaris. The hut erected the foe, the ships
boats, the colors, the elevated signal blanket,
and the group of nineteen persons standing In
relief against white back ground, could
scarcely have remained unnoticed."
OF THE DEATH OF CAPT. HALL
the commission say that his most marked symp-
toms seem, from the evidence, to have been
such as indicated congestion of the BRAIN ac-
companied by delirium and partial paralysis of
one side. The witnesses ali state that the at
tack was called "apoplexy," AMI some of them
speak of their own knowledge of his paralysis
and delirium. He recovered, however, after
some days, sufficiently to leave his bed, to move
about his cabin little, and to attei pit to at
tend to business, but soon had a relapse, be-
come again delirOus, and died on the Sth of
November, 1871. From personal examination
of all the witnesses, and from their testimony
As given, we reach the unanimous conclusion
that the death of Capt. Hall resulted naturally
from disease, without fault on the part Of any
one. During his illness he was under the medi-
cal care OF Dr. Besses, and as none of the per-
sons now here are capable of giving more par
ticular account of the nature and symptoms of
must be awaited for precise information. All
the persons examined testify to the uniform
kindness and care of Captain Hall, and to the
good order and efficient condition of the Polars
while under his command.
SCIENTIFIC RESULTS.
From the testimony it appears that every
possible opportunity was embraced by the mem
bers Of the scientific corps of the expedition to
carry out the instructiOns.gven the only direc-
ton in which there seems to have been a par
tial failure being in reference to the use of the
DlOtOprapltc
however, was due to the absence Of suitable
opportunities or to some insurmountable imped-
iment at the time.
While the records of the astronomical me-
neurological, magnetical, tidal, and other phys
zeal departments of the expedition appear to
have been extremely full, and the observations
in each appear to have been conducted accord
ing to approved methods, tie collections OF nat
ural history are shown to have been not less
extensive, the stOrerOoms OF the POlaris being
filled with the skins and skeletons of musk,
oxen, bears, and other animals, different spe-
cies Of birds and their eggs, numerous marine
invertebrates, plants, both recent and fossil,
minerals, etc. Not the least interesting of these
collections are specimens of drift wood, picked
upon or near the shores of Newman's bay and
POlaris bay, among which Mr.. Meyer thought
he recognized distinctly the walnut, the ash
and the pine.
DIP OF THE NEEDLE. s
Among tbe numerous facts that appear to be
shown by the testimony elected on the exam-
nation we may mention as one of much interest
that the dip of the needle amounted to Is de-
than at Port FOulke and Rensselaer, harb0r, as
given by DIR. Kane and DIR. Hayes.
AurOras were frequent but by no means bril-
liant, generally quite light, and consisting
sometimes Of one arch and sometimes of several.
Streamers were quite rare. Only in one in
stance, in February, 1872, did
THE AURORA
appear OF distinct rosy red. This was fore
BODIED in the morning from to 10 O'Clock by
very decided disturbance of the magnetic
needle. Shooting stars were so constantly seen
Nh n Shny uvas oh al
il was scarcely possible even to look at tue star
lit sky without noticing them in one direction
or another.
TIDES, TEMPERATURE, ETC.
The rise and fall of the tides were carefully
observed, the average being5x feet. The great
est depth of water noted was about LOG faith
oms. The existence of constant current south
ward was noticed by the expedition, its rapidi-
ty varying with the season and locality. The
winter temperature was found to be much
milder than was expected, the minimum being
% deg. In January, although March proved TO
be the coolest month. The prevailing winds
were from the northeast, although there were
occasionally violent tempests from the south
west. Light was noticed, however, from all
points of the compass. Rain was occasionally
observed, only on the land, however, the preei-
pitation presenting itself over the ice in the
form OF snow. During the summer the extent
OF both lowlands and elevations were bare Of
snow aud ice, excepting patches here and there
in the shade OF the rock. The soil during this
period was covered with a more or less dense
vegetation of moss, with which several
ARCTIC PLANTS
were interspersed, some of them OF considerable
beauty, but entirely without scent, and many
small willows, scarcely reaching the dignity of
shrubs. The rocks noticed were OF q schstose
or slate nature, and in some instances con-
tanned fossil plants, specimens Of which were
collected. Distinct evidence of former I'll aciers
were seen In localities now bare OF ice, these
indications consisting in the occurrence of
terminal and lateral moraines. ~ Fl.f ID. ~.
ANIMAL LIFE IN THE POLAR REGIONS.
Animal life was found to abound, musk oxen
being shot at intervals throughout the winter
their food consisting or the moss and other
vegetation obtained during the season by scrap-
ing off the snow with their hoofs. Wolves also
bears, foxes, and other animals were repeatedly
observed. Geese, ducks, and other water fowl
including plover and other wading BIRDS
aboundcd during the summer, although the
SPECIES Of land birds were comparatively few,
including, however, large numbers of ptarni-
gan or snow partridge. No mention is made
BY the rescued party Of the occurrence Of hawks
and owls. No fish were seen, although the net
and lines were frequently called into play in an
attempt to obtain them. The waters, however,
were found filled to an extraordinary degree
a. MARINE INVERTEBRATES,
including jelly fish and shrimps.r 1t was be-
iieved by the party that the seals depended on