The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-05-29

and all his efforts We're eXerted toward
the North Pole. The winter of 1871 was
favorable to his purpose, and he had
reached, as already stated. the highest
known latitude, where the difficulties
which obstruct his progress did not ma
terially increase They had passed what
Kane supposed to be the Polar Sea, which
now proved to be a sound. Beyond this
they penetrated into Roheson's Channel,
and We're there on the first day of August,
1871 Some idea OF their locality may be
given by the fact that from the observatory
erected in Polaris Bay, in latitude 81
degrees 80 minutes, Cape Leber bore west
8 degrees south, distant about fortv-fve
miles, while their present latitude was 81
degrees 1G minutes. But a few miles from
here was body of clear water, stretch
ing as far rs the eye could reach it is es-
timated about eighty or ninety miles.
Many circumstances indicated the eS-
istenee Of m nntrn2en ocean beyond the
channel Land was visible to the north
and west of this body of water Il great
distance But here arose that difference
OF opinion which blasted all the explorers
prospects. The sailing master, Budding
| ton. had several times expressed his
urged the necessity OF retrcatng to winter
at Port Hope. in latitude IS degrees ~
minutes. nearly two hundred and forty
miles south of their present highly advan-
tageous position Hall was determined
to proceed, if possible, and would not
consent to the latter proposition. Bud
dington, however, persisted, urging diff
| ticulties and dangers in pressing further
| north or even remaining where they We're
Buddington, being the navigator, was the
Judge OF these eXpediences, and Hall ut
length consented to yield, and the ship
returned and put up AZ Polaris Bay for
the winter. The rescued crew said they
could not see any good reason for adopt
ing this course; there was no necessity.
Before concluding to retreat Hall called a
council, consisting of himself, Captain
Tyson, Chester (the mate,) and Budding
ton, to consider which course was most
advisable AT this council Captain Tyson
strongly advocated Captain Halls views,
but they We're overruled. Although
thwarted in his grand designs for the
time, the explorer did not abandon his in
vestigations but, in company with the
Es4uimaux men and the mate, started
upon the sledge expedition, from which
he returned to die.
WINTERINCi IN POLARIS BAY.
During the remainder OF that winter the
weather in Polaris Bay was very mild
tor that locality. Captain Tyson says THAT
the temperature was generally zero, or ),
10 or 10 degrees below. About the latter
part of the first winter ii was one day IS
degrees below March was the coolest
month, the thermometer being below lC
degrees throughout. There was much
moisture in the air, weather very to@gy,
aurora borealis seldom visible The ice
constantly broke up and was swept away
south. The wind went at the rate of fifty
or sixty miles an hour. 1t often blew them
flat on the ice. The cloudy weather, togs
and mists led him to believe that there
was an extensive ocean immediately north
of where the ship was-an ocean beSet
| with drifting ice. They might, he says,
have continued north and passed into the
ocean through Robeson's Channel, rs they
had plenty Of coal. He thinks the land
there which separated them from the
Spitzber@en Sea, is verv narrow, but nc
attempt was made to cross it.
Captain Tyson continued don't know
what the reason was for wintering in
Polaris Bay The sailing master, Bud
dington, several times wanted TO stop The
vessel and 20 to winter at Port Hope,
| where Hayes wintered, Captain Hall
wanted tn 90 on, but believed it was not
possible from Budaington's misrepresen-
tatons. Buddington was next in com
mand after Halls death, but he kept no
discipline. Hall was strict disciplinaran
We despised Buddington on account Of
his lying, cheating and stealing. The
crew did not like Hail st first but before
his death they liked him very much, tin,i-
that his dicipline was tempered with love,
and that what he did was for the interests
of all
ON THE ICE -FI.OE.
| June s, 1872, another attempt was made
under command of Mr.. Tyson to reach
the north in two boats. One boat, in
charge of Mr.. Chester. the mate, was
crushed by ice about July Z, the othel
boat was hauled up on the shore, and the
men, who were about twenty-five miles
off and were within communication, re-
turned to the ship overland as the sailing
master was calling loudly for assistance
because the ship was lcaky. They were
|
get north, but none occurred. Northeast
gales were putting up the ice. which drift
ed south. Arriving at the ship they found
| her not in much distress. She was leak
ing, but from an old leak caused by hen
beaking away in 1871, and swinging
against an iceberg. On the 18th Of Octo-
her, the ship had drlIed from latitude 81
| degrees minutes or degrees ;}5 minutes,
where she encountered Il heavy gale from
southeast and was iammed by a heavy
pressure of ice which lifted her out of the
water, so that she only drew six feet, and
lay on her beam ends every low tide. Al
| the six feet water mark she broke hcl
stern and started wood-ends. On the
night of the 18th, fearing she would b(
crushed, and the vessel being reported
leaking badly, an order was given to shift
provisions from ship to ice. They con
tinued landing for two on three hours
when the pressure ceased Tyson ther
went on board and asked the sailing mas
ter if the vessel was making any moro
water than unual; he reported that she
was not. Tyson went to the pumps anc
ascertained that she was not making any
more water than she had been all sum
mer. He then went on the ice again
The rescued party were on the ice along
side the vessel; the remainder of the ship
company were on board. The ice began
to crack. and, in Il few minutes more
broke up into pieces. The vessel brok'
from her fastenings, and was soon lost tC
sight On the broken ice were most o
the provisions that had been taken iron
the ship, of which they securing fourteen
cans of pemican, eleven and y half bag
of bread, ten dozen one and two-pount
cans of meat and soup, fourteen hams
one small bag Of chocolate, weighing
twenty pounps, some musk-oX skins,
few blankets, Il number of rifles ant
abundant ammunition.
The prevailing impression among tn
unfortunate nineteen who were left be
hind was that Buddington had willfull
abandoned them to their fate. Heron
says: 81 made a rush tor the vessel an
sung out for Il line, but they woald no
give me one. Chester and Buddingto
were standing on the gangway and coul
have thrown me one. | was with fou
others on the piece of ice that had pro
; visions on it. 1t cracked off and wen
adrift Na uot haol- tn tho M ain foe in