The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-04

party obtained good view OF tho surroundings, al
though the labor OF climbing the slopes al
most too dear price 70 pay Tor IL Surveys VI tho
vicinity prosecuted diligently, but shortening
OF tho period OF daylight warned OF tho approach OF
that long night which paralyxes action for than
hafthe year Thcprcparatons Tor winter were, therc
FORE commenced aud these faithfully described In
the Narrative Between the movements OF the ice,
duo TO changes ofhe wind and the depth OF the snow
the Surveyors had very uncomfortable time OF II,
especially so when on Que occasion they werc over
taken by night away from the ship. In the
effort to reach her tho unfortunatcs fell
into the water several times and succeeded
only In getting board terrible march In frozen
clothes. Ono of the party--sryan-who lost
seriousness after reaching tho ship remarked as he
slowly recovered :-'Captain- -,ravelin g-in---this-
couniry-is-very-discour This scoms 10 have
amused his companions Immensely. As winter ad-
vanced, however, Hall found IL necessary caution
his men TO maintain friendly rotations between them
Whether this the result OF quarrcls which nc had
observed that he only med generally necessary
Is not stated but to judge from disclosures
looks very much as II tho action forced on him.
According to tho Narrative" hunting part'cs tried
their luck tho hills around, but with in-
different Geese. hires and musk
among the spois. however II resolved utilize
the dogs tor slodgc journey northward But the ice
movements again became threatening, and extra pre-
cautions necessary save tho snip from being
crushed. Again we notice some evidence OF trouble
the Polars Captain Hall issued order forbdding
profanity. He overheard the swearing At one
another.
Before starting on the scdae journey Captain Hall
issued instructions TO Mr. Burlington, tho master,
relative to the ship during his absence and particu-
larry with regard TO the possibility Of tho polar,s
beng forced from her position by tho ice. These
thu ctinna NJ TIM
tremcy bold yet cautious character OF Hall
He is anxious for his ship and her crow, and
urges every precauton for the safety OF BOTH yet no
boldly plunges into the icy wastes norhward without
regard TO the fact that partial disaster 10 the
Polaris, such being forced from her anchorage,
would prove fatal to himself and his
companions The long Arctic night had now
commenced, the failing to rise above the
SUBMITS Of the mountains and gradually lcssen-
Ing his elevation the horizon at noon.
Tho running leo in the strait was sometimes
shroudcd with frost smoke that 1t could not be
scen-the long dark and drcary winter had como. Its
arrival was about TO DO marked by event stu
dreadful tho frost smoke to rcst over the
grave of the brave commander OF tho polaris. After
short absence Captain Hall and sledgo party
turned to the SHIP but Hall complained Of beng
weary and SICK Tho story tho sledge party given
in full In the s'NarrAtvcn and forms the
matter for some or tho most interesting OF its
pages Lakes, rivers plains, mountains, bays and
vines were found by those adventurous men, who
trudged by their sledge by day and slept at night in
their 'raoo'' or snow house. Even amid the desoia
ton Of painless abode OF the Arctic Hall and
his party gave praise to tho Creator. Pray
ing At soa is surrounded by all the I'm
pressive majesty Of tho ocean, bst In the
Arctic wastes It s ovcrshadowed, as IL were,
by tho mmensity Of siionco Hall aud Chester, being
the two white men Of tho party, were constantly on
foot exploring the coast. Their Esquimaux compan.
ions did the hunting and dog driving. Tho party
reached 50 deg o. min 80 nortL their sixth and
Inst oncampnent Hall a. last concluded TO return TO
the ship, and about TO start when violent storm
came on, which compelled tho party to remain under
tho shelter Of their snow hut for time On the
evening Of this stormy day Hall writes in his jour-
naI:-
around seeking specimens OF plants, and trying, as
have often done before to And something OF q coal
character. | am deeply anxious 10 find coal in this
country, this mineral would contribute largely TO
our success IN getting the Polarls TO lar higher ut
tudc next season. Wherever ono goes here he finds
specimens oil stones that look like cba but ON close
trial 1t proves 10 DO slate-st0ne
II will be remembered that Captain Mares found coal
on the opposite sido OF Kennedy Channel when his
ship, The Alert, anchored thcre 1875. Tho i'm
poranco Of fuel have been strongly impressed
HAIRS nina uS ne ruver6ou tncSo eternal
cold so far from assistance Hall, before leaving mis-
sixth encampmen built q and deposited therein
record Of his movements addressed to the Secretary
Of the Navy datod October 90 1871 The Of
this record was as follows:-
SIXTH SNOW HOUSE ExcAMpMEyr.
CARE BRkvooRT, NORTH SIDE ENTRANCE
TO NEwMAxs BAY,
(I.a. 50 deg min. NORTH Ion. VI deg. 20 min. west)
october ~, 1871.
To the Honorable Secretary Of the United States Navy
Myself and party, consisting Of Mr.. Chester first
mate, nv. Esquimaux Joo and Greenland Esquimaux
God Aarbor, latitude 81 deg IS north, longitude
u deg ~ min west, at meridian Of October 10,
dogs, t. discover, If possible, feasible route inland
for my sedge journey next spring reach inc North
Pole purposlng 70 adopt such route, found better
strait which | have denominated RoJesons Strait,
after the honorable the Secretary OF tho United States
Navy.
We find this much warmer country than wo cx.
poctcd From Capo Alexander tho mountains
either side OF the Kennedy Channel and Roboson's
Strait found entirely bare OF snow and ice with the
exception Of glacier that wo saw covering about
tending easnortheast direction far DO sccn
from the mountains by Poars Bay.
''Wo have found tho country abounds with life, and
seals game geese, ducks, musk CATTLE rabbits wolves,
foxes, bears partridgcs, lomminss &c; Our soalcrs
have shot seals the opcn while at this
campment Our long Arctic night commenced Oco-
Dor l3, having only tho upper limb OF the sun
above the glacier at meridian October H.
The last days OF Captain Hall arc surrounded with
certain mystery which conveys unpleasant suggcs-
lions. Tyson his story, does not these loss
pointed, although no is non-conmttal. 1t Is remark
able that man OF Halls physique SHOULD succumb
malady which his companions not able
oven 10 namo. His own suspicious of having boon
poisoned are without doubt tho rawlings Of u dying
man. but It Is strange that his symptoms should have
been aggravated alter ho had drank coffee Anyhow,
ho died and buried and with him the hopes OF tho
expedition. Acr description OF tho closing OF
his life the "Narravo" takes up Halls early Arctic
voyages and travels in which ne became Injured to tho
hardsps OF the polar regions. II describes Halps
stay among the Esqnnaux, with whom tho survivors
OF Frankllns facd expedition had passed tho previous
winter, and departed only to die ON the threshold
Of civilization. Captain Crozcr and his