New-York tribune., 1874-03-09
CAPT TYSON AND TIE POLARLs.

HIS REPLY TO TIE STRUCTURES or A FEiIowvoY-
AGER-DIvIsIoNs OF OPINION AMONG THE PARTY
NO INTENTION OF SAYING AUGHT PEEJUDICIAL
TO THE MEMORY OF CAPT. HALL.
TO the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your issue OF the Sd inst. find
most unjust attack upon me- purporting 10 come from
Young Noah Hays, who signs himself Seaman" OF the
Polaris though. i'm fact. he fireman" only. In
this letter he says Tie remarks OF capt Tyson, and
the motives which prompted hm to make the assertions
he did. of modification and sorrow;"
and also that for the first time since connection
with the expedition intmated that Capt Han did not
do all that was possible for any to do In trying to
work the vessel north"
Now. Mr.. Hays has known mr. views rs 10 the prac
tcabhy OF the vessel proceeding farther north since
the September 1871 the morning that anchored
Polaris Bay The northeast gale that drlfted the
vessel Of Robeson channel drfted the lee out Also
and then in my opinion. there opportunity to
steam through. Aud that opinion then not only
mne but as could tell by the regretful looks
of all the ships company but one. theirs also.
consultation OF officers WAS held at chat time, and
the others and myself having expressed desire 60
proceed nortbward, the sailing turned his back
and muttered between his teeth, We shall not move
from here" Now. II my memory serves me right, Mr.
HAYS, who was then but about 10 years OF age, and
had never been TO sea before in his lfc-ocing in
fact, green" country bOy-was strongly Impressed
with the IDEA that itiwas quite possible to get further
north with the ship; and being apparently disgusted
with the decision go into Winter quarters forgot his
position as fireman. and wtha courage and zeal that
did him infinite credit, walked up to Capt. Hall and
asked him, "If he was not going any further northP
must emphatcaly deny saying, or meaning TO say,
anything preiudica against dead commander who,
before he died. the he had committed through
bad advice He told subsequently, he should make
desperate exertions the next Summer to regain the
hi ha,r, aeoH
TO us, voyage Of the Polaris would have proved
still more glorious l know reason why We
might not have reached the pole itsslf.
To return Mr. Hays, t must be remembered that his
duties as fireman required his presence below the most
OF his time and my certain knowledge he never was
aoft while the Poars; and taking into eonsldera.
ton the fact OF his Ignorance through pexpenrnee o.
the Arctic regions seamaDsnp 10 general, IN
Sreai degree of accuracy whether vessel could get
through RobesOn's Channel or not
Both Mr.. Bryan aud Mr.. Hays have called me 10 az
count for SAYING what firmly believe TO be the truth as
regards the autobiography OF smiths 9ounu ke1nc1y am,
their views this matter II they now conscenuousy
believe what they ASSERT nor & snah dua,ae, ,no
must allow my own opinion, and II cannot
think Mr.. Hays docs II Is uheenerous ID Ihe
for him 10 iInpugn my motives that account For n
wears | have been navigating tue Areuc seas ana II
Winters have passed III tnose resionh' anu 90 90 HoC m
information 10 navigation IN that part OF me W9Fu
Tley, Messrs Bryan ana HAYS at lne tlne eorIou ~,
spent years. ..,
'Rut your readers nav naturally ask, how Is 1t that
contrary views prevail among men WHO participated
the events OF the vOyagei THIS IS reasonable D-
Quiry ana demands word of explanation. Among
those who remained 10 Winter the land Little
ton Island 1t appears 10 have been-l have asccrained
this by personal conversation with some of them-an
understood thing that when they returned home every
thing was to smOOhed over, the errors committed
be ignored and the general policy adopted OF " Jon
praise and I'll praise You" They thought was dead
unfortunately, had blurted truths on my
first arrival "A months DRIFT Ice Joe, wITh
death staring continually in tho face, not rcg
men whi n to cultivate intrigue deceit and though
admit that kept back much, what dld say was true,
and enough truth got aloat 10 set people thinking
This state things the later rescued Survivors were not
prepared for facI, found tnat with the
general public mad not taken the popular tack nor sad
what they wanted to hear and IL upset the illusions OF
OF the BuddiDgton party who feared the recogD
ton OF this service would be less appreciatve NJ all
was not reported we'll This is the clue 10 whole story
and il may well be made public any other time
This accoun for the difference OF opinion expressed by
some my late cOmpanons OF the Polaris Expedition,
and some, TOO for whom have always, and still do
cherish the kindes, and friendlest feeugs but Will
subscribe 10 nothing false, If know it, 10 please either
friend or foe. GEO r. TYSON
Late Asst Navigator u 5. +. POiars
extract from the testimony given at the investigation printed
IN the sane pepper statement made that the consultation
rd 20 advised hsrbO possible That Is
the remainder Of the original sentence bng and
clear chance 10 20 on ths
ia journal, ought
Journal fixed 1t up serwsrd suppressed the truth