New-York tribune., 1873-05-12
THE CAREER OF CAPT. HALL.
THE POWER OF ENTHUsIAsM-HOw A BLACKSMITH
BECAME A GREAT ExPLORER-HIs SERVICES T'



TIE POWER OF ENTHUsIAsN-How A BLACKSMITH
BECAME GREAT EXPLORER-HIs SERVICES TO
SCIENCE.
Charles Francis Hail. whose life of adventure
and sefdevotion has closed under such melancholy
circumstances, was, like many others who have
attained distinction, native Of New Hampshire. He
received plain education, became blacksmith, and
after working several years AT his trade he migrated To
Cincinnati where ne opened store IN stationery bus-
ness in Fourth-st Main. After while he issued
small circular called The Oeeas'oaf and next founded
The Penny Press He parted with his interest in tl1
latter to D. Caldwell and A. W Francisco. VINO after
ward transferred it TO Henry and Samuel Rood in whose
hands il attained greater circulation than any other
paper. Mr Hall eyinced great taste for scientific
study and was time enthusiastic about ealorte
engine that people, playing hls initials. called him
sCalortc Fool Hall" Arctic discovery next absorbed
his attention. and he began TO habtuate himself for life
in the polar regions by sleeping under tent ut Mount
Adams during the Winter months. He watcheh
atentvely the various efforts made TO discover traces Of
Sir John Franklins expedition. and on learning that
Capt. mClntock's vessel. the Fox had been caught
in the ice he took his first practical step by drawing up
petition 70 the British authorities, asking them to
lend him the Artic ship ResOlute, which, having
been abandoned In the ice, bad driited out ana
was picked up in 1855 by Capt. James Budding
ton OF New-LOndOn, and returned completely re-
fitted at the national expense TO England The
petition was signed by Gov. Chase, Mayor Bishop Of
Cincinnati and others but before 1t was sent Col.
MClintock returned and the project was abandoned
Dissatisfied at the scanty tdings learned or FranKnns
fate he prepared Feb. 1860 circular wherein he
declared his opinion that some OF Franklns men were
still living with the Esqumaux, and quoted letter
from Thomas Hickey Of the Grinncl expedition who
agreed with him. and volunteered to join tine exped
on he proposed 10 Organize. He says he felt he was
caed TO seek for the lost explorer and after visit
ing New-L0ndOn. Conn, 70 learn what nc could
from seamen engaged in whale fishery he came
on 10 New-YOrk where after explaining his purpose,
Messrs Henry Grinnell, Miles Greenwood and X NJ
Bishop became treasurers of the expedition fund and
in due time George Henry was equipped and ready
to sail The leading promoter Of this expedition, 1t IS
well known, was our eminent feowctizen Henry Grin
NELL Of whom Hall says: "Tle memory Of lis generous
kindness frequently sustained and helped 20 nYgorate
me anew when weared and exhausted in the wild re-
gionsD The emotions with which the daring black
smh,ournast started MAY 90 1901 on his FIST voyage
may be Judged from his own words
"Once more bidding adieu to all on shore, the boat
swiftly carried TO the ship where preparation was
being made for departure. Ia few moments more the
steai-rg was Alongside and 10 wed out TO sea-
Then the hnal moment OF parting Tbe last Iire-
well had to be utereG-the one word that wa 20 sever
me for many months, perhaps years. from my country
my home. my friends Never shall forget the emo
lions experienced when the noble Grlnne came 20 aAe
nv hand and say GOOdDy! God bless you
Hardly could respond to his kind ra ana
earnest expressions toward me anu on my oehAIl WIN
ond mar smoke of t6e brave old naygators those
OF own times who had often dared le peri.s OF @ IN
but depending more ON the ald ana slpport O5 & oa
preme Power He bade ever do the satne, and com
mending me to that Mighty Being. he once more, with
mOisened eye, said FaFeweHp ana nasIly eDl0aIhch
ON the tug that was to convey the visitors shore Tue
last INK binding me to my own dear native land was
severed The steamer cast on as we were passing
from those on board when three loud cheers gwen
for the Of Henry GTnne and az the echoes foated
the ar our good ship, now under sl pore me rapidly
away. thus l left my country 10 ny aud acc0mpnSh
that object upon when had set my heart namely the
solving OF the YET unsettled mystery connected Win the
lost Franklin Expedition"
Capt Hal proceeded to the Arctic regions aud did not
return until september 1902. He reached FrobsheT's
strait in August 1860, and encountered there fearfaI
gale which nearly wrecked The George Henryi the
spring of 1861 ne proc gred whaeoosI, ana wn cISw
natives. started on his northern journey 20 the
Countess Warwlcks sound and after much suffering
succeeded in discovering the place where Fro6Isher IN
154 or 1915. had attempted 20 plant colony he gam
cred important Information gardng the geography OF
the Arctic regions and determined he believed the fate
OF Of the oOatS' crews or Franklin during tAe N
ter OF l6l2 the ships company were subssted mostly
by the generous hospitality OF the Esqumaux. On his
return Capt. Halt wrote a valuable WORK or nearly AO
pages aDounding IN valuable information regarding the
Esquimaux and the dismal land which they inhabit
He had hardly written the last pages or MS book When
June 30, 1864 the daring explorer sailed on board the
Monticello Tor the polar reglous haynk AGAIN peen IN
ebted 10 Henry Grnnel Tor pecuAlary ld. ne spent
there five years returning september ls6e after an
exhaustive the remains OF Frankns expedi-
ton. In this research he had been remarkably success
the different parties OF that expedition perished.
learned where their vessels were and oO-
dItOn He ascertained the important fact that tho
same year the EreDs and Terror were abandoned
one OF these vessels made tho great Northwest pas
cage having five men board and that the vessel was
in perfect order when abandoned Oy the crew ana 9und
by the Esqumaax in the Spring or lSi9 He made no
attempt aJ Polar discoveries and indeed does not seem
10 nave zone parallel OF 70 north latitude put
he xpOred pretty thoroughly the Melville peninsula,
part OF King Williams Land, and other places, and con-
nected these tho explorations OF his previous ex-
pedition Ample details OF this voyage are known but
tits matter OF regret that Hall wrote no book about u
having devoted nearly all the time between his return
and the sailing OF the POaris in July, 1871 10 urging
Congress to give the OF seeking that polnt-Ihe
North Poie-whieh be never to behold. The re-
OF his consists only OF the brief accounts
wncn have reached OF MS journey nOrthward, and
ne sad details elsewhere which accompany the news OF
his death.