CHAPTER XIII

Charles Francis Hall. - Early life. Interest in fate of Sir John Franklin. First journey to Greenland. - Discovery of Frobisher relics. Experiences and study of the Eskimos. Second journey. Delays and disappointments. - Sledging trips. - King William's Land at last. - Franklin relics. - Return of Hall to United States. - Polaris expedition. - Reaches high northing. — Hall's sledge journey.- Return and death. - Polaris winters. No escape.- Polaris is wrecked. - Part of crew adrift on the ice-floe.- Remainder build winter hut. - Final rescue and return

to United States.

THE personality of Charles Francis Hall is singularly interesting. Born in Rochester, New Hampshire, in 1821, he received a common school education and pursued the vocation of blacksmith, journalist, stationer, and engraver.

In 1850, while living in Cincinnati, Ohio, he became deeply interested in the fate of Sir John Franklin, and for over nine years made a thorough study of Arctic history and, especially, of the Franklin search expeditions. Unconvinced by the admirable report of Captain M'Clintock in 1859 of the death of Franklin and the fate of his companions, Hall maintained the opinion that survivors of the unfortunate expedition must still be living among the Eskimos, and could be found. By the aid of public subscriptions and the liberal patronage of Mr. Henry Grinnell, Hall undertook a journey, May 29, 1860, sailing from New London, on the whaler, George Henry, commanded by Captain S. O. Buddington.

Forty days later (7th of July, 1860), the George Henry dropped anchor at Holsteinborg, Greenland. Hall was un

successful in the main object of his undertaking (his proposed journey to King William Land) and spent the best part of two years near Frobisher Bay, where he acquired much knowledge of the speech, habits, and life of the Eskimos, and discovered a quantity of relics left by Frobisher's expedition of 1577-1578.

Of the first traditionary history gained from the Eskimos relative to Frobisher's expedition, Hall says in notes under date of April 9, 1861

'Among the traditions handed down from one generation to another, there is this: that many very many years ago, some white men built a ship on one of the islands of Frobisher Bay and went away.

"I think I can see through this in this way: Frobisher, in 1578, assembled a large part of his fleet in what he called 'Countess of Warwick Sound' (said to be in that bay below us), when a council was held on the 1st of August, at which it was determined to send all persons and things on shore upon 'Countess of Warwick Island'; and on August 2d orders were proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, for the guidance of the company during their abode thereon. For reasons stated in the history, the company did not tarry here long, but departed for Meta Incognita,' and thence to England, how may not the fact of timbers, chips, etc., etc., having been found on one of the islands (within a day's journey of here) many years ago, prove that the said materials were of this Frobisher's company, and that hence the Innuit tradition? In a few days I hope to be exploring Frobisher Bay."

Describing the circumstances of his interesting discovery on Countess of Warwick Island, Hall writes:

"We continued on around the island, finding, every few fathoms in our progress, numerous Innuit relics. At length we arrived at a plain that extended back a considerable distance from the coast. Here we recognized, at our right,

about sixty rods distant, the point to which we first directed our steps on reaching the high land after leaving the boat.

"I was several fathoms in advance of Koo-ou-le-arng, hastening on, being desirous to make as extended a search as the brief remaining daylight would allow, when, lifting my eyes from the ground near me, I discovered, a considerable distance ahead, an object of an unusual appearance. But a second look satisfied me that what I saw were simply stones scattered about and covered with black moss. I continued my course, keeping as near the coast as possible. I was now nearing the spot where I had first descried the black object. It again met my view; and my original thought on first seeing it resumed at once the ascendency in my mind. I hastened to the spot. 'Great God! Thou hast rewarded me in my search!' was the sentiment that came overwhelmingly into my thankful soul. On casting my eyes all around, seeing and feeling the character (moss-aged, for some of the pieces I saw had pellicles of black moss on them) of the relics before and under me, I felt as I cannot tell what my feelings were what I saw before me was sea-coal of Frobisher's expedition of 1578, left here near three centuries ago!"

A more thorough search in the vicinity undertaken at a later period resulted in the finding of flint-stone; fragments of tile, glass, pottery, an excavation which Hall called an abandoned mine, the ruins of three stone houses, one of which was twelve feet in diameter, with palpable evidence of its having been erected on a foundation of stone cemented together with lime and sand; large pieces of iron time-eaten and weather-worn, which "the rust of three centuries had firmly cemented to the sand and stones in which it had lain."

It will be remembered that of the one hundred men sent out from England with Frobisher in 1578, the majority were miners sent for the express purpose of digging for the rich ore of which Frobisher had carried specimens home on his