Year: 1873

~ degrees 40 seconds. She was IN danger


Of wreck for some hours, when she wal


freed again. On the 10Th of August the


ship was made fast TO q large foe Of ice


in latitude 80 degrees and 3 minutes north


and longitude about 69 degrees west and


while still last to this foe, drifted south


through Smiths Sound nearly to North.
cumberland Island, In pursuance Of usual
orders under similar circumstances. A
quantity ot provisions and some fuel had


been placed on the deck ot the steamer In
readiness TO be removed TO the ice should
the safety Of the ship become endangOr-
ed, and It was ordered and understood
that II crisis should be imminent not
only these stores but the clothing, papers,
records, Instruments guns, ammunition,
&C., were also to be put on the foe, in Or
der TO preserve the lives Of the party and
the results oil the expedition should 1t be-
come necessary to abandon the ship and
take refuge on the ice. A canvass had
also been erected upon the foe Tor shelter
should tie ship be lost. On the night Of
the 18th Of October, 10 about lat. 70 deg.
90 min. north, during violent gale Of
wind and snow, the need for such prepar-
ations became apparent, as the ship was
suddenly beset by tremendous pressure
Of ice which was driven against her from
the southwark and forced under her,
pressing her up and out oI the water,
and by successive and very violent
shocks finally throwing her over on
her beam ends, Capt. B. directed the pro.
visions, stores and material 10 be in readi.
ness, as before described, to be thrown
overheard on the ice, and ordered half
the crew upon the ice TO carry them upon
q thicker part to the hammocks, where
they would be comparatively safe. de
also sent all the Esquimaux with their
kyacks out Of the ship. and lowered two
remaining boats on the foe. While 80
engaged in the darkness OF en- Arctic
night, in the midst OF fierce gale and a
driving storm the hausers of the POlaris
failed to hold her, and she broke adriit
from the foe and In few moments was
out Of sight Of the party, who at that
moment was busily engaged at work.


II is the unanimous opinion OF the
witnesses and our unanimous conclusion
from their testimony and from the circum.
stances detailed that the separation OF
the ship from the men, women and chill.
dren on the ice foe was purely accident
al. Alter the losing Of the ship, some OF
the men and large part Of the provisions
were found to be ailoat on separate
piece Of ice. The men were rescued by
means Of bouts, which fortunately had
been saved on the ice, and the party thus
collected on the main lloe, passed the
night as well as they could. The next
day they made several attempts to reach
the land with the boats, but failed not.
withstanding their most persistent efforts,
owing to the distractions Of Ice and VIC.
lent winds; and while thus striving to
get to the shore, hut at what particular
time Of day is not exactly known, the
Polaris came In sight to the northwest.
ward, apparently coming toward the
foe. A rubber blanket was hoisted, and
displayed from the top OF the hammock.
The colors were set and other signals
made TO attract the attention Of the Polar
Is, and she approached so near to them
that they plainly saw her down TO her rail
and could distinguish her escape pipe and
keep on towards them until they supposed
her TO be not more than four miles off.
They felt sure she could work her way
through the ice 10 their position, and that
In little while they would be again on
board. In this they were disappointed


The Polaris altered her course and dlBap.
peared behind the shore. Some time al.
terwards, as the fog drilted away, she was
again seen by some oI the men under the
land with her sails furled and apparently
at anchor, or made fast to the shore or ice.


1t is most likely that the party on the
lee was seen from tho Polaris-the hut
erected on the foe, the ships boats, the
colors, the signal blanket, and the group
OF nineteen persons could scarcely have
remained unnoticcd. TWAS natural un.
der these circumstances that the party on
the Ice shonld have felt deeply disapp0int.
cd at the failure Of the ship 10 come
TO their reliei, and should at the
time ascribe 1t TO over caution If not
Indifference rather than inability on the
part Of her responsible commander.
Neither is 1t unnatural that this feeling
-fostered during the weary watches
of their long winter upon the Ice,
should remain 10 effect in a great.
or or q less degree their pres.
ent judgement on the subject but it
must not be forgotten that they, like our.
selves were and are without full informa-
ttion Of the actual condition ofthe Polar1s
ut the time spoken of and cannot know
how the real dangers Of their position
was understood and appreciated, by those
.on board OF her. Such information and
knowledge are absolutely necessary to a
correct judgement and must not be as.
tSumed a. foundation OF Censure against
persons acting under circumstances so
trying and uncertain, who, by reason oi


their enforced absence have no opportu-
nifty for explanation. 1t seems to be
likely that the actual condition of
the Polaris was such as to i'm.


pose on, her commander the duty Ol


getting her, with the lives and property


which remained under his charge, at once


10 Q position Of safety under the shelter


oil Northumberland Islaud, where she


was last seen by the party on the foe. If


such was the state Of the case, the first


duty Of Captain Buddington, under such


circumstances, was to look to his vessel


particularly as he probably believed that


the party on the ice could, by the aid Of


the two boats, tho kyacks and scow In


their possession, find their way back to


the Polarls quite as easily as he could


force his way 10 them. But whatever


may have been bis opinion on this, ,ssthe


elements, quickly determined tho question.


Shortly tlLer the, Polaris had been seen,


violent gale from tho northeast sprung


up, the weather became thick, the ship


and land were lost sight OF, and the ice


foe drifted away to tho south with these


nineteen persons still upon II. In view


OF the circumstances detailed, II Is there
fore our unanimous Judgment that this
al 80. -otIor Ir0r the ohin xvoa oIoo