The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-07-12
THE PACIFIC
Commercial A0brrtlser.
SATURDAY. July u.
Arctic Exploration.


Is any one surprised, says the Boston Daily Globe,
ct the new chapter jsst added TO the history Of dis
asters attendant upon Arctic explorations? It is
only about two years since the Polqris sailed from
Brooklyn. y. l.. under the mos, favorable auspices
possible for the exploring Of the polar seas and the
regions OF eternal icebergs. The expedition lost
its commander, Capt. c. F. Hall. about four months
after sailing, By the sudden visitation Of Providence.
il the shape Of q brief and fatal sickness. Having
lost its moving spirit, the expedition seems to have
also lost all purpose or intent a. to the consumma-
ton Of It's original purpose. The persistency and
ssgacity Of Capt. Hall could alone have conducted
the enterprise IS any gratifying end. Deprived OF
their leader. they lay locked in the ice until the
Summer Of 1872. when an abortive attempt seems
to have been made to penetrate further North. but
failed. and finally, in August last, the PoIqris was
headed homeward. but still surrounded and hedged
IN by ice, and while laboring in a heavy gale she
sprung aleak. Anticipating the destruction of the
ship, a portion Of the crew, while employed in land
ing and securing upon the ice foe a quantity o.
provisions, were separated from the ship and those
who were left on board. The story Of these survi-
vors and the bardships which they endured upon
the ice is thrilling indeed.
Their boats were early destroyed. being crushed
by the ice. and the provisions were dragged by the
men across the ice fields until at length the Goes
driited toward the South. and the company of ten
white men, two Esquimaux, two women and Eve
children drifted with them building snow huts for
shelter from the cold and eking out the scanty sup
plies Of food with the flesh of bears and seals. In
the latter part Of March, the floating berg had be-
come reduced L in size to a diameter of twenty yards.
when the company escaped from it to the outer edge
of the ice pack and waited in the hope of rescue.
On the 30th of April, they had drifted down the
coast of Labrador as far South as the latitude of
SO degrees 80 minutes. when they were discovered
by the crew of the steamship TjgreSs, after being
one hundred and ninety-six days upon the ice!
Nothing is yet known of the fate of the PoL1ris and
those who remained on board of her. When last
seen she was still ahoat, though in a leaky condi-
ton, but well found in every particular except
boats, and with about half her original crew on
board. Their story is yet to be told, and after this
miraculous drift and the Gnal safety of those now
rescued, there is certainly hope for those left be-
hind.
If there Is a Northwest passage around the con-
tinent. as we have often said in these columns. the
advantage of a full solution of the fact can be of
little practical benefit. Enough lives, it would
seem, have been sacrificed in an attempt to solve
the problem now let nature keep the secret which
she is so reluctant to reveal. Success would only
solve the simple problem Of Geographical science,
but could be of no possible benefit to the world at
large. These Arctic fevers seem to recur periodi-
cally, and by and by we shall doubtless listen to
another enthusiast. and another dreamer will tempt
the perils OF the Arctic regions.