Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-14
THE POLAR REGIONS.
Hall's Exploring Expedition.
Arrival Of Nineteen Of the Survivors
Death Of Capt. Hall. I'd


steamer Walruss arrived from the seal fish
cry at tho Port of st. Johns this morning,
bringing Dsws that the steamer Tigress had
come into Roberts Bay, Is miles from
there, having on board nineteen survivors
Oh Halls Arctic expedition who had beeu
landed froua the Polaris, being driven from
her by gale which burst Der inooriDgs on
the 10Th of October, 1872, in latitude u deg.
30 min. When they last saw the POla-i;
she was under steam and canvass, making
for the harbOr on the east side of NOrihum-
berlsnd island. She had no more boats left
Of the six which she brought with her fiom
the port of New York Two were lost in
the Northern expedition, two were landed
on the ice with Capt. Tyson's party, one
was burnt as firewood to make water for
the crew, and the other is on board
the Tigress. The Polaris was in command
OF CAPT. BuddingtOD, who had thirteen of
the crew along with him, and plentiful
stock of provisions. aer bow was some
what damaged and it is the opinion of the
survivors they viii be unable to get clear
until July and even then, if the ship Is I'M
seaworthy, they should have to make new
bosts to effect an escape. On the 9Th of
October, 1871, in latitude 81 deg. 38 min,
~ 5AbOOO 81 0Oes II uAlAisg NNHSs Ildu
Died of AppOpIexy,
and was buried on shore, where they erect
ed wooden cross to mark bis grave. He
had recently returned from a northern
sledge expedition IN which he had obtained
latitude 81 deg. Is min. He seemed in his
usual health and had called the crew into
the cabin to encourage them with hopes Of
future rewards and stimulate them to re-
newed exertions when he was suddenly
struck down and expired to the great grief
of those around, to whom he had endeared
himself by bis kindness and devotion.
In Sept. 1871, the Polaris entered win
ter quarters, and left Aug. IL, 1872. The
ice was very heavy and set in southern
direction. She was forced south, and so
continued drifting till Capt. Tyson and par
ty were driven from her. The sledge party
crossed Kane's Polar sea, which they pro-
nounced to be a straight ABOUT fifteen miles
wide. There was an appearance of open
water to the north. The rescued party suf-
fered very much during their dresry drift
from hunger and cold. For the last two
months they ate raw seal and Polar bear,
as they could get it. When met by the
Tigress they showed evident signs of their
great suffering, but during the nine days
that they have been on board they have
improved vastly and are now in fair health.
The party is in charge Of the United
States Consul, and VIII arrive in st. Johns
on Monday next. The following statement
is Finished by Capt. Tyson: On the 24.h
Of August, 1871, we left Tessinask and
went tbreugh Smiths Sound. We succeed
ed in getting as far north as latitude g de-
grees and 10 minutes, when we returned
and wiDtered at Polarls Bay, latitude 81
degrees and 3S minutes, longitude 81 de-
grees and A minutes. We were
Frozen Up
until the 9th of September. On the 10th
OF October Capt. Hall started on a sledge
journey north, and returned on the 24'h,
when he was taken sick and died on the
h of November. He was buried on the
11ih. The attack that carried him
off was said to be apOplexy. We
passed the winter at POlsris
Bay. On the 9Th of June, 1872, we at
tempted to 90 North with two boats. We
hauled Om other boat on shore and returned
overland. On the 9th of July We started for
me. On the 18th OF August, aud on the
18th we're beset with ice in latitude so deg.
2 min. We drifted from there down TO
latitude II deg. 81 min,, when We elcoun
tered heavy southwest gale, the ship being
under heavy pressure. On the night of the
10Th We commenced landing provisions.
etc, our ice vessel being reported Il hin,
very badly at times, We co,,iDrod 100
ing provisions for :, so or three bonrs when
'ue Piesdre ceased. l went on board the
vessel and asked the sailing master if the
uaoaol -
usual. He reported she was net. then
went to the pumps and ascertained she was
net making any more than she was doing
all summer. | went on the ice again, and
shortly after it began to crack, and a few
minutes afterwards broke in many pieces.
The vessel
Broke From Her FastenIDgs,
and was soon lost TO sight in the darkness
and storm. Ga the broken ice were most
Of our provisions TO sustain the party
through the winter, and seeing nothing Of
of the vessel we attempted to reach shore,
in hope of finding natives TO assist us in
living through the winter. Getting about
half way to shore with our heavily laden
boats, our progress became hara by drift
irg ice, and was compelled to haul on the
ice again. At this time l succeeded in saw
ing fourteen cases of pemmican,
eleven and 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 musk OK skins and
few blankets, a number of rifles and album
dance of ammunition. In the morning,
knowing that had not provisions enough
and other articles of food, clothing, CON-
passes, etc. on the Abatement of the gale, l
endeavored to shoot as many seals as posi-
bic both 70, food, light and fuel, but could
only get three owing to ad weather hsv-
ing Sc. in. l supposed the wind to be
about southwest. Gu its clearing up l
found my self within about 8 miles Of what
1 supposed to be the East coast, and about
thirty or forty miles below the ship. The
ice being wesk, could not transport boats
and provisions to land until it
grew stronger. While here 1 discovered
my other boat, bread, &C., and save1 all.
The ice grew finer, and l made another
attempt to reach the shore, carrying every
thing ia boats and dragging them on their
keel. The ice being exceedingly rough, We
stove both boats. We succeeded on the 1st
of November in getting about half way TO
bLo clfJlCs Nl9tlS Cdilo vi Us anu NOlJ
stormy weather. Ia the morning the ice
WAS broken and was drifting southwark
very fast. We sa Y no more land for mlny
day. Bad weather continuing all through
the month Of November, we built snow
house and made ourselves as comfortable
as we could. We were ten white men,
two esquimaux, two women and five chill
dren in all. We succeeded in killing few
esls,which furnished US with light and fuel,
with which to warm our scantY allowance of
food. In the larger part of February we lived
principally upon birds, and in March COM
me !, ed 10 catch seals; through that month
We supported ourselves on bears and seals,
wasting neither skin or entrails. We col
lected enough food in this way to last US
until the middle Of May. Ca the first of
April we
Abandoned all our Meat,
a large amount of ammunition, clothing,
skins and other articles, taking a portion of
meat in the boat, which we were obliged to
throw overheard, on account Of the boats
being so deeply laden. l remained on the
outer edge of the ice; on the third of April,
we succeeded in getting a little farther in.
On the 4th a heavy northeast gale set in,
heavy sea. running under :he ice, which
broke it in small pieces; we could find no
seals for food, and were reduced