Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-05-15
General News.
Faiiure Of Haii's Artic Expedition.

DRIFTING El0hI MONIhS ON An ItEBUkts
DAMAGED CONDITION OF THE roLARIs
WHEN LAST HEARD FRoM-sTATEMENT
OF CAPT. TYSON, etc. etc.
A st. John. Newfoundland, despatch
dated the 9th inst, gives the unwelcome
news of the failure of Halls Attic Expedi-
ton, the death OF Captain Hall and the re-
covery of nineteen survivors by the seal
steamer Ti9ress. which arrived at Roberts
Bay nineteen miles distant, that morning.
The following are the names of the res
cued II. c. Tyson, assistant navigator;
Frederick Meyer. meteorologist; John
Heron, Steward; W. e. Kruger, Frederick
Janika. William winderman. Frederick
Anting, Gustave I. Linguist, Peter Johns
ton, seaman; William Jackson. cook;
EsquimauN Joe. interpreter; Hannah and
child, ExquimauN; Hans Christian (of
ksne's expeditio NJ his wife and four child
rem. the youngest only eight mounths old.
This party which had been landed from
the Polaris were driven from her by gale
which burst her moorings on the 18th of
October 1872, in lat. "a 35 min.
When they last saw the Polar she was
under steam and canvass, making tor the
harbor on the east side of Northumberland.
She had no more boats left of the six she
brought from the port of New York. Two
were lost in a northern expedition, two
were landed on the ice with Captain
Tysou's party. one was burnt TO make
water for the crew, and the other Is on
board the Tigress.
The Polaris was in command OF Captain
Buddington, who had thirteen of the crew
along with him and plentiful stock of
provisions. Her bow was somewhat dam
aged, and il is the opinion of the survivors
that they will be unable to get clear until
July. and even then II the ship is unsea-
worthy they would have To make new boats
TO make an escape.
on the sth of November, 1871 In latitude
So 81 min. longitude 10 ~ min. Cap
tain Hall died of apopleXy and buried on
shore. where they erected wooden cross
TO mark his grave. lie had recently re-
turned from northern sledge expedition.
in which he had attained the altitude OF
So Ii min. He seemed in his usual health,
and had called the crew into the cabin 10
encourage them with hopes of future re-
wards. and stimulate them 10 renewed cx-
ertion, when he was suddenly struck down,
and expired. to the great grief of those
around him. to whom he had endeared
himself by his kindness and devotion.
In September. 1871. the Polaris entered
winter quarters and left August II, 1872.
The ice was very heavy and set in a
southern direction. She was forced south
and so continued drifting till Captain Ty-
son and party were driven from her. The
sledgc party crossed kane's Polar sea.
which they pronounced TO be straight
about fifteen miles wide. There was an
appearance ofopen water to the north.
The rescued party suffered very much
during their dreary drift, from hunger aud
cold. For the last two months they ate
raw seal and polar bear hs they could get
H.. D.
evident signs OF great sutcrings: but dur
ing the nine days that they have been on
board they have improved vastly, aud are
now in fair health. The party is in charge
OF the tniied States consul, and will ar
rive at ST. John on Monday next
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN TYSON.
The following statement WAS furnished
by Captain Tyson: On the u OF August
we LEFT Gessinsack aud went through
smiths Sound. We succeeded In getting
a far north a. lat. 81 IL min, when We
returned and wintered at Polaris Bay.
lat. ST. b min. Ion. 81 ~ min. We were
frozen up until the 9TH OF September. On
the 10Th ofOctober, Captain Hall started
on a sledge journey north and returned on
the 2Ith. when he was taken sick and died
on the sth of November. lie was buried
on the llth. The attack that carried him
Of was said TO be apoplexy.
We passed the winter at Polaris Bay.
On the sth OF June. 1872. we attempted u
reach the north with two boats. We haul
ed our other boat on shore and returned
overland on the sth OF July. We started
for home on the l2th Of August, and on
the 18th were bc-ct with ice in latitude
sO' 02. We drfted from that down 10
latitude 80 30. when We encountered a
heavy southwest gale. The ship being I'M
der heavy pressure ON the night ofthe 18th,
We commenced landing provisions, etc, on
the ice. the vessel being reported leaking
very badly at times. We continued land-
ing provisions for two or three hours,
when the pressure increased.
went on board the vessel and asked
the sailing master If the vessel was max
ing any more wafer than usual, and he re-
ported that she was not. | then went TO
the pumps and ascertained that she was
not making any more than she was doing
all summer. ! went on the ice again. and
shortly amer it began 10 crack, aud in 4
few minutes afterward broke IN many
pieces. The vessel broke from the fl>tcn-
ings. and was soon lost 10 sight in the
darkness and storm.
On the broken ice were most OF our
provisions To sustain the party through
the winter, and seeing nothing Of the YES
81 We attempted To reach shore, in hope.
of finding natives To assist ~ Ia living
through the winter. Getting about half
WAY 10 the shore with our heayy-ladcn
boats. our progress became hard with the
drifting ice, aud was compelled 10 haul
upon the ice again. At this time succeed
in saving fourteen cans of pemmiccd,
eleven-and-a-half bags of bread, ten dozen
one and two pound cans OF meat and soup,
fourteen hams. one small bag of chocolate
weighing twenty pounds, some mnsk-oX
skins, few blankets. u number OF rifles
and abundant ammunition.
In the morning. knowing that had not
provisions enough and other articles OF
food, clothing. compasses, etc, on the
abatement of the gale. | endeayorcd TO
shoot As many seals as possible, both for
food. light and fuel, but could only get
three, owing TO bad weather having set
in. | supposed the wind to be about
southwest. On its clearing up | found
myself within eight miles Of what sup
posed TO be the east coast. and about
thirty and forty miles below the ship. The
ice being weak. could not transport the
boats and provisions to land until it grew
stronger.
While here discovered my other boat.
bread. etc, and saved all. The ice grew
firm. and l made another attempt 10 reach
the shore carrying everything III the boats
and dragging them on the keel. The ice
being exceedingly rough. we stove both
boats. We succeeded on the LIST of No
vember in getting about half way TO the
shore. when the night came Oh us and
very stormy weather. In the morning the
ice was broken. and we were drifting
southwark very fast.
We saw no more land for many days.
Bad weather continuing all through the
month of November, we built snow houses
and made ourselves as comfortable as we
could. We were ten white men. two
Esquimaux. two women and five children
in all. We succeeded in killing few
seals, which furnished us with light and
fuel with which to warm our scanty
allowance of food through the darkness
of the Arctic winter.
In the latter part of February we lived
principally upon birds, and in March COM
menced to catch seals. Through that
month We supported ourselves on bears
and seals fish. wasting neither skin nor
entrails. We collected enough food in this
way TO last US until the middle of May.
had We not been driven to see by q strong
westerly gale in the latter part Of March.