The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-13
Circumstantial Evidence Sifted.
WAauYNcTON Sent 10 1877.


CircumstantiaI Evidence siftcd.
WASHINGTON, Sept. IL, 1873.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The veil OF mystery Overhanging the lost Arctic
explorers seems with our present light almost i'm
penetrable. 1t is painfully impossible, with the
tragic tidings already published concerning the
fate OF the Polaris before US, to say anything as
startling as the tidings themselves. The inco-
herent and fragmentary reports leave the har-
rowing doubt that not even the crew OF the
Tigress, much less that of the Juniata have yet
seized the thread which might conduct them into
the labyrnthine history OF the party under Captain
Buddingt0n and people are constrained therefore
to draw conclusions from the circumstantial evi-
dences in the case. The dispatches already re-
ceived have been dictated from the Juniata the
rival search ship of the Tgress. Taking the second
hand information OF Commander Braine, which he
obtained from Commander Greer, and which, for
accuracy's sake, one would wish he had given in
the latter oficers own words, the following infer
ences may be drawn
REASONING FROM CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
In the first place, 1t Is not stated whether the
party camped near Littleton Island last winter
left any record behind them, and the inference OF
Commander Greer-that they went south in two
boats in the middle OF June-is apparently based
on the mere word Of the ExquimauX. The circum.
stantial evidence Is conclusive that if they did,
and the public may accept Commander Greer's
hasty abandonment OF the vicinity OF Lttleton
Island as proof that he believed they did, they took
their departure, not from choice, but compuslon
Why, then, should they have committed them
selves voluntarily to the mercy OF the waves and
the tremendous ice-noes in June, when
navigation was as, at It's worst s. They were
within lew days sedgc or foot
journey of Cape York, and within thirty miles OF
the settlement ut Notik. on the main land, where
they might have obtained relief
If THE EsQUIMAUx WERE FRIENDLY.
They might also have entertained well grounded
hopes that, by waiting few weeks, some friendly
them while the attempt at that early day, to go
south IN two trail boats was almost certain destruc
ton. One cannot suppose that they were forced
to abandon their winter quarters by the want OF
food. All the rescued members OF Tysons party
Polaris october 16 1872, she had plenty Of prov
sons, but only about one winters supply Of coal.
The report OF commander Greer, which comes
through the Juniata, tells US that the Esquimaux,'
when first seen on shore from the deck OF the
al ueS
their clothes and redonned the Esqumau ap-
pare an action that looks inexplicable. 1t Is an
almost
UNIVERSAL PRACTICE OF ARCTIC EXPLORERS
to leave memorandum stating their past and
prospective movements in some secure vessel at
the camp or winter quarters they abandon, and,
unless the Polaris survivors az Littleton Island
accountable that they lett no sealed record Of their
| experience and purposes. The inference which
would seem to be strengthened by the account
which represents the abandoned house as present
ing interiorly
SCENE THE Widest CONFUSION,
broken instruments lying on the floor, while the
remains OF a mutilated log book were scattered
about In all directions. But. accepting the hasty
abandonment OF the scene by Commander Greer
AZ evidence that he believed the Polaris party had
in endeavorng to overtake them the public will
inquire, in that event. what light remains to clear
up the mystery OF their fate 1t Is hardly possible
wild tumult and Ice pers OF Smiths Sound and
Ban's Bay. but it is highly probable that had their
boats gone down amid the Ice DRIFTS they could have
re-embarked on one of these floating islands and
transferred TO 1t the larger portion OF their stores
and provisions. II this actually occurred as
strongly hope was the case, the government is not
by any means shut up to despair.
The prevailing winds and the westward set Of
the Smith Sound current would drive such an ice
craft in June decidedly towards the western side
or Baffin's Bay and over upon the shores OF North
icy waters seldom requented and generally
Stunned by whaers, and from which an escaping
ddaicnlt task to communicate with q friendly YES
SELL Upon the theory that they have been picked
up near Cape York It Is almost unaccountable that
nearly three months have elapsed without any
clew to their whereabouts being given. Upon the
above hypothesis, based-on the physical geography
and mete0roogy OF these waters 1t Is by no means
hard to explain the long delay In determining their
fate. II they have been cast on any part OF the shore
Lincoln they would be, as already intimatec, IN
position
FAR FROM THE SIGHT OF ANY FRIENDLY SAIL
and far from the Labrador settlements, but not
devoid OF the means or prolonged subsistence.
therefore cling to this hope as the most reason
able one that remains Of the future rescue OF the
forlorn crew or the Polaris, and trust that the
Juniata may be ordered to repair at once to this
coast and continue the search long the season
permits. The ice is now rapidly forming IN the
high North, but the ice DRIFT, the dread OF the
navigator, Is nearly arrested by the cold, that
should one more steam vessels be promptly sent
to the west coast Of Davis Straits they would not
be in as much danger as the Juniata was on Cape
York on the 8th or August during her encounter
with the storm and the ice pack There may
possibly be other lines OF relief proposed, but this
seems to be the most practicable.
AURORA BOREALIS.