The New York herald., 1873-06-10
THE P0lARIS MYSTERY
Buddington's Threat to Abandon
Tyson and Two Boats Crews.
yOE's STORY OF THE POISONING.
Tel the President that I Believe N.Y.
self Poisoned"

ST. JOHNS, N, F. June 2, lS73.,
The mystery'tAa surrounds the death Of Captain
Hall has only deepened with the efforts now bling
made TO lift the veil from his tragic end, ms
account first published in the HERALD sof the
failure OF the Polaris expedition has SO Gar been
fully borne cut, and the dark suspicious hinted at
In the letter OF your correspondent have not
only been confirmed, but have acquired q more
sombre and. tangible aspect. The .ofncial
report Of the investigation, now going
on in Washington will, when Published,
be found to contain substantially the following
facts, obtaiI led from q gentleman who Ind oppor-
tunity to converse at great length with Captain
Tyson ans Esquimaux Joe, the two most i'm
Dortant " illnesses, just before their departure by
the Frolbl In order to make this story clear and
coherent. 1t will be necessary 70 repeat
lew OF the circumstances already mentioned
in the HEaALD. On the 18Th OF Ocpo-
ber last, the day aftcr Captain Tyson
ana shs crew, in two boats and Ryak, had been
sepas afed f. ON the Polaris they saw that vessel
abort ten miles away. 1t was very short day,
she sun bef ng visible only three hours the hor
xon Tysc and his men could see the Polaris
plainly tr ON the ice noe, and 1t seems therefore,
evident 4 that those on board the Polars could
easily observe the men on the Ice doe
There ~ was nothing TO prevent the vessel from
m the way Of ice noes; it seemed all smooth sail
ingye Buddington apparently did not even at
tempt to approach them. The Polaris made sail
and ~ canned away TO Northumberland Inlet. And
hsres Ia circumstance which throws
A DARK SUSPICION UPON BUDDINGroN,
and! lends color to the belief that he purposely
saoshd oned the unfortunate men on the ice noe to
what must have seemed to him inevitable destruc-
tiOn. A few menths before the final parting Tyson
ttopt VritI n
tho search. At this time Buddington, while
under the influence Of liquor. threatened
20 abandon the party on the ice. He
id not, however, attempt to carry out his
menace, for Tyson and the men got safely back on
board the Polaris. Tyson, though he was retlcent
as to his relations with Buddington admits that
there had been ill.feelng between them, that Bud
dinEton was jealous of Hall, and that he (Tyson),
being an intimate friend Of the latter, was also an
object ofdislike to Buddington.
The circumstances OF Captain Halls death, as
told by Joe 20 my informant, and as they have un-
dOubtedly come out during the investigation
in Washington are these -On his return to the
Polaris from sledging expedition when he had
reached the highest northern latitude-s2 16). Cap
tain Hall called for cup Of coffee. Immediately
after taking it he was attacked with violent Illness
and died IN few hours after. While convulsed
with pain he called Joe to his side and told him he
WSo runciLuS IOm cHcCtb vi pOlSOu. ne
charged Jee solemnly TO "ten the President Of the
United States that
HE BELIEVED HIMSELF POISONED"
These, says Joe. were the words OF the dying ex-
plorer. This language acquire o still greater sig
nincance in connection with these circumstances
All the Esquimaux warmly attached TO
Captain Hall, and, seeing that their services were
Indispensable to the expedition, it looks sus-
picious that they all should have been sent
tr D,,lxl xrysse IaFt
on the ice noe II Buddington was guilty it might
have been his wish TO get rid OF the Esquimaux in
order that they should not turn evidence against
him when the Poa.is got into port. IL Is also
charged that Buddington wanted to get back to
DISCO in order to take possession OF the and
$1,sO0 in money left in charge OF a Danish magis.
trate. The discipline on board the Polaris after
Captain Halls death was very bad, everybody
wanted 10 be captain.
Buddington is described by those who know
him as a good sailor, but very much given
to drink and when intoxicated he is said to lose
hs1dentity and to be incapable OF self-control He
carried his excess so far as 10 drink alcohol
out OF the lamps when he could not obtain ar
dent spirits elsewhere. Though there rests dark
shadow upon Buddington, 1t win require, however,
more, than the facts far eicited to clear up the
a'ystsry that hangs upon the Polar tragedy.
The Inyestigation i'm Washington.
WASHINGTON, June 0, 1873.
Determination OF the Polars castaways was
con tinueG to-day. John Heron, the steward and
w.. Jackson, the COOK, and one Of the crew, were
subj ected TO long and searching questioning 1t s
expe cted to finish tomorrow. The Esquimaux
nave gone North, and viii be provided
for a : Wicasset, Me-, until the government
is re- sdy to send them home. Joe and
HANNAH viii return to their heme in
Conneta icnt. The remainder of the crew have
been stu rea on the supply ship Relief. There was
nothing specially new or important elected in the
investiga uon today. Joe and Hannah spoke OF
Balps eTr, hlssiasm as something wonderful. He
stosd the III mate far better than the people acc-
mated, ane seemed determined 10 achieve success.
When the. in vestlgation is ended Secretary Robe
son will ma. se the important testimony public.
Notwithsta ln,3ing the secresy with which the
Secretary 81 the Navy is conducting the examina-
ton Of the urls survivors the Chronicle SAYS
has leaked out during the investigation that
Captain Budd inKton was the main cause OF the
failure OF the expedition, and with him rests
The responsible tys and OF having jeopardiZed the
lives OF TYSON Meyer the Esquimaux party and
eight others sh srtly after the death Of Capta
Hall, when all dn clplne on the ship became lax and
each appeared tt work on MS own HOOK. He be-
came in ntoxcated, anu with pistol IN hand, drove
the noe OF ice par W ron the ship, giving them
quantity OF provls IONS, ana then deliberately de-
serted them. Tins story is entirely dlnerent from
the one recently p bnshed, that the separation OF
he olqri hoe was purely aCIlQeutAl.