Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-01
.TELEGR APH.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE GAzETrE.]
The Arctic. Expedition.

The Arctic Expedition.
New York, Oct. Letters from Dundee
| bring the statements Of the Poaris survivors
| who arrived there. They all agree in the state
ment before published as to Hall 5 death. Capt.
Buddington makes long statement, covering
the whole voyage from the time the Pulars
ett Fessnsack IN August, 1871, and gives a
brief account of Halls death: Son the 24th
Captain Hall returned, having reached the bay
which he named Newman's Bay Not long
after his return Captain Hall was taken srri
ousIy i'll, and DIR. Bessel said his disease was
apoplexy For two weeks he continued 10 bad
health, but now and again he would rally and
| appear we'll and then relapse suddenly. On the
morning of the Sth he died, and on the 10th
We buried him half mile TO the south OF the
| observatory. We were now 10 peculiarly en-
barrassing condition, but considered it sill
our duty to press towards the North Pole. In
consequence OF some little differences which
had occurred before Captain Halls death, as
well as from the novel position in which We
now iound ourselves, harmony, which had pre-
| viou>ly prevailed, was now more than once scr-
| ously broken On the 18th of November DR..
| Bcssel drew up a paper aud asked me to sign
| it, which did. 1t WAS repetition of the IN
structions given by the Navy Department to
Captain Hail, providing hat should continue
as sailing and vice master, and control and d-
rect the movements of the vessel; Dr. Besscl
| TO continue chief OF the Scientific Department
! This paper concluded as follows 1T is our
honest intention to honor our flag aud to hoist
it upon the most northern point OF the earth.
| Captain Buddiugton next describes the sopara-
ton from Tysau's party, and says the Polarls
was in most critical condition. 1t was ooly
| by the most strenuous Efforts that the Polaris
was kept afuat until steam was started and the
deck pump got to work, by which means the
vessel was balled out. On the morning Of the
| Ii they fruud they had dritted a few miles
North of Littlcton Island, in Smith Straits
! They looked from the masthead Tor their COM
! pauions, but could hud no traces OF them.
Captain Burlington surveyed the Polaris and
| found the stem entirely broken off below the
SIX foot mark. He, therefore, considered her
lost vessel, and immediately prepared to leave
and live on shore. In doing this they were
atly assisted by party of EsqumauX. After
gettitg every available thing on shore they
stopped the stcam pumps and let the Po-
larls fill W hlic III their encampmeDt they
We're visited by Il number OF natives, who
were very kind. The winter was passed iu
household duties aud III making prcpar.-
lions for their journey south in the Spring.
The captain OF the Ravclscrnig, which res
c,Icd the party says when they were first dis
covered they were l.; or If miles distant
making their way over pack Ice to their ship.
Eighteen picked men were sent to their assist
| ance aud ii took the entire party Sevcl hours
To make their way back to his vessel. This
arose from the soft aud >lushy state OF the deep
snow covering the ice, while myrlads OF huge
hammutks were piled and heaped everywhere
over the surface which was also much split aud
| full of trcachcrous holes into which many
| fl ;undrr tnok place.
New York, Oct 1.-The party were de-
lighted TO hear from Us Of tho safety OF their
comrades. They never expected to hear from
them any more and were much surprised at
| their miraculous escape from what appeared
lingering, if not speedy death. 1t was doubt
less also Il truly pr0vdential circumstance that
placed the ltavcnscralg in position to pick this
party Of cas,auays up Had such not happen
cd it is highly probable that none of them
| would have ever reach the Danish settlements,
when we consider their resources as regards
| food, the state Of their boats, and the lnprac-
| t;cabity Of travelling on foot Il distance OF at
| least 300 miles over such trcacherous Ice as
then covered the expansc of Melville hay-
| Only about six weeks provisions were lett, al
| though divided with the utmost economy, and
even with plenty of ammunition and arms sutl-
Gent food could not, in all probability, have
| been obtained to support fourteen men during
| So long aud toisome i march. Bears, seals and
birds arc scarcely to be got at. The boats Of
| the Puaris crew both got stove as soon as they
got entangcd in the Melville pack ice. The
first portion Of their voyage had been perform
ed 10 open water for the most part, so that
their greatest difficulties were only begun when
we sighted them. Moreover, the rest of the
journey must have been attempted without
shelter of any kind. In fact they were totally
| unpreparcd, bot rs regards boats and clothing,
| for such Ill arduous undertaking.