The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-24
| every Weak; but, Please God, We
VIII Weather 1t ALL"

from John Heron, who went out from New
York on the Polaris as steward of the ship,
and who at Washington, the other day, gave
in his testimony as one of the witnesses OF the
misfortunes of that ill-starred expedition. In
his examination, as his evidence in reference
to the adventures of Captain Tyson and his
party on their ice foe, he submitted his diary
of that wonderful cruise, the material portions
of which we publish to-day, only regretting
that we have not space for the whole Of it. In
perusing this diary the reader cannot fail to
be deeply interested in the plain, unyarnished
and thrilling story, and particularly in the
terrible trials which call up from the believing
heart of John Heron such o strengthening
assurance as this-"Very weak but, please
God, we will weather it all
And they did weather it all, those heroic
nineteen souls, whites and Esquimaux, men,
women and children, 'the bravest Of the
brave" including the brave little baby, whose
adventures from its birth in those regions Of
eternal ice and snow reduce to feeble fictions
the baptism of Achilles and the infantile
prowess Of Hercules. And how tame and
commonplace appear the adventures of Telem-
achus, tho exploits of Sindbad the Sailor, the
difficulties of Columbus in an unknown ocean,
the story of the 'Ancient Mariner" the COM
Portable solitude of Robinson Crusoe and the
mild sufferings of Enoch Arden on his tropi-
cal island-how tame they appear compared
with the trials, perils and sufferings
Of this six months cruise of Captain
Tyson and his heroic band, drifting down
through the broken ice and massive icebergs
of Baffn Bay, and through all the cold and
storms and darkness of an Arctic Winter, fire.
quently threatened with starvation, and from
day to day in danger Of being dispersed and
engulfed by the angry waves! John Herron's
diary of this most wonderful cruise and timely
rescue, in short dwarfs all the stories Of
reality and romance hitherto recorded OF mar
vellous adventures and escapes from the perils
of the SEQ. whether under the burning sun of
the equator or among the dismal ice packs
beyond the Arctic Circle.
On the 18th of October last, expecting the
ship to 60 down every minute, the crew, after
the women and children had been brought
out, were engaged in discharging the pro-
visions, &C., upon ON ice foe to which the ship
was made fast, and next they were bringing
off the boats. While yet engaged in these
preparations for abandoning the ship large
iceberg came drifting down, and, striking the
foe, shivered it to pieces, freed the ship, and,
in the gathering darkness, it was out Of
sight in five minutes. The nineteen
souls adrift on different pieces of
ice, were, however, soon reunited on
the main foe, but most of their pro-
visions were lost or adrift. Six days after
wards some valuable supplies were recovered
and in reference to this stroke of good for
tune Heron says, eve returned to head
quarters weak, but thankful to God, and had
good supper" On the Sd Of November
they gave up the hope Of working to the land
They were hopelessly adrift and must go
where wind and wave would carry them. Yet,
with their memories Of home, they did not
forget its holiday festivals. So on Thanks
giving Day they had an extra dinner, includ-
ing mock turtle soup, and on Christmas they
had "quite feast"
The alterations from abundance to short
nations and from fasting to good feeding were
frequent on the voyage. The Esquimaux, Joe
and Hans, were, in all their straits, the food
providers of the party. It was well that they
were supplied with warm sealskin clothing;
that they had their boats for emergencies of
danger that they had cooking utensils that
their ice foe was large enough to admit Of the
building thereon of several comfortable snow
hat fhax,h had J,,A nj
plenty Of ammunition saved in good order,
but it was particularly fortunate for the party
that they had with them those experienced
Esquimaux hunters, Joe and Hans, as their
''bread winners" The steward naturally
delights in their achievements, for in every
emergency of famine Joe or Hans OF both of
them came in with their seals, dovekins,
| oogjook or bear to prove they were equal
! to the crisis. Thus speaks John Heron on
these occasions: 'Hans brought in o seal to-
| day. Thank God, for we were very weak.
| God sent that seal to save us. Thanks to His
holy name. 1t has been SO oil the time. just
as we were played out something came
along" Again, 'Joe shot an oogjook, plenty
Of meat and oil. Good Sundays work drag
ging the fine fellow to the hut and thanking
God for all His mercies." Again, April %,
when the party were nearly starved, Joe and
Hans secured the prize of bear. Says John
Heron, gushing over with rapture: -''Along
came Bruin, thinking he was coming to o
meal instead of furnishing one. Click, bang
went two rifles, and down went Bruin, to save
lot of starving men. The Lord be praised"
On considering the invaluable services of
their Esquimaux companions to the whites on
this long and perilous drifting cruise, we
heartily concur in honest John Herron's opin-
| ion of Joe and Hannah and Hans, that elf we
ever get out of this difficulty they can never