Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-05-16
FROM THE POLE.
Loss Of Halls Arctic
Expedition.
Death of Capt. Hall Story
of the Survivors.

Death of Capt. Hall Story
of the survivors.
DR.. 4. I. Hays Interviewed.
New York, May l0.-A dispatch
from St. Johns, N. f., May 8, says
the steamer Walrus arrived from
the seal fishery at the port of St
Johns this morning, carrying news
that the steamer Tigress had came
into Roberts Bay, Is miles from
here, having on board 10 survivors
of Halls Arctic expedition.
The following are the names OF
the rescued: II. G. Tyson, assistant
navigator; Frederick Meyer, meteo
rologist; John Heron, steward; sea
men, w. G. Ringer, Frederick Ant
ing, Gustavus Il. Linquist, Freder.
lex Jamka, VIM. HENDERSON, Peter
Johnston; VIM. Jackson, cook; Es'
quimaux Joe, interpreter; Hannah
and child, Esquimaux; Hans, chris
tian, of Kane's expeditions; Hans,
christian, wife and four children
the youngest only six months old.
This party, who had been taken
from the Polaris, were driven from
her in gale, which burst hel
mooring, on the 18th of October
1872, in latitude 10 deg, IS min.-
When they last saw the Polaris she
was under steam and canvass, max
ing for the harbor on the east side
of Northumberland Island.
She had no more boats left of sin
which she brought with her from
the port of New York: two were
lost in the northern expedition, two
were landed on the ice with Capt
Tyson's party, one was burnt as
fire wood to make water for the
crew, and the other is on board the
Tigress. The Polaris was IN com
mand of Capt. Buddington, who had
a heavy crew along with him and q
plentiful stock of provisions. Hel
bow was somewhat damaged, and il
is the opinion of the survivors that
they will be unable to get clear I'M
til July, and even then if the ship is
unseaworthy, they should have to
make new boats to effect an escape
On the Sth of October, 1871, in lati
tude 81 deg. SO min, longitude u
deg. A min, Capt. Hall died of ap
oplexy and was buried on shore
where they erected wooden cross
to mark his grave. He had recently
returned from northern sled expe
dition, in which he had attained q
latitude of 50 deg. and lG min. He
seemed in his usual health, and had
called the crew into his cabin to en-
courage them with hopes of future
rewards, and to stimulate them tc
renewed eXertion, WREN he was sud
denly struck down and expired, tc
the great grief Of those around him.
to whom he had endeared himself
by his kindness and devotion.
In September, 1871, the Polaris
entered winter quarters, and lef,
August 18th, 1872, and the ice was
then very heavy and set in a south
crn direction, by which she was
forced south, and SO continued drift.
ing until Capt. Tyson and party
were driven from her.
The party crossed Kane's Polar
sea, which they pronounced to be a
strait about fifteen miles vide
There was an appearance Of open
water to the north. The party sui
fered 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 it. When met by the Tigress
they showed evident signs Of their
great sufferings, but during the nine
days that they have been on board
they have improved vastly, and are
now in fair health.
CAPT. TYsoN's NARRATIVE.
The following statement is fur
nished by Capt. Tyson:
"On the oath of August, 1871, we
left Tessinask and went through
Smiths Sound. We succeeded in
getting as far north as latitude 50
degrees 16 minutes, when we re-
turned and wintered at Polaris Bay,
latitude 81 degrees 3s minutes, Ion.
gitude 81 degrees Al minutes. We
were frozen up until the 5th of Sep
TENDER On the 10th of October
Captain Hall started on sledgc
journey north and returned ON the
oath, when he was taken sick and
died on the sth Of November. He
was buried on the 18th. The at
tack that carried him off was said
to be apoplexy. We pissed the
winter at Polaris Bay. On the 9Th
of June, 1872, we attempted to go
north with two boats. We hauled
our other boat on shore and return
ed overland on the sth of July. We
started for home on the 18th of
August, and OH the 18th were beset
with ice in latitude so degrees Q
minutes We drifted from there
down to latitude II degrees 35 min
utes, when we encountered a heavy
southwest gale, the ship being I'M
der heavy pressure. On the night
of the 18th we commenced landing
provisions, etc., on the ice, the YES
sci being reported as leaking very
badly at times. We continued
landing provisions for two or three
hours, when the pressure ceased. l
went on board the vessel, and ask
ed the sailing master if the vessel
was making any more water than
usual. He reported that she was
not. Ithen went to the pumps, and
ascertained that she was not making
any more water than she was doing
IN the summer. l went on the ice
again, and shortly after it began to
crack, and in a few minutes after
ward 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 the party through the win
ter, and, seeing nothing Of the yes
sci, we attempted to reach the