The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-21

nuence had been exercised over the crew to lessen
the respect for her commander. and the jealousy or
some OF Halls subordinates, taken in connection
with the whole AFFAIR, leads me to the conclusion
that there was foul play. think the body Of Cap
tain Hail. which, have no doubt, is still in a state
Of preservation should be sought after and ex-
humed.n
This, and much more, the Inspector communi-
Gated to me frankly and without hesitation. Be-
Sides having read the facts already disclosed, he
had evidently studied the subject with care; but,
the second chapter OF the tragic tale has yet to
be told by those whose lives are for the present
sealed shall gladly dismiss the painful topic until
such time as when, face to face with those over
whom the clouds now hang so heavily, shall learn
the other side OF the story.
And now, with sigh OF relief, recall the events
Of the past few days. must do so promptly, or
be left alone in this northern wilderness, for the
little steam launch will soon be away In the noble
cause Of humanity.
have previously mentioned that Commander
Bralne made every preparation for the steamer
Tigress upon her arrival at GOdhavn, Disco
Island. in the way OF purchasing dogs, skins fox
clothing, and depositing for her in the government
storehouse an ample supply OF coal l venture to
state That rarely has such an amount Of work been
performed IN such short space OF time. It is q
source OF some regret, however, that the sloop-of.
war Juntata, which has thus far done so nobly, Is
not adapted for ice navigation otherwise the Poaris
mystery would be solved in fortnight. Never
have seen, IN oil my experience, more willing
and sanguine set Of officers, from the chivalrous
and popular executive oficer, Lieutenant Com
mander Edgar G. Merriman. down to the youngest
midshipman on the vessel. With characteristic
petition the commander might deem eXpedent TO
send forth in quest OF the missing party His ener
getic efforts on board, however, could not well
be dispensed with but If ever naval officer
went heart and soul into an undertaking he has
certainly done all for this perilous mission that
duty and sympathy could dictate.
BOUND FOR UPERNAvfK.
Time warns me not to dlate on scenery or sur
roundings Both were tame and barren, and as
the starving mendcant dreams Of the luxurious
dishes OF the epicure so did we, gazing at the rug
ged rocks as precipitous as o jail wall, and
the cheerless cebergs, without number,
seemingly inviting the ship to measure
strength with them, think Of the sunny slopes at
home, OF green trees, strawberries and fans. At
noon on the Goth ultImo the Juniata weighed
anchor and steamed out Of the land-locked harbor.
The farther We went north the nearer we felt we
were TO the Poaris, though where she was or what
had become OF her gave rise to more theories and
specuations than a bank clerk could count in
day. The sea was smooth as glass and the Juniata
made excellent Roadway As we passed the
Omenak ford the glitterIng icebergs came bounding
forth in dozens, but since we had become pretty
familiar with their appearance they failed to
impress us with any other idea than that they
should have wide a berth as possible.
picturesque. assuming every variety of
shape from an old ruined castle to marble dry
goods store on Broadway. Some were colossal in
their PROPORTIONS, towering above the water more
than 200 feet and nearly mile In circumference.
IN A REGULAR FIX.
On the evening OF the second day out dense
fog rendered it impossible to see ships length
ahead. and although we were close by Upernavik
it was deemed prudent to slow down. Well in
deed was it that such a precaution had been
taken. The choking mist increased in volume,
and at midnight an iceberg ten yards OFF
might have lain In wait for us with i'm,
punty. At two O'Clock in the morning
startling cry was heard on deck, "Stop herm
Hard aportl" and all hands turned out as II by
magic. Not that the words betokened anything
unusual in this region OF eternal ice but the sharp,
ringing and stentorian tone in which they were
close aboard. Commander Braine was on the
bridge in twinkling steep precpice
loomed up In the fog, and in an instant
the Juniata would have struck. But the
engine was reversed in the nick of time,
and the noble ship, promptly answering her helm,
just escaped destruction IN 100 fathOms of water.
One minute later and direfu disaster was in
evtable. The pilot on the forecastle had done his
duty in time Delay was death, for the huge
mountain rose perpendcularly from the sea
and in case of accident landing was impossible.
But the interval was terrible one between the
time the pilot sung out and the happy moment
when the vessel slowed of, barely saving her flying
jibboom. Soundings showed that there was sui.
fcent water to sink dozen fleets, and 50 the
vessel CROPPED her way dead slow, cropping her way
through worse than pitchy darkness, only to find,
however, that she was completely surrounded by
towering crags and that the entrance to this well
nigh fatal harbor was a mystery. And so the
anchor was let go. That 1t was night OF uneasi-
ness for all need scarcely state not that we were
in any immediate danger, but the locality was an
enigma which the dissipation OF the for could pos
slbly solve. The ice pilot and the Esquimau pilot
who said he knew every inch Of the way,
were bewildered, and so there was moth
ing for it but patience. Never did the
faces Of an anxious crew beam with such joyful.
ness when the black cloud OF vapor began to
lift, and when at length the veil was drawn aside
and the situation was iairly presented feeling of
surprise and gratitude prevailed. In the impene.
trable fog we had left the coast and come with a
circle of snow-capped peaks in the vicinity Of
Sanderson's Hope How the Juniata steamed
through the narrow entrance in safety could not
be conceived, but the circumstance Of the danger
and escape will not readily be forgotten. over
heard the Doatswan make a remark that "a little
OF that goes long way" and believed it.
woE-BEGoNE COLONY.
We have OF late become so accustomed to scenes
OF desolation that even Upernavik impresses us
with about as much sympathetic feeling as does
the self-asserted innocence of criminal on the
warden OF penitentiary. Time was, and that not
over three weeks ago, when the sight OF these
Esqumaux settlements excited wonder and CON-
miseration. But the repeated exhibition OF the
same miserable surroundings Is apt to make people
Indifferent, and now that another colony, as bleak
and lonely looking as the mind can well conceive,