Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-09-26
The Polaris Survivors.
THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN HALL,

Inc Iemalnuer OF inc party OF 4 oiai-
Is, has been landed at Dundee, Scotland,
by whaler, in July. 1t appears that
after they were separated from Tyson
and his companions, they were finally
obliged to abandon the Polaris, and went
into winter quarters in a life boat cave,
where they built house covered with
sails.
The winter was passed without any
important event, except the breaking
out Of the scurvy, which, however, was
unattended by severe symptoms. Pen-
tiful supplies Of walrus liver for food
were obtained from the natives, and to
this diet is attributed the mildness of the
disease. In the spring two boats we're
built of thin pine boards taken from the
cabin of the Polaris. In these the whole
party embarked, as soon as the ice open
ed, and sailed southwark. On the third
of June they sighted Cape York, and on
the 22d of the same month were picked
up by the Ravenscraig. Mr.. Chester,
first mate, is regarded as the one who
did the most to save the party, and the
rescued men speak in the highest terms
of his exertions.
In conversation with DIR. Emil Bes-
sci, chief of the scientific corps of the
Polaris expedition, who is now at Dun
dee, Scotland, he said; Since arriving
here We find from an American paper
that several very silly and absurd ru-
mors of mischievous tendency have
been abroad. Its just possible that the
government at Washington prefers that
We reserve what we have to say for a
graver occasion, but l must emphatically
contradict the statement that Capt. Hal
died other than natural death. He
died of apoplexy he was i'll about
fortnight. He appeared 10 perfect health
when entering on the voyage. | noticed
nothing unusual in his health up to the
period of his Illness. The rumor that
he was poisoned is too absurd to be seri
ously entertained The rumor may have
been founded on hallucinations of the
raving patient.
Schuman, the engineer, says that Hall
was in continual apprehension of being
shot, but was not aware that any one
member Of the crew more than another
excited his suspicion. Another phase of
his mania was determination not to eat
or drink anything unless first tasted by
some person. The tasting was mainly
done by Hannah, the Esquimaux woman.
When he rallied, and for awhile recov-
cred his wonted intellect, he would say
to Capt. Buddington, " If l die, you
must still go on to the north pole" He
would say. My last wish is that you
strive to 60 to the north pole Don't let
my death be hindrance to the accom-
plishment of this great undertaking."
At session of the British association
at Bradford, Saturday, Capt. MARKHAM
of the British navy, who was on board
the steamer Arctic, which received the
men rescued from the Polaris, gave de-
tailed account of the voyage of Capt.
Hall, which he gathered from members
of the expedition. He said that the Pc.
laris occupied only five days in making
the distance from Cape Shackleon and
northward to latitude 80: 16. This was
the nearest point to the north pole ever
reached by civilized man. The ice was
soft, all the way, and a stronger vesse
could have attained much higher lati
tude.
The London Observer closes a eulog,
on Capt. Hall, as follows "The rud,
wooden monument to heintrepid Amer
lean, standing alone in the polar soil
tude, is at the same time grand memo
, rial, a trophy and challenge"