The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-09-25
The Polaris Rescued.

Emil Besses, chief of science corps; II. c.
Chester, first mate, W. Morton, second
mate; +, Schumann, chief engineer; A.
A. Odell, second engineer; w. F. Camp
Dell, fireman: Harmon Siemons. Hobby
Lobby and \. Hayes, seamen. They are
In excellent health. Three others were
transferred by the Ravenscraig to the
Intrepid, which is expected to arrivg at
Dundee i'll two or three weeks Their
names are Il. W. Broyan, astronomer;
D. Is. March. seaman and s. W. Booth,
Booth. fireman.
Ater separation from Tyson and his
companions the Polaris was finally abaii-
doncd in a sinking condition by Capt. Bud
dngton, and the remainder of the eXpedi-
ton was partly wintered in the life boat
cave where they built a timber house
covered with sails The winter was passed
without any event except the breaking out
Of the scurvy which, however, was unat-
tended by severe symptoms Plentiful
/ supplies Of walrus liver Tor food were OBJ
tanned from the natives, and to this diet is
att.i5uted the mild'ness Of the disease.
In the spring Two boats We're built Of
thin pine boards taken from the cabin of
The rulari- liz .he>e the whole party
embarked, soon as the ice opened, and
sailed southwark. On the third of June
.heN sighted Cape y o,ll, and on the 22d OF
the same month, they We're picked up by
the Ravenscraig Mr. Chester, first mate,
is regarded rs one who did the most to
save the party, and the rescued men speak
in the highest terms of his exertions
They also say that Capt Hall enjoyed the
confluence o. every one, and his death,
Which was expected, was deplored by all
on board Polaris.
The Polai'is, it appears, had been leak
ING badly. until her situation ultimately
became so ale ming that it was deemed
advisable to abandon her about the middle
Of last October Some of the crew re-
manned ;,oard while others landed on
the ice; and they began 10 get out the
stores. with The intention of taking every
thing they could need for a long sojourn
| in those i.ozcn regions, But that night 4
severe gale sprang up with binding
snow and SudGenly the hawse"s by which
the snip was made fast to the ice, gave
way. and the Polaris was drawn away,
leaving th;'2e meh alone on the ice. (Ihese
were saved by the Tyson party) A few
minutes later those on the Polaris saw
boat launched and manned by the tree
men mak;ng lor the place where their
comrades were Stationed. In shOIt time
,he s,o,lm and daiI. ness shut out every Oh
iect from ihcir view The feelings OF the
mel cah ne imagined as, with half the
crew leu o pe.rs;l rs ,hey supposed, in a
desert Of ice and snow. the ship dlilfed
away mel 'less Until at last She brought up
at Line Boat Cove
The prospect was now gloomy enough
f.. nose GA The l1ol1riS As the ship con
tnutd 10 leak ,hev got as near the shore
a. possible and removed everything from
her, making q house out Of planEs torn
from the .lecl and sails. In such home
The long w;n,er was passed. Some help
was received from three Esquimaux, who
discovered the wrecked ship, and agteed
for few paltry presents TO convey Irovis
ions over the ice rom the vessel. Through
the long drealy winter the men kept up
their Si,i.: Is remarkably well The snow
fell heavily, but it served to protect thei.
liail habnation and make it more comfort
able
Bv-and-by it was agreed upon to make
some attempt 10 escape from the perilous
pnsition During the Spring months, with
the thermometer % degrees below zero,
and often in a binding storm, they built
boats rom materials obtained from the
Snip When they were launched they
| leaked Il good deal but the men deter
mined 10 trust them. and slowing aboard
| Hll iheir remaining provisions ana ammu
nijion. they said farewell to Life Boat
Cove. IA not perfectly tight, the boats
proved themselves excellent sailers, and
| remarkably easy TO row, and on the first
day the voyagers reached Sontag Bay.
A,,er remaining there a short time to re-
gaia their strength, the party made for
ilakuyt Island, where The expedition was
brought to u staDd-siill by a tremendous
GALE, which hleW for three full days with
a continuous fall of snow for all that time.
| Immense tiocks Of au';s. a bird OF the pen
| gum species, We're encountered here, how
| ever. and as the men could easily take up
! their g}os and XII ten of them at a shot,
there was Il plentiful supply of fresh
provisions, which were very thankfully
received
After enduring many prvations, and
cncountcling pe,ls from which their es
cape seemed almost miraculous they sue
ceeded at last in reaching Cape Parry,
| where an encampment was made. The
| life was rough, laborious and monotonous;
but though dangers occasionally present
| ed themselves well calculated to inspire
the greatest fear, no serious accident oc-
cured On the DIST Of June after anoth-
cr struggle, Cape York was reached, and
on the sd their troubles came to an end
\ whaler was deserted a few miles of,
and the whole party was at once in a trr
MOL of excitement The vessel soon saw
| signals, and sent her crew to their assist
ance What followed has already been
| stated.