Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-06-26

discovered, as appears by his diary, q riv-
or, q lake, and large inlet The latter,
in latitude 81 degrees 81 seconds north,
he named New Mans Bay, calling its
northern point Cape Brevoort aud south
crn Summer Headland. At Cape Bre-
wort, in latitude 80 degrees 9 seconds,
with longitude 81 degrees 20 seconds
west, he rested. making there his cncamp-
ment. -o-- y .-sg SOS
On October 20 he wrote his last despatch
es to the secretary of the navy, the origi-
nal being in his own handwriting in his
: writing desk. In its examination in
Washington after it was delivered to the |
secretary of the navy by Esquimaux Joe,
!. who had kept the desk in his custody from |
the time it was picked up on the ice after
the separation OF the rescued party from |
the ship, copy of this despatch so singu-
larly preserved accompanies this report |
Captain Hall himself deposited trans
cript of it in cairn in the side of the |
mountain at Cape Brevoort. Captain Hail.
it appears, had hoped when he left the
Polaris on this journey to advance north
ward at least one hundred miles; but al
ter having gone about fifty, he was COM
PEELED by the condition Of the shore and
Of the ice, an d by the state of the climate,
to return and await the approach spring |
for another attempt.
lie reached the ship on the ? It'll of Oc
tober, apparently in his usual fine health,
but was attacked the same evening with |
sickness of the stomach and vomiting,
and. taking his bed, was the next day
found seriously i'll. His most marked
symptoms seem from the evidence to have
been such as indicated congestion Of the
brain, accompanied by delirium and par
tial paralysis of one side. The witnesses
all state that his attack was called apo
plexy, and some of them speak of their
own knowledge of his paralysis and de-
lirium he recovered, however, some days
after, sufficiently to leave his bed, to move
about the cabin a little and to attempt to
attend to business, but he soon had relapSes
and became again delirious and died the
Sth of November, 1871 Three DAYS after
he was buried ON shore
From personal examination of ali the
witnesses, and from their testimony rs
given, WE reach the unanimous opinion
that the death of Captain Hall resulted
naturally from disease, without fault on
the part of any one during his illness. He
was Under the medical care Of Dir. Bessels,
and as none OF the persons now here are
capable of giving a more particular ac-
count of the nature and symptoms of his
fatal sickness, the return of the Polaris
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, Polaris while under hi,
command.
On the death of Captain Hall Mr.. Bud
dington succeeded to the command OF the
Polaris. as had been provided for in in
structions for the voyage issued by the
secretary of the navy. The winter was
passed as is usual in arctic regions, but
q without any suffering from cold. disease,
or from want of proper provisions. Sci
entific observations were diligently kept
up on the Polaris, and New Mans Bay was
surveyed. and the coast line to the south
ward of Polaris Bay examined for over
seventy miles: the crew were valiously
employed. and the Esquimaux hunted
whenever an opportunity permitted
In the latter part of November, in Il
heavy gale from the northeast, the Polari.
dragged her anchor, but brought up against
large iceberg before mentioned, which
was aground in the bay. She was FINAL,
made fast to il and so remained until thC
following summer. During the winter she
was forced by the pressure of other ic,
sweeping down against her upon the foo
OF Proyinceberg, and being subsequently
carried higher upon it by the rising Of the
tide and the renewed pressure from the
ice. she remained until June, 1872. her
stern piece resting uneasiIy during the
whole of the stormy winter ON this
ice bed. She was cracked and some of her
bow planks split, causing her to leak.
She again got afoat. She seems to have
leaked somewhat freely at first. and the
steam pumps worked to clear her out. but
subsequently her deck pumps used for
about six minutes per hour were found
sufficient to keep her clear
Early in June, before the Pol.ris was
released from the ice, Captain Buddngton
despatched Chester and Tyson with
two boats TO endeavor to get as far north
IS possible. The party lost the boat.
which was crushed in the ice almost at the
commencement of the journey. The loss.
however, was supplied from the Polaris
by cantas boat, and with much difficulty
and delay they got as far north as New
Mans Bay. They then awaited the posi-
BILE opening of the ice till the middle of
July, when written orders from Captain
Buddington directed them to return to the
ship. They were unable to transport the
boats, and leaving them on the shore.
started on foot and arrived on board after
An absence of six weeks.
While they We're away, some time in
June, the Polaris had broken out of winter
quarters and had made several attempts to
proceed northward to pick up the party
with boats, but the ice was found impassa-
bic, and Captain Buddington, on receiving
the party ON board, determined to make
the best OF his way southwark to the nj
ted States, as soon as the ice would per-
init. They started southwark in August,
1872. and slowly made their way along
the western shore until the next day. when
the ship, having got further in mid chan
mel, was badly beset by ice. In latitude
about 80 degrees 40 seconds north, she
was in danger OF being wrecked for some
hours. when she was freed again on the
10th of August.
The ship made fast to large foe of ice
in latitude eighty degrees twenty-sevcn
minutes north, and longitude about sixty
eight degrees west, and while still fast to
this foe drifted south through Smiths
Sound, nearly to Northumberland Island.