ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 843, 29 July 1871, Page 3

ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS.

(From the " New York Times.") Captain C. E. Hall is about to make a second Arctic exploration, and for this purpose a powerful steam-tug of 400 tons measurement was procured from the Navy Department. The vessel was placed upon the ways and thoroughly overhauled. Her timbers were strengthened ahout the forepeak and a sheathing of heavy iron plates, firmly clamped and bolted together, was made to cover her bows from the garboard streak to within a few inches of the water-ways, in order to better enable her to force her way through the thick ribbed ice-pack. In fact, every improvement which experience in Arctic navigation and skill in shipbuilding could suggest was perfected in the little topsail schooner, rigged steamer, which her commander has christened the Polaris. Captain S. 0. Buddington, an old and experienced whaling master from the village of Groton, opposite New London, Conn., is to. be tho sailing master, and will carry with him, as assistants, officers who have for years buffeted the storms of the long Arctic winter. The crew is to consist of twelve seamen, beside two cooks and the same number of stewards, and four firemen. ■ All the seamen are picked intelligent men, and it is said that there is not one of them that is not capable of navigating the ship himself. A corps of scientific gentlemen also accompanied the expedition, consisting of an astronomer, a geographer, and a meteorologist. It is also said that Dr Herman Bissell, an eminent

GU-rinau naturalist and chemist, a graduate of Hei'lelberg,'who wasa member of the recent Prussian expedition to tho North Pole, accompanies Captain Hall's expedition in the same capacity. There are to be two engineers, Mr Emil Schuman and Johu Wilson, the former chief, and Wilson tho assistant. Tho Polaris ' will have two cabins. The after compartment is to bo divided into staterooms for the commander, the scientific corps, tho sailing master, his mates, and the engineers. The compartment forward Will be fitted ■ up with berths, and every convenience and comfort imaginable, for the men are to pass within its narrow confines many a weary hour of loneliness during the depressing gloom of the long Arctic night. It is understood that Captain Hall.. will sail from Washington instead o New York, as was first supposed, about the 25th May ; and the seamen, supplies, etc;, engaged in this city will be transported in a Government tender in a lew days to the capital. The exploring party, reaching Cape Resolution by the middle of June, will enter Hudson Straits, and steaming slowly up the broad channel, will occupy the time, until the pack ice opens in July, in trading with the Esquimaux at "Upper and Lower Savage and Southampton Islands, the former situated in the Straits, and the latter at the head of Hudson Bay. They will there procure furs, skins, etc., for clothing, and will provide themselves with several packs of the indispensable Esquimaux dog, with which to hunt and drag their heavy sledges, As soon as the Straits are clear of ice, the steamer proceeds to Repulse Bay, Captain Hall's old rendesvouz, and, if it is practicable, will then make an effort to force their way through the " pack " ice into Fox's Channel, and then through King William's Land, to about 80 deg. north. Here they are expected to spend their first winter. Early in tho spring of 1872, after having passed the winter in training the dogs, establishing caches, and making other important preparations, the party will leave the vessel and start, with their boats secured to • the sledges, and amply provisioned for six months, on their journey aver the ice to Baffin's Bay, Smith's Sound, and, it is hoped, the open Polar. The Polaris will be fitted out with every necessary required for the perilous voyage her company will, beyond a doubt, encounter, and among the many useful and ingenious contrivances to economise space which have been improvised, she will be provided with a patent apparatus for feeding her furnaces with seal oil instead of coal.