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

THE POLARIS.
Official Narrative Of Halls North
Polar Expedition.
IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.
Steaming Northward Through
Fogs and Floes.
THE HIGHEST POINT REACHED.
In Winter Quarters in the
Frozen Sea.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN HALL.
A Disastrous Homeward
Voyage.
TYSON'S GREAT ICE DRIFT.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN HALL.
A Disastrous Homeward
Voyage.
Loss OF the Scientific Records OF
the Journey.

the Journey.
NARRATIVE OF THE NORTH POLAR EXPEDITION. ~ rHg
UNITED STATES SHip PoLARis, Captain Charles T.
Edited under the direction of tho Secretary OF
the Navy. by q. H. DAVIS, Rear Admiral United
States Navy, United states Naval Observatory.
1876. Government Printing office, Washington. D. q.
fvcr since the sad reached The United States
that the gallant Halt was laid in lonely grave amid
tho frozen of tho Arctic regions the public have
waited for the narrative OF his voyage and detailed
the dangers which he boldly faced in his
attempt to reach the Pole Tho subsequent sunerings
Of Tyson and his companions, as they driitcd for
months the noes southwark TO Cape York, and
past the hospitabe towns Of Upper Greenland. have
furnished an additional for curiosity TO all tho
incidents surrounding the last voyage OF the Polars
These have come to light In the form Of
narrative complied under Official supervision from
the Journals and statements oil all tho survivors, and
will soon from the government prn ting Office t
Washington for special circulation. From the ad-
vance sheets Of this acceptable volume
Rbled To present the readers OF the KxnALD with .
synopss Of It's contents. A brief Introduction in.
forms OF the manner in which the materials Tor
the narrative hxvo been collected and how carefully
the evidence, pro and con, been sirted Tor tho
kernels OF truth which 10 to mako tho whole
story valuable and reliable record. Tho sailing
orders directed that such qualified person tho
ship should keep private journal, which was to be
forwarded 10 Washington soon as II could DO sent
there. The journals not DO copied by those
who kept thom. and to DO entirely at
the disposal or the government Tor the pur-
posc OF preparing history OF tho cxpcdi-
ton. Unfortunately, as will be later in
tho narrative. the greater part OF tho records
Of tho Polaris lost during the terrible
SAINT art at,n ~
have boon recovered Therefore the scarcity OF
actual documentary evidence throws verbal state
monts tho burden OF responsibility for much OF tho
material OF the snarratven II is also unfortunately
lrue that differences OF opinion contributed little
10 mar the effectiveness OF the expedition when It had
reached the highest latitude attained The survival OF
Wheeling engenaered under such circumstances mani
testify detracts from the value OF verbal statements
made after the survivors had been called before
vestgatinc committee at Washington. These two
dtons do not however, take anything from the merit
or the EDITORS work, for the Office OF Admiral Davis
was not 10 supply material for this story, but to
range in their proper places those points Of informa
ton which mad selected from all evidence coll
looted
Captain Hall had entertained for many years q strong
desire to load American expedition to the North
Pole To attain his grand object he began by making
personal sacrifices which but enthusiastic and
practical explorer would deem necessary Eght years
residence among the Esquimaux gave him thorough
knowledge or the climatic conditions OF the Arctic
regions and Of the means adopted by the natives to
preserve life amid the wastes OF snow and icc, tho
frightiul cold and long darkness OF winter ana tho
changing days OF the brief summer. In 1865 Hall wrote
in his journal when about TO start North foows:
APRIL IL, 1865.-Wo nearly all ready the pro.
posed removal North, north, farther and farther
north long 10 get Though tho locality Of King VIII
liams Land all aspire TO on this present journey,
yet will be satisfied in yoyaging anu travelling
III the Arctic regions until shall reach that spot OF
this great and glorious orb OF Gods creation where
thoro Ia no morrill, east, no west Vi course, that
mundane point Is the one nearly under Polaris.
And again, when pursuing his explorations
MARCH 4 1865 The end will soon be, trust when
] shall have done what came 70 this country TO DO,
aud then may God grant mo tho opportunity and tho
proper means TO make my way 10 tho north extrcne
VI His glorious earth.
Later on he writes In the same vcin:-
FEBRUARY To- 1869 II must Deo poleate) do up all my
work Tor which cano INTO this country this spring and
coming summer, for long to return TO America, to
prepare At once for my expedition TO the North Polo.
Night ana day. day aud night weeks months, and
years, lind my heart and purposes liked, without u
shadow OF wuvoring, on making tho voyage. May
Heaven spare my life to perform IT,
Thus an estimate be made Of Halls character and
purpose, as expressed many years before no was
placed in command oil the Polaris expedition
In his letter to tho Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
la,ions dated March 20, 1870. Captain Hall says:-
For years have had 1t in my mind that when
should complete tho mission relative TO Sir ohm Frank
Inns expcdtion-that H. should recover some OF Frank
Inns pan Ions should become satisfied that
exsledl would return to country aud prepare tor
making third voyage 10 the Arctic regions, especially
for making geographical discoveries up TO tho
north extremity vi the axis OF our globe = =
Neither glory nor money has caused me 10 devote my
7ery Lie and soul to Arctic exploration.
Captain Halps sing lemindodncss conspicuous 10
all his relations TO his grca project and tho editor
M. tuc,l to he
placed by the side OF Parry, Franklin and Kane" On
HIS from the Arctic regions 1882 Hall under
long lccturne tour in tho United States pre-
pare tho public mind for the comprehension and sup
port OF his scheme Of Polar exploration In this he
successful. for through Congressional aid the
irull 81 his cxcrtons was tho polaris expedition.
The Narrative would belly It's title il /, aid begin
Mt the beginning This II does by informing us how
Hall nrst interviewed President Grant In January 1870,
md found the Executive we'll posted On tho Arctic
question, besides beng wcil disposed toward Halls
project This was encouraging and Hall wrote
10 his friends Brcyoort aud Grinnol ex-
pressing his satisfaction. He ncxt delivered a
lecture at Washington before Tho President vico
President and Cabinet and both houses OF Congress as
we'll as many distinguished citizens, IN which be OK.
planned tho object OF the proposed expedition and tho
advantages certain to arise from IL properly carried
out The result OF this effort was almost immediate
Congressional action which finally eliminated IN the
passage OF joint resolution appropratng the sum OF
$50 600 Tor the purposes Of. Polar discovery soon
alter this related in tho "Narratvc," Captain Hall
was commissioned by President Grant commander
Of the expedition as oilows:--
ExEcCTivg MANSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. O., July ~, 1870.
DEAR SiR--You are hereby appointed " and
tho expedition toward the North POLE to BIO organ
and sent out pursuant 10 act OF Congress approved
July L. 1870 and win report 10 the Secretary VI the