188 Remarkable Run of the "Polaris." 



had already made one voyage to the Arctic regions, 

 and who had served in the Prussian army during 

 the invasion of France, was the only man of scien- 

 tific attainments in the ship, and the only man, 

 besides Hall and Chester, who felt any enthusiasm 

 for the objects of the voyage. Yet while such a 

 man as Buddington received 120 dollars, the pay of 

 Dr. Bessels was at first only 75 dollars a month. 

 He made the American Government ashamed of 

 their niggardly offer by requesting them to appoint 

 some one to assist him in his astronomical observa- 

 tions, to whom he proposed to transfer his salary. 

 Though they did not accede to his request, they 

 raised his pay to 100 dollars a month. Dr. Bessels 

 is a great friend of Dr. Petermann, and he is con- 

 vinced that the theoretical geographer of Gotha will 

 change his opinion respecting the best route for 

 reaching the pole when he has read the report of 

 his countryman Bessels. Altogether it was an ill- 

 assorted company, without zeal for discovery, with- 

 out discipline or control, and in which every man 

 considered himself as good as his neighbour. Hall, 

 Bessels, and Chester were the only three among 

 them who really desired to reach the pole. 



The most striking fact connected with the voyage 

 is that the " Polaris," in August 1871, went from 

 Cape Shackleton to her extreme northern point up 

 Smith Sound in 82° 16' N. 1 in five days, and even 



1 This latitude was estimated, and was not by observation. 



