Death of Hall 193 



establish the insularity of Grinnell Land. He is 

 also of opinion that the Lady Franklin Bay of 

 Hayes is another opening to the westward. One 

 of his reasons for this belief is, that the large 

 ice fields met with at the highest latitude reached 

 by the " Polaris," though drifting south, were 

 never seen to the south of Lady Franklin Bay ; 

 and it is his impression that they go up that sound 

 or strait. 



From her furthest point the " Polaris " was 

 drifted to the southward, in consequence of the 

 prevailing north-east winds, until she was able to 

 get into winter quarters in 81° 38' N., in a sort of 

 harbour formed by a small iceberg, on the east side 

 of the strait. Hall died in November, 1871, soon 

 after returning from a short autumn travelling ex- 

 cursion ; and my messmates of the " Polaris " all 

 appeared to be of one opinion, namely, that had he 

 lived the expedition would have been a complete 

 success. Dr. Bessels informed me that his leader's 

 death was caused by apoplexy, materially assisted 

 by his own want of caution when returning very 

 cold from his sledge journey. He arrived on board 

 the ship much chilled at about three in the after- 

 noon, and immediately went below and had some 

 hot coffee, without taking off his furs. At about 

 six o'clock he was taken ill, and died in a few days, 

 being quite insensible for some time before his end. 

 He was a teetotaller, and was much annoyed at 



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