Year: 1873

getting the scientific observations under way, sur
veyinG the harbor, clearing up the ship and max
ing snug for the Winter. On the 10th OF
October Captain Hall left the Polaris,
accompanied by Mr. Chester, nrst mate,
and Esquimaux JSe and Hans, with two sledges
and fourteen dogs Setting out on this expedition
the first step taken by Captain Hall iel upon land
more northern than white mans loot had ever be-
fore touched In the progress OF the journey-un-
happily the last that Captain Hall was to make
towards the Pole-he discovered, as appears by his
despatch, o river, q lake and q large inlet the
latter in 81 81, north He named this Newman's
Bay, calling its northern point Cape Brevoort and
the southern one Sumner Headland. At Cape Bre-
voort in latitude 50 north, longitude 81 20 west,
ne rested, making there his sixth snow encamp-
ment. On October 20 he wrote


HIS LAST DESPATCH TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY,


the original draft of which was found. In his own
handwriting, in his writing desk, on Its examin-
alton In Washington, after 1t delivered to the
Secretary OF the Navy by Esquimaux Joe, who had
kept the desk in his custody from the time II was
picked up on the ice, after the separation OF the
rescued party from the ship. A copy OF this
despatch, so sngularly preserved, accompanies
this report. Captain Hall himself deposited
transcript OF it in cairn on the side OF the





had hoped, when he left the Polsris ON this jour
ney, to advance northward at least Q hundred
miles; but, alter having gone about dfty he was
compelled by the condition OF the shore and OF the
ice, and by the state OF the climate to return, and
await the approach OF fSpring for another attempt.
He reached the ship on the oath OF October ap-
parently in his usual fine health, but was attacked
the same evening with


SICKNESS OF THE STOMACH AND VOMITING,


and, taxing to his bed, was the next day found to
be seriously Ill. His most marked symptoms seem
from the evidence TO have been such as indicated
congestion or the brain accompanied by delirium
and partial paralysis OF one side. The witnesses
all state that hts attack was called apoplexy, and
some OF them speak OF their own knowledge OF his
paralysis and delirium. He recovered, however,
some days after sufficiently to leave his bed, to
move about the cabin little and to attempt to at
tend to business. But he soon had relapse, be-
came again delirious and died on the sth of No
vember, 1871. Three days after he was buried on
shore. From personal examination OF all the wit
nesses and from their testimony as given we reach
the unanimous opinion that


THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN HALL


resulted naturally from disease, without fault on
the part OF any one. During his illness he was un-
der the medical care OF DR.. Besses, and none OF
the persons now here are capable OF giving more
particular account of the nature and symptoms Of
his fatal sickness the return Of the Polaris must be
awaited for precise information. All the persons
examined testify to the uniform kindness ana care
OF Captain Hall ana to the good order and efcient
condition OF the Polaris while under his command.


On the death OF Captain Hall Mr.. Buddingeon
succeeded to the command OF the Polarls, as had
been provided for in the instructions for the
voyage issued by the Secretary OF the Navy. The
wa mas al u n Arct IN raOO
but without any suffering from the cold, from
disease or from the want Of proper provisions
The scientific observations were diligently kept
up. Polarts and Newman's bays were surveyed
and the coast line to the southwark OF Polaris Bay
was examined for over seventy miles,
The crew were variously employed and
the Esquimaux hunted whenever oppor-
tunity permitted. About the latter part Of
November, in heavy gale rom the northeast the
Polarts dragged her anchors, but brought up
against the large iceberg before mentioned, which
was aground In the bay. She was finally made


fast to 1t and so remained until the following Sum-
mer. During the Winter she was forced by
the pressure Of other ice sweeping down against
her, upon the foot Of Providence berg, and being
subsequently carried higher upon 1t by the rising
OF the tide and seaN


THE RENEWED PRESSURE FROM THE ICE


she thus remained until June 1872 her stem piece
resting uneasiy during the whole OF the stormy
Winter on this ice bed. She was cracked and
some OF her bow planks split, causing her to leak
When she again got anoat she seems to have
leaked somewhat freely at first and the steam
pumps were worked to clear her out, but
subsequently the deck pumps, used for about
six minutes per hour, were found suficient
to keep her clear. Early In June, before
the Polaris released from the ice Captain Bud.
dington despatched Mr.. Chester and Mr.. Tyson
with tvo boats to endeavor to get as far north as
practicable. This party lost one boat, which was
crushed In the Ice almost at the commencement OF
their journey. The loss was. however, supplied
from the Poaris by the canvas boat, and with
much difficulty and delay they got as far north as
Newman Bay They there awaited the possible
opening Of the ice till the middle Of
July, when written orders from Captain Bud
dington directed their return to the ship.
They were unable to transport the boats, and.
leaving them on the shore, they started on foot
and arrived board after an absence OF about six
weeks. While they were away and some time in
June the Polaris had broken out OF Winter quar-
ters, and had made several attempts to proceed
northward to pick up the party with the boats.
But


THE ICE WAS FOUND TO BE rMpAssABLE


and Captain Buddington, on receiving the party on
board, determined to make the best OF his way
southwark to the United States as soon as the
ice would permit. They started southwark in
August, 1872, and slowly made their way
along the western shore until the next day,
when the ship, having got farther in mid-channel,
was badly beset by the ice. In latitude about so
deg. 40 Sec north she was in danger OF wreck for
some hours, when she was freed again. On the
10th August the ship was made fast to large noe
OF Ice in the latitude so o. north and longitude
about 6s degrees west, and while still fast to this
foe drited south through Smiths Sound nearly
to Northumberland Island. In pursuance OF the
usual orders under similar circumstances, guam
rtty of provisions and some fuel had been placed
on the deck OF the steamer in readiness to
be removed to the Ice should the safety or the ship
become endangered, and 1t was ordered and under
sfnnd that IL a crisis ahnuld he imminent not only