Year: 1873

aAoat on a separte piece of ice. The men were
rescued by means OF the boats, which fortunately
had been saved on the Ice and the party thus COL
lected on the main fioe passed the night well as
they could. The next day they made several at
tempts to reach the land with the boats but failed,
Notwithstanding their most persistent efforts, ow-
ing TO the obstruction OF the ice and the violence
OF the wind. While thus striving to get on shore,
but at what particular time OF the day is not ex.
acty ascertained the Polaris came in sight to the
northward. apparently coming toward the foe
under steam and sail. An india rubber blanket
was hoisted on an oar, and displayed from the top
OF hammock. The coors were set, and other
signals were made to attract the attention OF the
Polaris, ana as she approached SO near to
them that they plainly saw her down to
her rail and could distinguish her escape pipe, and
kept on towards them until they supposed her to
be not more than four miles or they felt sure she
could force her way through the Ice to their posi-
tion, and that In little while they would be again
on board. In this they were disappointed.


THE PoLARrs ALTERED HER COURSE


and disappeared behind the shore. Some time
afterwards, as the noe drifted away, she
was again seen by some OF the men under
the land, with her sails furled and apparently at
anchor or made fast to the shore or the Ice. II is
most likely that the party the ice was seen from
the Polaris. The hut erected on the 10e the ships
boats, the colors the elevated signal blanket and
the group OF nineteen persons standing In relief
against white background, could scarcely have
remained unnoticed. 1t was natural that, under
these circumstances, the party on the ice should
have felt deeply disappointed at the failure of the
ship to come to their relief aud should at the time
have ascribed 1t


TO ovERcAUrIoN, If NOT INDIFFERENCE,


rather than inability the part OF her responsible
ia uraI hot hja fpai-
ing, fostered during the weary watches OF their
long Winter upon the ice, should still remain to
a1ect In greater less degree, their
present judgment on the subject. But it
must not be forgotten that they, like
selves, were and are without fun information
OF the actual condition OF the Polaris at
the time spoken OF ana cannot know how far
the real dangers Of their position were understood
and appreciated by those ON board Of her. Such
Information and knowledge are absolutely neces-
sary to correct Judgment, and must not be as
sumed as the foundation OF censure against per-
sons acting under circumstances 30 trying and
uncertain, who by Of their enforced Absence
have no opportunity for explanation. Considering
the subject dispassonately and remembering that
the Polaris had been roughly handled by the ice
the night before, that both captain and crew
thought she would be lost, and attempted
the removal OF her provisions and materials
to the foe; that when she broke adrift and was
swept or by the gale her steam pipes, valves and
connections were frozen solid, and that she was
for hours without steam, unmanageable amid the
floating ice; tnat she was still leaking from her
broken stem, and had probably received other in
jury after she went adrift, and that she was left
without single boat Of any kind--it seems most
likely that her actual condition was such to i'm
pose upon her commander the duty OF getting her,
with the lives and property which remained under
his charge, at once into position OF safety under
the shelter OF Northumberland Island, where she
was last seen by the party on the foe. II such
were the state OF the cas-


THE FIRST DUTY OF CAPTAIN BUDDNGToN


under sucn circumstances, was TO look to his ves-
sci. particularly as he probably believed that the
party the ice could by the aid OF the two boats,
the kyacs and the scow In their possession, find
their way back to the Polaris quite easily he
could force his way to them. But, whatever may
have been his opinion this the elements quickly
determined the question.


Shortly after the Polars had been sighted for the
second time violent gale from the northeast
sprung up, the weather became thick, the ship and
the land were lost sight OF, and the Ice noe drifted
away TO the southwark with these nineteen persons
still upon 1t. In view OF the circumstances detailed
1t Is. therefore, our unanimous Judgment that


THIS FINAL SEPARATION FROM THE SHIP WAS ALSO


ACCIDENTAL.


From October l5 1872 until April l. ls73 when they
were picked up in latitude about nfty mine degrees
north, these nineteen men, women and children
remained through the whole efthe dark and dreary
Winter upon the Ice. In their first endeavors to
reach the land they occupied for time different
pieces Of floating ice. But forced finally to aban-
don all hope in this direction they rested at last
upon the noe upon which the Polaris had





eighty degrees, and from which she broke adrift
the night of October Is following The original
tent Of this noe they estimated at about five miles
in circumference. Snow nuts were built by the
Esquimaux, In which they lived and kept their
provisions. OF these they had saved fair supply,
which they apportioned and divided by means OF
weights made from shot, with rude scales devised
by Mr.. Meyer. Occasionally during the Winter the
Esquimaux shot seal, and once they killed bear,
and thus renewed their supply OF meat. On the lst
OF April, finding their icy quarters much reduced
by the breaking up OF the foe, and that the current
was then setting them to the southwark and to
sea, they


LAUNCHED THEIR BOAT INTO OPEN WATER
and pulled toward the west in order, II possible to
gain the coast. At times, getting In ice too closely
packed to get their boat through, they were COM
PEELED to haul the boat upon 1t, launching 1t again
as soon as lead opened to the westward or south
ward. In this way they passed q month OF weary
and desperate endeavor. Toward the close Of
April their provisions were almost exhausted and
they were one day absolutely reduced to less than
a biscuit piece and a mouthful OF pemmican,
when bear scent!ng them on the Ice approached
them and was shot, and they were thus rescued
from starvation. Revived by this good fortune
and strengthened by this new supply OF fresh meat
they struggled on until the last day OF April, 1873,
when they were rescued by the Tgress. At this
time they had the coast OF Labrador in sight, dis
tant about forty miles, and were hoping to reach
1t before their provisions were exhausted.


THE DIARIES OF THE WITNESSES.


The circumstances OF this most extraordinary
voyage are given at length by the witnesses, and
are narticularlY detailed In the diaries that s0ma