, 1873-06-20
'THEPOL LARlS.
Report Of tho Investigation Made
by the Secretary Of the
u Navy.
i!
The Authorities Satisfied that
:: Capt. Hall Died q Nat
ural Death. =.
They Regard: The Separation Of tho
Tyson Party from tho
polaris Accidental.
What the Expedition Has Done
for Science-..Interest-
- ing Details.
The Tyson Survivors to Go in Search
for tho Missing Vessel.
Copy Of Capt, Halls Dispatch to the
Secretary Of the Navy.

Copy Of Capt. Halls Dispatch to the
Secretary Of the Navy.
I.
WARRINGTON, June 1o.-seoretary Robcson
has sent to the President Ills report in full OF
the Investigation OF tho Polaris matter, in which
he says that the statements Of all tho persons
rescued, who could speak OF understand Eng
glist, except that Of tho vito Of Hans Christian,
wore takcn down, and aro now, together with |
tho diaries kept by some Of tho pnrty On the leo,
and diary Of the oruae Of tho Polaris, the Int
ter kept in German by Hermann soarna Zone Of |
tho seamen remaining on board), and picked up
on tho leo, aftcr separation from the ship,
boing printed, tho bulk Of thom being already in
typo.
Secretary Robson says It must BIO clearly un-
derstood that, in permitting this publication,
the Department neither make nor doolare any
Judgment against Duddington, who has no op-
portunity for defonao or explanation.
Tho facts show that, though he was perhaps
wanting in enthusiasm for tho grand objects OF
tho expedition, and at times grossly lax in dis
ciplino, and though lle differed III Judgment as
to tho possibility, safety, and propzioty Of tak-
ing the ship further north, yot ho is an export
encod and careful navigator, mnn not addicted
to liquor lot which none remained on board tthe
timo OF separation) and a safe and competent
commander. Tho Secretary then gives tho de-
tails already mado public Of tho measures taken
by him to sond tho stenmors Junlata nnd Tigfcss
to the reiiof If possible, Of tho po1ariB and tho
remainder Of her crew. Tho Tigress ho pro-
posos to purchaao and strengthen for the service
required in search in tho Artio regions. Capt.
Tyson, Esquimaux Joe and all tho rescued Bea-
Ill 4t1n hahn
ioua to rosoue their comrades and bring out
''Sa The 'o fooMing is tho result Of tho Investigation
and examination Of Capt. Tyson, Frederick X.
Meyor, Esquimaux Joe, and others OF tue ree-
cued crew:
coNDEt'sED RESULT or 1NvEs11oArIoN.
at midnight on Sept. 8, 1871, Capt: Hall
landed with q boat on the east shoro Of Polaris
Of the United statos raised the American Gag on
the land ho had discovered. On one occasion,
whilo beset In Robson Straits, the Polaris
seemed to bo in such danger Of boing crushed.
measures taken to bo IN readiness fol-. leaving
her, but she happily escaped without injury:
Immediately after securing the ship In winter
quartors Capt. Hall made preparations for
ors 'dgs oe9n9g Sg landing saa 0S and
setting up an observatory, getting sciontifio
observations under way, surveying the harbor,
clearing up ship, snd making snug for the win
ter: On the 10th Of October Capt. Hall 4 left The the
mate, and EEquimnux Joe and Hans, with two
slodgos and fourteen dogs, aud aot out on an
expedition, tho first step taken by Capt Hall 70
| feel up tho land more northorly than white mans
foot ever before touched. In the progress 9,
the Journey, unhappily tho last that Capt. HALL
| was to make toward tho pole, ho discovered as
appears by his dispatch, q river, 1ako, and q
| large inlet, the latter in latitude 81 dog.
mans Day, and itB northern point, oapo
| Droyoort, and tho southern one Sumner
Headland. At Oapo Broyoort, in latitude 50 do
| groos seconds north, longitude 81 degrees 20
suow oncampmont. On October 20 he wrote his
| last dispatch to the Secretary Of the Navy, the
original draft Of which WAS found in hs own
handwriting in his own desk on it's examination
in Washington, after It waa delivered to tho eec.
kept the deall In his custody from the tiIno It
waa picked up On the leo, aftor the separation Of
tho rescued party from tho ship. 4 copy Of this
dispatch, SO singularly preserved, accompanies
CAPT. Hall himself deposited a Transcript Of it
| In a cayerp on the ado Of the mountain at Capo
Drevoort. Capt. Hall, 1t appears, had hoped,
whon ho loft the Po!aris on tha journey, to i'd
having gone about IS, ha was compelled BY the
condition Of tho ahore, and the ico and by the
state OF climate, to return and await tho aap-
ot sRIng tSr otnef ~ tf%S ne
ently in his usual flne health, but was attacked
the Sumo evening with siokncss at tho stomach
and vomiting, md, taking to lis bod, was no1t
found to be ILL., oyaa1ne Ma os n haee
boon such az indicated congestion Of the brain,
accompanied by delrium and partial paralysis
Of one side. The witnesses all state that his at'
tack was called apoplo1y,. and aomo OF then
md dolirium. He recovered, however, solnt
DAYS after, sufficiently to loaye his bed and *
move about tho cabin a little, and to attempt tt
attend to business, but lie soon had relapse na
| became again dcliriouB, aud died on the eth O.
November, 1871. Threo days aftorho was buriet
| On tho shore.
From personal examination Of tho Witnesses
and from their testimony rs given, We reach I'll.
resulted naturally from diaease without fault1
on tho mart Of nuy ono. AL the persouH exam
ined toHtify to the uniform kindness and caro- Q
Capt. Hall, aud to the good order aud .ellulen
condition OF the Polaris whiIe undor ILLS com
On the doath Of Capt. Hall. Dnddington sue
ooodoi to the command OF the Poiarls, es lla
boon provided for in tho instructions foE til
rio winter was passed a. usual in tlq Arotl
regions. Early In Juno, before tue polsris va
rolensed from tho leo. Oapt. Dnddington dla
patched MossrB. Chester mud Tyson with boat
= with much difficulty and dolay they got Az "a
north as Nownan'a Bay. They tllorc awaito
Tho possible oponing Of tho loo till tho middle
July, whom written orders from Capt: Buddlng
woro away, and some time in juno, tue Polar
hud brokon out Of winter quartera and ha
: made several atte.npta to proceed northwarl
up tho topa p%faty Tth to be ne'ts Inass.t nus Y
md Cart. Duddington, on receiving the party G
board, determined to mako tho best OF hla wa
Bouthward to tho Unitod 6tases. o. Soon as t.
Is les would permit. They atarted southwark