The New York Herald Newspaper, June 20, 1873, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY; JUNE 20, 1873—TRIPLH SHEET: THE POLARIS. Report of the Navy Department Investigation, SECRETARY ROBESON TO THE PRESIDENT. A Temperate an the Ev: Fair Resume of nce. BUDDINGTOW'S ACCOUNTABILITY “Grossly Lax in Discipline, but When Not Affected by Liquor a Compe- tent Commander.” THE REPORT OF THE BOARD. What the” Investigation Proves and What It Leaves Unproven. CAPTAIN HALL’S DISCOVERIES. Aitempted Explanations of the Death of the Explorer. BUDDINGTON IN COMMAND. Wonderfal Release of the Ice-Bound Ship from a Difficult Position. TYSONS EXPEDITION IN BOATS. Story of the Abandonment and the Ice Floe. THE UNANSWERED SIGNALS, Confirmation of the Accuracy of the Herald’s Report. RESULTS OF THE EXPEDITION. Hall’s Apprehensions of Being Poisoned by Buddington. STORY OF THE EXQUIMAUX. meu gd Captain Tyson’s Explanation of the Matter. THE EVIDENCE SUMMED* UP. A Ourious Exhibit of Newspaper Acouracy WASHINGTON, June 19, 1873, Secretary Robeson to-day transmitted to the President the Feport of the proceedings of the Board, appointed by him to investigate the facts in referetice to the Arctic expedition, commanded by Captain ‘Hall, and the mysterious severance of Captain Tyson's party from the exploring vessel, in the following communication :— Navy DePARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., June 17, tts. To THE PRESIDENT :— Sir—On receiving information of the arrival of the rescued portion 0: the crew of: the Polaris at St. Joling, N. F., kdetermined, in the absence of direct regular communication with that port, to send, aa has been beiore reported to you, the United States steamer Frolic, then lying at New York, to bring them to the United States. As it ‘was obviously proper, in view of the prompt and responsible action which might be required, that the government should, as soon as possible, be in pogsession of the fullest and most reliable informa- tion upon all the circumstances of the case, the Frolic was directed to bring directly to Washing- ton all persons having personal knowledge on the subject. On their arrival here, tothe end that their knowledge might be accurately and fally elicited, judged of and preserved, not only for the guidance of the goverament but for the benefit of science and the information of the world, [ associated with myself for their examination Com- modore William Reynolds, U. 8. N., the senior oM- cer of the Navy Department, himseif an old ex- plorer; Professor Spencer F, Baird, of the Smith- sonian Institution, a distinguished scientist and member of the National Academy, who had taken great interest in the expedition and prepared some We. Howgate, of the Atmy Signal Service, from which corps Mr. Meyor had been detailed ay me- eorologist of the expedition. In the course of THE EXAMINATION, ‘which occupied six days, We have taken separately and fully upon ail the points involved upon which they had or professed to have knowledge, the statement and examination of each adult indl- vidual of the party who could understand or speak any English, inciuding all of the persons rescued, excepting the wife of Hans Christian and the chil- drem; These statements and examinations were carejully taken down in shorthand at the time, and are now, together with the diaries kept by some of the party on the ice, and a diary of the craise of the Polaris, kept im German by Hermann Simons, one of the seamen re- maining on board and picked up on the ice after the separation from the ship, being fapidly printed, the bulk of them already in tyne. A detailed statement of the results arrived at will ‘be found in the report signed by myself and all the gentlemen associated with me, which is herewith enclosed, and to which is annexed a copy of the last despatch of Captain Hall, made trom what is apparently the original draft in his own handwrit- ing, found among his personal papers in his writ- ing deax, which was preserved on the ice by the Esquimaux Joe, and by nim delivered to me in the presence of the Board, It is accompanied also by @n outline map, prepared by Mr. Meyer, giving a geeral outline of the geographical results. This report is made directly to yourself, as the person under whose orders the expedition was organized; and Ihave myselt signed it, concurring as I do in all its statements and conclusions, In some of the testimony as given will be found some statements Of Jacts and several STRONG EXPRESSIONS OF FREREKO eu the part os some of the witneneps aqalngs the officer remaining in commend of the ship afterthe death of Captain Hall. These I feel great reluc- tance to publish, while the person referred to ts ab- sent in the discharge of a dangerous and responsible duty; but I am constrained to believe that it is better for him'and will be more satisfactory to his friends, as well as to the friends of those still on board of the Polaris, that they should be pup- lished as they were given, rather than that their sup@ression should be made the foun- @ation of sensational and alarming re- ports in no degree justified by the real facts, It must, however, be clearly understood that in permitting this publication the Department neither makes nor declares any jndgment against Mr. Buddington, who is still absent in the midst of dangers and has no opportunity for defence or ex- planation. The facts show that though he was perhaps wanting in enthustasm for the grand ob- Jects of the expedition, and at times GROSSLY LAX IN DISCIPLINE, and though he differed in judgment from the others as to the possioility, safety and propriety of taking the ship further North, yet he 1s an expe- rienced and careful navigator, and, when not affected by liquor, of which there remained none on board at the time of the separation, a safe and competent commander, I concur fally in the statement of the report as to the probable con- ~ ition and situation of the ship and the propriet of taking prompt measures for her efficient rehef. Such a relief can only be afforded safely and surely by means of an expedition prepared to encounter the dangers of the Arctic circle in a ship adapted for the purpose and built and fitted to contend with large bodies ofice. It is known tnat there is no such ship ready at hand in either our naval or merchant service. Indeed, it is believed that there are no such im existence except among the sealing fleet of Newfoundland. A vessel of this feet, sailing, as they do, under a foreign register, cam only be used for the purpose of an expedition organized and sailing under our own flag by being purchased and put in commis- sion by the Navy Department. In view of all these facts, and the further and pressing consideration that any measures of relief to be efficient, fhust be taken at once, I have already begun to carry out tne suggestions of the Board by giving preparatory orders to the United States steamer Juniata, now at New York, to proceed at the earliest prac- cable moment to Disco, and, if possible, to upper Navisk for the purpose of carrying forward the necessary coal and supplies, communicating With the authorities of Greenland, obtaining infor_ mation and if practicable sending forward some word of encouragement to those on board the Polaris, This last will most likely be Impossible, but we will not fail to attempt it. I also propose to fit out at once an expedition of relief to be sent to Northgmberland Island, where the Polaris was Jast seen ‘HE TIGRESS SEALING STRAMER, of the fleet referred to, of about two hundred tons burden, built and fitted to contend with the ice, and the same ship by which the persons now here were rescued. This ship, which is already on her way to New York, I propose, with your assent, to purchase and immediately strengthen if necessary and fit out for the service required. The proposed expedition will be purely naval, experience having confirmed me in the conviction that there is little of either success er safety in any trying, dangerous and distant expedition which is not organized, prosecuted and controlled under the sanction of military discipline, Captain Tyson, all the rescued seamen of the Po- laris and Esquimaux Joe will accompany the ex- Ppedition, all of them declaring themselves ready and willing to return for the rescue of their com- rades and to bring out their old ship. The meas- ures proposed will, of course, impose some expen- diture upon the naval appropriation and responsi- bility upon the Navy Department; but those ap- propriations cannot, I think, be expended more fittingly or more in accordance with the feeling of our people, and whatever responsibility is incurred by this act of imperative public duty and national humanity I am neither authorized to evade nor unwilling to meet. Very respectfully, your obe- dient servant, GEORGE M. ROBESON, Secretary of the Navy. THE REPQRT. Resume of the Testimony of the Cast- The undersigned, having been present at and taken paft in the full and careful examination of Mr. George E, Tyson, assistant Navigator; Fred- erick Meyer, meteorologist; J. W. ©. Krager, G. W. Linguist, Frederick Antinn, Peter Johnson, Frederick Jamka, seaman, and William Linde- mann, seaman, and John Harrison, steward; Wil- liam Jackson, cook, and Joe, Hannah and Hans, Esquimaux, all late of the steamer Polaris, and, with the exception of the wife of Hans-and five children, comprising the party which was separ- ated from her on the ice in October last and picked up off the coast of Labrador on April 80, of this year by the Britisn sealing steamer Tigress, give the following as the result of the investigation :— The Polaris left Disco on the 17th of August, 1871, when she parted company. from the Congress, ar- riving at Upernavik the nextday. At this port she took om board some dogs, seal and dog skins and a@small quantity of coal, and shipped Hans, Hendrick or Christian, Esquimaux, who had been with Drs. Kane and Hayes, and the wife of Hans and three children. It was expected that Jensen, who had also accompanied Dr. Hayes, would join the Polaris at Tessinsac. Leaving Navick the Polaris touched at Tessingac, and there procured more dogs and @& small quantity of clothing, but Jensem dig not go with it. The ex- pedition leaving Tessinsac on the 2th proceeded northward under steam, passing through Smith Sound and Kennedy Channel with very little delay or obstruction from the ice. Near Cape Frazier Captain Hall examined the western shore in @ boat to look for @ sate wintering place, but was unsuccessful in finding one. Clearing Kennedy Channel in the Polaris, Captain Hall found himself passing through a large sound in the precise position of fanc’s open Polar Sea, with a bay on the Greenland side. In this bay the ship subsequently wintered, and it received from Vaptain Hall the name of Polaris Bay. Its nortuern cape he called Tupton. Pressing on to northward and passing through the sound, the ship entered another narrow channel of about twenty-five or thirty miles in width, with high land on either side, and on the 30th of August attained THE HIGHEST NORTHERN LATITUDE, declared by Captain Hall to be eighty-two degrees twenty-nine seconds north, but afterwards found, by careml catculation of Mr. Meyer, tobe eighty- two degrees sixteen seconds north. At tis, her highest point, the Polaris was still in the new straitor channel which she had discovered and which Captain Hall named Robeson Straits, alter the present Secretary of the Navy. Here the ship was met by heavy floating ice, extending entir ly across the Straits and barring her further progress northward. Alter making unsuccess{ul efforts to find a way through the ice, Captain Hall, in @ boat, examined a small harbor on the eastern side of the straits for Winter quarters. ‘This being found unsuitable for the purpose was named “Refuse Harbor.” After incurring imminent risks the ship became fairly beset in these straits, and drifted with the ice to the south, and out of them to the latitude of 81 30 north, when, the pack open- ing on the 3d of September, she steamed to the eustward, and foand her Winter quarters in a small sheltered cave or bend of the coast, pre tected by a stranded iceberg, on the edat side of Polaris Bay, in latitude 61 38 north, longitade 61 44 west, To this cave Captain Hall gave the name of “Thank God Harbor,” calling the iceberg “Providenceberg.” At midnight on the 8d of September, 1871, Captain Hall landed with a boat on the east shore of Polaris Bay, and, in the name of God and the President of the United States, RAISED THE AMERICAN FLAG ON THE LAND HR HAD DISCOVERED. On one occasion, while beset in Robeson Straits, the Polaris seemed to be in such danger of being crushed that provisions were placed upon the ice and measures taken to be in readiness for leaving her; but she happily escaped without injury. Im- mediately after securing his ship in Winter quar- ters Captain Hall made preparations for a sledge menced by landing and setting up theobeervatory, getting the scientific observations under way, sur- veying the harbor, clearing up the sp and mak- ing snug for the Winter. On the 10th of October Captain Hall left the Polaris, accompanied by Mr. Chester, first mate, and Esquimaux Jé& and Hans, with two sledges and fourteen dogs, Setting out on this expedition the first step taken by Captain Hall fel) upon land more northern than white man’s toot had ever be- fore touched. In the progress of the journey—un- happily the last that Captain Hall wasto make towards the Pole—he discovered, as appears by his despatch, a river,a lake and a large inlet, the lJacter in 8157, 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 82 2, north, longitude 6120, west, he rested, making there his sixth snow encamp- ment, On October 20 he wrote HIS LAST DESPATCH 10 THE SECRETARY OF THE NavY, the original draft of which was found, in his own handwriting, tn bis writing desk, on its examin- ation in Washington, after it was delivered to the Secretary of the Navy by Exquimaux Joe, who had kept the desk in his custody from the time it was Bicked up on the ice, after the separation of the Tescued party from the ship. A copy of this despatch, so singularly preserved, accompanies this report. Captain Hall himself deposited a transcript of it in a cairn on the side of the moun- tain at Cape Brevoort. Captain Hall, it appears, had hoped, when he left the Polaris on this jour- hey, to advance northward at least a hundred Miles; but, alter having gone about fifty, 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 Spring for another attempt. He reached the ship on the 24th of October, ap- parently in his usual fine health, but was attacked the same evening with SICKNESS OF THE STOMACH AND VOMITING, and, taking 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 of the brain accompanied by delirium and a partial paralysis of one side. The witnesses all state that his attack was called apoplexy, and some of them speak of their own knowledge of his Paralysis and delirtum, He recovered, however, some days after sufficiently to leave his bed, to move abont the cabin a little and to attempt to at- tend to business, But he soon had a relapse, be- came again delirious, and died on the 8th 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. Bessels, and as none of the persons now here are capable of giving a more particular account of the nature and symptoms of his fatad sickness the return of the Polaris must be awaited for precise information. All the persons examined testify to the uniform kindness and care of Captain Hall ana to the good order and eMcient condition of the Polaris while under his command. On the death of Captain Hall Mr. Buddington succeeded to the command of the Polaris, as had been provided for in the instructions for the voyage issued by the Secretary of the Navy, The Winter was passed as is usual in the Arcticregion, but without any suffering from the cold, from disease or from the want of proper provisions, The scientific observations were diligently kept up. Polaris and Newman’s bays were surveyed and the coast line to the southward 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 a heavy gale from the northeast, the Polaris dragged her anchors, but brought up against the large iceberg before mentioned, which Was aground in the bay. She was finally made fast to it and soremainea 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 higaer upon it by the rising of the tide and THE RENEWED PRESSURE FROM THE ICE, she thus remained until June, 1872, her stem piece resting uneasily during the whole of the stormy Winter on this ice bed. She was cracked and some of her bow planks split, causing her toleak. When she again got afloat 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 was released from the ice, Captain Bud- dington despatched Mr. Chester and Mr. Tyson with tayo boats to endeavor te 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 fhe Polaris 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 on 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 ICR WAS FOUND TO BE IMPASSABLE, and Captain Buddington, on receiving the party on board, determined to make the best of his way southward to the United States as soon as the ice would permit, They started southward 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 80 deg. 40 sec. north she was in danger of wreck for some hours, when she was freed again. On the 16th August Mle ship was made fast to a large foe of ice in the Iatitude of 80 02 north and longitude about 68 degrees west, and while still fast to this floe drtited south through Smith’s Sound nearly to Nortnumberland Island, In pursuance of the usual orders under similar circumstances, a quan- tity 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 of the ship become endangered, and it was ordered and under- stood that ifa crisis should be imminent, not only these stores, but clothing, papers, records. instru- ments, guns, ammunition, &c., were also to be put upon the floe in order to preserve the lives of the party and the result of the expedition, should it become necessary to abandon the ship and take refuge on the ice. A canvas had also been erected upon the floe for shelter should the ship be lost. On the night of the 15th of October, 1872, in about latitude 79 53 north, during a violent gale of wind and snow, the need jor such preparation became apparent, as the ship was suddenly beset by ; A TREMENDOUS PRESSURE OF THE ICR, which was driven against her from the southward, and forced under her, jfessing ber up out of the water, and, by successive and violent shocks, finally throwing her over on her beam ends. Captain Buddington directed the provisions, stores and material in readiness, as before de- scribed, to be thrown overboard on the ice, and ordered half the crew upon the ice to carry them upon a thicker part to the hammocks, where they would be comparatively safe. He also sent all the Esquimaux, with thei: keyacks, out of the ship and lowered the two remaining boats upon the flee. While so engaged, in the darkness of an Arctic night, in the midst of a fierce gale and driv- ing snow storm, the hawsers of the Polaris failed to hold her, and she broke adrift from the floe and in a few minutes was out of sight of the party who were at that moment bustly at work on the ice. It is the uniform opinion of the witnesses and our unanimous couclusien from the testimony and from the circumstances detailed that this scpara- tion of the ship from the men, women and chil- dren upon the ice floe was PURELY AOCIDENTAL, Jourpey porthward and other work wee ogg J Alter loping migbt of the Mip nama of the men and a large part of the provisions were found to be afoat em a separte piece of ice. The men were Tescued by means of the boats, which fortunately had been saved onthe ice, and the party thus col- lected on the main floe passed the night as well as they could. The next day they made several at- tempts toreach the land withthe boats, but failed, notwithstanding their most persistent efforts, ow- Ing vo the obstruction of the ice and the violence of the wind. While thus striving to get on shore, butat what particular time of the day is not ex- actly ascertained, the Polaris came in sight to the northward, apparently coming toward the floe under steam and sail, An india rubber blanket was hoisted on an oar, and displayed from the top ofa hammock. The colors were set, and other signals were made to attract the attention of the Polgris, and 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 off, they felt sure she could force her way through the ice to their posi- tion, and that in a littie while they would be again on board. In this they were disappointed. THE POLARIS ALTERED HER COURSE and disappeared behind the shore. Some time afterwards, as the foe drifted away, 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. It is most likely that the party on the ice was secn from the Polaris, The hut erected on the floe, the ship’s boats, the colors, the elevated signal blanket and the group of nineteen persons standing in relief against a white background, could scarcely have remained unnoticed. It 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 it ‘TO OVER-CAUTION, IF NOT INDIFFERENCE, rather than inability on the part of her responsible commander, Neither is it unnatural that this feel- ing, fostered during the weary watches of their long Winter upon the ice, should still remain to affect, in @ greater or less degree, their Present judgment on the subject. But it must not be forgotten that they, like our- selves, were and are without full information of the actual condition of the Polaris at the time spoken of and 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 a correct judgment, and must not be as- sumed as the foundation of censure against per- sons acting under circumstances so trying and uncertain, who, by reason of their enforced absence, have no opportunity for explanation. Considering the subject dispassionately and remembering that the Polaris had been so roughly handled by tne 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 floe; that when she broke adrift and was swept off 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; that 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 a single boat of any kind—it seems most likely that her actual condition was such as to im- pose upon her commander the duty of getting her, with the lives and property which remained under his charge, at once into a. position of safety under the shelter of Northumberland Island, where she was last seen by the rty on the foe. Ifsuch Were the state of the cal THE FIRST DUTY OF CAPTAIN BUDDINGTON, under such circumstances, was to look to his ves- sel, particularly as he probably believed that tne party on the ice could, by the aid of the two boats, the kyacs and tne scow in their possession, find their way back to the Polaris quite as easily as he could force his way to them. But, whatever may have been his opinion on this, the elements quickly determined the question. Shortly after the Polaris had been sighted for the second time a violent gale from the northeast sprung up, the weather became thick, the ship and the land were lost.sight of, and the ice foe drifted away to the southward with these nineteen persons still upon it. In view of the circumstances detailed it 1s, thereiore, our unanimous judgment that THIS FINAL SEPARATION FROM THE SUP WAS ALSO ACCIDENTAL. From October 15, 1872, until April 1, 1873, when they were picked up in latitude about fifty-nine degrees north, these nineteen men, women and children remained through the whole ef the dark and dreary Winter upon the ice. In their first endeavors to Teach the land they occup:ed for a time different pieces of floating ice. But forced finally to aban- don all hope in this direction they rested at last upon the foe upon which the Polaris had Made fast, August 15, 1872, in latitude eighty degrees, and from which she broke adrift on the night of October 15 following. The original ex- tent of this floe they estimated at about five miles in circumference. Snow huts were built by the Esquimaux, in which they lived and kept their provisions. Of these they had saved a 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 Esquimaax shot a seal, and once they killed a 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 floe, and that the current was then setting them to the southward and to sea, they LAUNCHED THEIR BOAT INTO OPEN WATER and pulled toward the west, in order, if possible, to gain the coast. At times, getting in ice too closely packed to get their boat through, they were com- pelied to haul the boat upon it, launching it again as soon as @ lead opened to the westward or south. ward, In this way they passed a 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 a bear scenting 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 struggied on until the last day of April, 1873, when they were rescued by the Tigress, At this time they had the coast of Labrador in sight, dis- tant about forty miles, and were hoping to reach it 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 particularly detatied in the diaries that some of the rescued party made day by day upon the tee, and which are copied in the testimony, After their rescue, although enlecbled by scanty diet and long exposure, and mentally depressed by their isolated and unhappy situation so fearfully prolonged and of such uncertain issues, the gen- eral health of these hardy voyagers remained good, and when their trials and anxieties were ended they soon regained their usual strength. At the time of their separation from the Polaris every one belonging to the expedition was in good i health. Nineteen were upon the ice foe und they believed that all the rest were on board the ship, The Polaris had not then repaired her broken stem, and leaked somewhat, but was easily cleared by the deck pumps. She had plenty of provisions, but not much coal, probably about enough to last through the Winter, She was last seen, apparently at anchor, UNDER NORTHUMBERLAND ISLAND, where it ig most likely she remained for Winter quarters, Dr. Hayes found Esquimaux residing on that island, and the Esquimaux settlement at Navick is close by. Communication with these People could be easily opened and maintained and no apprebension for the Polaris, or, in the absence of accident or sickness, for those on board Is enter- taimed by any of the rescued persons. As to the question whether the ship can make her way to the Danish settiement at Upper Navick, or Disco, with- out steam, if she gets free from ice this season, supposing her to be in as good condition as when the rescued party was last on board the witnesses differ in judgment, but the safer if not the better opinion is that she will need assistance to bring her completely and safely out. Northumberland Island is in latitude 77,20 north, aad & WellJound shin With @ vovase af efad my. she | tame would be able to reach it in the Sammer and return im the Autumn. It is possible that the Polaris may be abie to return without assistance, but, as she remains within the Arctic circle and is not gound im her hull, with little fuel and with many precious lives on board, and with the records and collections of her cruise in their pos- session, we are unanimously of opinion that this possibility Mould not be assumed, and that - A SUITABLE VESSEL should as soon as possible be procured and sent in search of her to render her return as certain ‘aud speedy as may be, while a suitable vessel constructed and fitted for a voyage amongst the ice, is getting reaay. We believe it would be well to despatch such naval vessel as may be available to carry forward proper supplies of coal and pro- visions for the relief expedition; to inform the au- thorities of Greenland of the condition of affairs; to gather all possible information from them and the Esquimaux of the coast, and, if possible, by means of the latter to send some intimation of speedy relief to the officers and crew of the Ice bound ship, From the testimony it appears that every pos- sivle opportunity was embraced by the members of the Scientific Corps of the expedition to carry out the instructions given, the only direction in which there seems to have been a partial failure being in reference to the use of the photographic apparatus and the dredge. This, however, was due to the absence of suitable apparatus or to some insurmountable impediment at the time, White the records of the astronomical, meterolo- gical, magnetical, tidal and other departments of the exploration appear to have been extremely full and the observations in each appear to have been conducted according to approved methods. THE COLLECTIONS OF NATURAL HISTORY ~ are shown to have been not less extensive, the storerooms ofthe Polaris being filled with skins and skeletons of musk, oxen, bears and other animals; different species of birds and their eggs; numerous marine invertebrates, plants, both recent and fossil; minerals, &c. Not the least in- teresting of these collections are specimens of drift wood, picked up onor near the shores of New- man’s Bay and Polaris Bay, among which Mr. Meyer thought he recognized dis- tinctly the walnut, the ash and the pine, Among the numerous facts that appear to be shown by the testimony elicited on the examination we may mention as one of much interest, that the dip of the needle amounted to 45 degrees and its deviation to 96 degrees, being leas than at Port Foulke and Rensselaer Harbor, as given by Dr. Kane and Dr. Hayes. Auroras were Irequent, but by no means brilliant ; generally quite light, and consisting sometimes of one arch and sometimes of several.‘ Streamers were quite rare. Only im one instance, in Feb- Tuary, 1872, did the Aurora appear of a distinct rosy red, This was foreboded in the morning from eight to ten o’clock by @ very decided disturbance of the magnetic needle. Shooting stars were so constantly seen that although no special shower ‘Was observed, it was scarcely possible even to look at the starlit sky without noticing them in one di- rection or another, The rise and fall of the tides were carefully observed, the average being abou five and one-half feet, The greatest depth of water noted was about one hundred fathoms. The ex- istence of a constant current southward was no- ticed by the expedition, its rapidity varying with the scason and locality, THE WINTER TEMPERATURE was found to be much milder than was expected, the minimum being fifty-eight degrees below zero in January, although March proved to be the cold- est month. The prevailing winds were from the Northeast, although there were occasionally tem- pest from the southwest. High winds were Noticed, however, from all points of the compass: Rain was occasionally observed—only on the land, however, the precipitation presenting itself over the ice in the form of snow. During the Summer the extent of both low lands and clovations were bare of snow and ice excepting patches here and there in the shade of the rocks. The soll during this pertod was covered with a more or less dense vegetation of moss with which several Arctic plants were interspersed, somie of them of considerable beauty, but entirely without scent, and many small willows scarcely reaching the dig- nity of shrubs. The rocks noticed were of a schis- tous or slate nature, and in some instances con- tained fossil plants, specimens of which were col- lected. Distinct evidences of former glaciers were seen in localities now bare of ice, these indications consisting in the occurrence of terminial and lat- eral moraines. ANIMAL LIFE was found to abound, musk and oxen being shot at intervals throughout the Winter, their tood con- sisting of the moss and other vegetation obtained during the season by scraping off the snow with their hoofs, Wolves, also bears and foxes and other animals, were repeatedly observed. Geese, ducks and other water towis, including plover and other wading birds, abounded during the Sum- mer, although the species of land birds were com- paratively few, including, however, as might have been expected, a large number of pem- mican, or snow partridge. No mention is made by the rescued party of the existence of hawks and owls, No fish were seen, althougn the net and lines were frequently called into play in attempting to obtain them. The waters, however, were found filled to an extra- ordinary degree with marine invertebrata, includ- ing jelly fish and shrimps. It was believed by the party that the seals depend upen the latter for their principal subsistence, the seals themselves being very abundant. Numerous insects were ob- served aigo, especially several species of buiter- flies, specimens of which were collected; also flies, bees and insects of like character. THE GEOGRAPHICAL RESULTS of the Polaris expedition, so faras they can now be ascertained from the testimony of Messrs, Tyson, Meyer and their comrades, may be summed up briefly as follows:—The open Polar Sea, laid down by Kane and Hayes, is found to be in reality a@ sound of considerable lenghth, formed by the somewhat abrupt expansion of Kennedy channel to the northward and broken by Lady Franklin's Bay on the west, and on the east by a large inlet twenty miles wide at the opening and certainly extending far iniand. Its length was not ascertained and Mr. Meyer thinks it may be, im fact, @ strait extending till it communicates with the Francis Joseph Sound of the Germania and Hansa expedition, and with it definin; the northern limits of Greenland. This inlet was called the Southern Fiord. North of it onthe same side is the indentation of the shore called Polaris Bay by Captain Hall, where the Paris wintered, in latitude $1 deg. 38 min. north. ‘The northern point of this bay was named Cape Lupton. Its soutnern point is yet without a name. From Cape Lupton the land trends to the north- east, an. from the eastern shore of a new channel from twenty-five to thirty miles wide, opening out of the sound above mentioned, to which Cap- tain Hall, as has already been stated, gave the name of Robeson’s Straits, The western shore of these straits, north of Grinnell Land, is also name- less. Northeast of Cape Lupton, in latitude 81 deg. 37 min., is a deep inlet, which Captain jall called Newman's Bay, naming its northern int Cape Brevvuort and its southern bluff Sum- mer Headland. The trend of the land con- tinues to Repulse Harbor, tu latitude 82 deg. 9 min. north, the highest northern position reached by land during this expedition. From an elevation of 1,700 feet at Kepulse Harbor, on the east coast of Robeson’s Straits, the land continues northeast to the end of these straits, and thence east and southeast till lost in the dis- tance, its vanishing point bearing south of east irom the place of observation. No other land was visible to the northeast, but land was seen on the west coast, extending north as far as the cye could reach, and apparently terminating in a head- jand eighty-four degrees north. Mr. Meyer also states that directly to the north he observed, on a bright day, from ihe elevation mentioned, A LINE OF LIGHT, apparently circular in form, which was thought by other observers to be land, but which he supposed to indicate open water. Besides ascertaining accurately the condition and extent of what was before supposed to be an open Polar sea, discover- img the Southern Fiord to the southeast and Revevon’s Straits yo the narth with anether wide Vis: ‘i expanse of water beyond it, and extending by examination and survey the coast ling on the east, up to latitude 82 09 north, and by observation somewhat further prolong< ing the west coast to the northward and passe ing, with tne Polaris under steam, the high lath tude of 82 16 north—a point far beyond the limits of all previous navigation towards tha Pole—errors in the shore line of the west coas@ as laid down by Dr. Hayes, and also errors im the shore line of Greenland, as laid down by Dré Kane, were observed and corrected, Of coarse the full scientific results of the Polari@ expedition cannot be known uni that vessel shaly have been found and brought back, with the treas« ures she has gathered and the records and detail ofther Arctic explorations. Butenough is told by the witnesses whom we have examined to excite expectution and encourge the hope of large and valuable additions to the domain of human knowk edge. GEORGE M. ROBESON, Secretargof the Navy. SPENCER F.'BAIRD, Assistant Secretary Smithsonian Institute, WILLIAM REYNOLDS, Commodore United States Navy. H. W. HOWGATE, Acting Signal Officer United States Army. To the PRESIDENT, June 16, 1873, Copy of Draft of ptain Hal’s Dee spatch. Sixta SNowHouse ENCAMPMENT, } Caré BREVOoRT, NokTHU Sipe ENTRANCE TO NEWMAN'S Bay, Lar. 82 03 N., Lona. 61 20 W., Oct. 20, 1841. To THE HONOABLE SECRETARY OF THE U: Srargs Navy, GEORGE M. ROBESON :— Mysel! and party, consisting of Mr. Chester, first mate, my Esquimaux Joe and Greenland aie maux Hans, leit the ship in Winter prod Than’ God Harbor, latitude 8138 north, longitude 61 ‘4 west, at meridian of October 10, on a journey b; two sledges, drawn by fourteen dof a discover, if possible, a teastble route ink fo! my nedea to journey next Spring to rea the North Pole, purposing to adopt such a rou’ 4 found better than a route over the old floes an hummocks of the strait, which | have deu Robeson Strait, after the Honoravle Secretary of the Navy. We arrived here the alternoon of Oct ver 17, having discovered @ lake and river on ow way. Along the latter our route, @ most serpe! tine one, which led us to this bay, fifteen minute: distant from here, southward and ¢astward. Fro! the f an iceberg near ‘the mouth oO} Dr. Newman) ex. tended to the high nd eastward — an southward of that position about fifteen yen masing the exteu.! Newman Bay from }its land or cape full thirty piles, The south vape is high, bold and noble livadiand; I have named it Sumner Headland, after Hon, Charies Sumner, th orator and United States Senator; and north cape, Brevoort Cape, after J. Carson Bi voort, @ strong iriend to Arctic discoveries. 0 arriving here we found the mouth of New: man Bay open. the water having numeré ous seals in it, bobbing up their heads. Thi open water making close to both Sumner Headlan and Brevoort Cape, and the ice of Robeson Strait being on the move, debarred all chance of extend ing our journey on the ice up the strait, The mo tainous land (none other about here) will no admit of our purse further north; an as the time of our expected absence wi understood to be for two weeks, we com< mence our return to-morrow morning. To< day we are storm-bound to this our sixt! encampment. From Cape Brevoort we can se land extending on the west side of the strait north 22 degrees west, and distant about sevent; miles, thus making the land we discovered as ta as latitude 83 06 north. There is the appearance oj land further north and extending more easter! than what I have just noticed, but a pecular dar! nimbus cloud that constantly hangs over whi seems to be land prevents my making a fuli deter« mination. On August 31 the Polaris le her greatest. northern latitude, 82 29 north; but aft ) several attempts to get her further north sh became beset, when we were drifted down to abo 81 30, when an opening occurred. We steamed ou! of the pack and made harbor September 3, whe! the Polaris is.’’ . [A corner of the manuscript is here burned of] Up to the time I and my party left the ship have been well and coutinue with high accomplishing our great mission. We find this much warmer country than we expected. Cape Alexander the mountains on either side the Kennedy Channel and Kobeson Strait iJ found entirely bare of snow and ice, with the ception of a glacier that we saw commencing | about latitude 8030, north, on the side of the Strait and extending in an | northeast direction as far as can be seen the mountains by Polaris Bay. We have tound the country abounds with live seals, game, geese, ducks, musk cattle, Ltn wolves, toxes, partridges, lennings, &., &c. Our sailors ha shot two seals in the open water while at this-en: campment, Our jong Arctic night commen October 13, having seen only the upper limb of sun above the glacier at meridian October 12, This despatch to the Secretary of tne Navy & finish at this moment, twenty-three past eigh® P.M. having written it m ink in our snow hu ‘Theremometer outside minus seven degrees, Yer terday, all day, thermo! © minus twenty de- grees to twenty-three degrees—that is, twenty de- grees minus to twenty-three degrees minus Fah- rennet, {A copy of the despatch was placed in a pillar af Breevoort Cape, October 21, 1871.) The Testimony of Captain Tyson,,. Meyer and the Esquimaux. ‘The elaborate testimony of Captain Tyson showm that on the 2d September, 1871, the Polaris drited| out of Robeson’s Channel, when Captain Halk i steamed in under the land and came to anchort behind some bergs. After opening into Pow i laris Bay the channel widens, giving @& chance of escape. The Polaris steamed im under the Jand and went into Winter quarters and stayed there; Captain Hall called the mate, Mre Chester, and Captain Tyson to consult to se@ whether they should proceed north or not; thar decision was to go north, but 4t was overruled by Captain Buddington, who said they would never get back again, and had no business to go. Captain Buddington, with an oath, said “He woukk be damned if she would move from there.” Ha walked off and Captain Hall foltowed him and they had some conversation together. A few hour@ before they had been thinking of landing some prow | visions, and Captain Hall theu came to where they stood and ordered them to land the provisionss The conversation decided the fact that the ship should then and there be laid up for the Winter; the channel was at that time open to the north-- west as far as could be seen, Captain Hall spoke to Captain Tyson in the afternoon and said Capa tain Buddington should receive no credit, bug it would be a great credit to him ta go two or three degrees further. Whem, consulting he did not express his owm opinion, About the sd of November, after Captain: Hall had been sick seven or eight days, he begam to get better, talked rationally and went to writing: about his business. But he still appeared to bq thinking on one subject. He thought some on@ was going to injure him. He was very suspicious. He seemed to think SOME ONE WAS GOING TO POISON HIM. In his first delirium he uccused everybody, but when he was up and appeared rational he did nog say anything to Captain Hall about it; he ace cused Captain Buddington and the Doctom of trying to do him an = injury; he again proposed his sledge journey; said he in~ tended to go and wished Captain Tyson to go with: him, It was not more than twenty-four hours aftery that when he was sick again. He was very careful as to what he ate and drank. Captain Hall retired] in the evening. Mr, Chester was with him and said that Captain Hall was recovering rapidiyi and felt first rate, and would be around in a few days. During the night he grew worse and died that night, Gaptain Tyson obtainedt the insorrastion from Mr. Buddington, whe came to his room aud to!d him the Captain was dyt Cawain Tyson went to the cabin to look him; ho was insensible; knew nothing; he lag, upon bis face im his berth. Captain Tysom could not see his face, which appeareg to be buviet ia tie pillow and he was breathing heavily, and ao be died. He never said a word; had no sane moments before Mis death, Before his death there had been SOME DIFFICULTY BETWEEN CAPTAIN BUDDINGTON AND CAPTAIN HALL It was befdre he started on bis journey, Captaim Hall was about suspending Buddington irom dutya The diMiculty was his foul IMaguage about the ship. and his taking anything he could lay bis hands on— the provisions or liquors. Captain Tyson told Cape tain Hall to give Buddington a good talking to, and perhaps the man would do bet- ter on the strength of that. He passed it over and went on his sledge jours ney and returned and died. The Winter wag then wretched indeed. Captain Buddington as CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE,