Wamsley, Douglas W.

English

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232	•	REVIEWSfor	supervising	the	two	detachments	that	sailed	down	the	Lena	from	there	and	east	and	west	from	the	mouth	of	that	river.Bown	 further	 states	 (p.	 80)	 that	 the	 end	 result	 was	a	 “rough	 chart	 of	 the	 coast.”	 In	 reality	 the	 result	 was	 a	remarkably	detailed	map,	produced	in	1746,	and	covering	the	 entire	 Arctic	 coast	 of	 Russia	 and	 Siberia	 (with	 the	exception	 of	 the	 north	 coast	 of	 Chukotka),	 as	 well	 as	Kamchatka,	 the	 Kuril	 Islands,	 and	 the	 south	 coasts	 of	many	of	the	Aleutian	Islands	and	of	parts	of	 the	Alaskan	mainland.	 A	 reproduction	 of	 this	 map	may	 be	 found	 in	Belov	(1956).	 It	 is	worth	noting	 that	 in	 the	case	of	North	America,	the	only	parts	of	the	Arctic	that	had	been	mapped	by	that	date,	with	any	degree	of	detail	at	all,	were	Hudson	Bay,	Hudson	 Strait,	 Foxe	Channel,	 and	 the	 southeastern	coast	of	Baffin	Island.Bown’s	failure	to	recognize	the	full	scope	of	the	Great	Northern	Expedition	does	not	detract	from	the	value	of	his	descriptions	of	Bering’s	own	trans-Pacific	voyage,	however.	This	book	will	appeal	to	a	general	readership,	but	also	to	students	of	Arctic	history	and	specialist	Arctic	historians.	REFERENCEBelov,	M.I.	1956.	Arktichesksoye	moreplavaniye	s	drevneishikh	vremen	do	serediny	XIX	veka.	Istoriya	otkrytiya	i	osvoyeniya	Severnogo	morskogo	puti,	 tom	I	 [Arctic	navigation	 from	 the	most	ancient	 times	until	 the	middle	of	 the	19th	century:	The	history	of	the	discovery	and	development	of	the	Northern	Sea	Route,	Vol.	1].	Moscow:	Izdatel’stvo	“Morskoy	Transport.”William BarrSenior Research AssociateArctic Institute of North AmericaUniversity of Calgary2500 University Drive NWCalgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canadacircumpolarbill@gmail.comPOLARIS:	THE	CHIEF	SCIENTIST’S	RECOLLECTIONS	OF	THE	AMERICAN	NORTH	POLE	EXPEDITION,	1871–73.	 By	 EMIL BESSELS.	 Edited	 and	 translated	 by	WILLIAM BARR.	 Calgary,	 Alberta:	 Arctic	 Institute	 of	North	America	and	University	of	Calgary	Press,	2016.	Northern	Lights	Series	No.	19.	ISBN:	978-1-55238-875-4.	 Translated	 from	 the	 German:	 Die	 Amerikanische	Nordpol-Expedition	 (Leipzig:	 Verlag	 von	 Wilhelm	Engelmann,	 1879).	 xxvii	 +	 608	 p.,	 maps,	 illus.,	 bib.,	notes,	 index.	 Softbound.	 Cdn	 and	 US$44.95.	 Also	available	in	PDF	and	ePub	formats.The	true	story	of	the	fateful	voyage	of	Polaris,	commanded	by	 the	American	 explorer	 Charles	 Francis	Hall	 in	 1871,	remains	 one	 of	 the	 most	 extraordinary	 tales	 in	 Arctic	history.	Emil	Bessels,	an	aspiring	young	German	naturalist	and	 physician,	 served	 as	 chief	 scientist	 and	 medical	officer	 for	 the	 expedition.	Polaris: The Chief Scientist’s Recollections of the American North Pole Expedition, edited	 and	 translated	by	William	Barr,	 provides	 the	first	English	translation	of	Bessels’	original	German-language	narrative	 and	 as	 such	 is	 a	 welcome	 addition	 to	 Arctic	literature	and	to	the	history	of	that	expedition.	In	the	spring	of	1871,	after	a	prolonged	lobbying	effort,	Hall	 persuaded	 the	 U.S.	 Government	 to	 fund	 a	 polar	expedition	with	the	stated	objective	of	reaching	the	North	Pole	 through	 Smith	 Sound.	 Although	 President	 Ulysses	S.	 Grant	 had	 sufficient	 confidence	 in	 Hall	 to	 grant	 him	command	 of	 the	 expedition,	Hall’s	 experience	 had	 been	limited	to	traveling	by	land	with	a	few	Inuit	companions,	journeys	 that	 differed	 significantly	 from	 the	 large-scale	naval	 and	 scientific	 expedition	 contemplated	 for	Polaris. The	expedition	departed	New	York	on	29	June	1871,	but	by	 the	 time	 Polaris	 had	 reached	 Greenland,	 relations	between	Hall	and	his	scientific	corps,	headed	by	Bessels,	had	 seriously	 deteriorated.	 A	 heated	 verbal	 dispute	between	Hall	and	Bessels	was	only	quelled	by	intervention	of	 Captain	 H.K.	 Davenport,	 commander	 of	 the	 supply	steamship	U.S.S.	Congress	accompanying	the	expedition	as	far	as	Qeqertarsuaq	(Godhavn).	Nevertheless,	 under	 favorable	 ice	 conditions,	Polaris achieved	a	record	high	latitude	by	ship	and	made	for	winter	quarters	 in	Polaris	Bay	on	 the	North	Greenland	coast	 in	September	1871.	On	24	October	1871,	Hall	returned	from	a	sledge	journey	and	almost	immediately	took	ill.	He	was	dead	 under	 suspicious	 circumstances	 two	 weeks	 later,	during	which	time	he	had	been	under	Bessels’	constant	care.	After	Hall’s	death,	Sydney	Budington,	the	sailing	master,	assumed	 command.	 The	 following	 spring,	 unsuccessful	attempts	were	made	 to	 the	 north	 by	 boat	 and	 by	 sledge	parties.	 Thereafter,	Polaris	 was	 directed	 southward	 and	became	nipped	in	the	ice.	During	a	storm,	while	19	persons,	including	George	Tyson,	assistant	navigator,	were	on	 the	ice,	Polaris	broke	free	of	its	fastenings	and	disappeared	in	the	storm.	Tyson	and	the	crewmembers	spent	a	harrowing	six	months	on	an	ice	floe	drifting	southward	before	being	rescued.	Those	remaining	on	the	vessel,	including	Bessels	and	 Budington,	 ultimately	 abandoned	 Polaris	 after	reaching	Port	Foulke	and	were	also	rescued.	Other	than	Tyson’s	account	of	the	expedition	and	his	six	months	on	 the	 ice	floe,	published	 in	1874,	no	other	first-hand	English	 language	account	of	 the	Polaris	 expedition	has	 been	 available.	 Thus,	 Barr’s	 translation	 of	 Bessels’	account	serves	to	provide	additional	information	regarding	the	expedition	and	a	point	of	view	previously	unavailable.	Since	 the	 exhumation	 of	 Hall’s	 body	 in	 1968	 and	 the	discovery	 that	 Hall	 had	 ingested	 high	 levels	 of	 arsenic	within	the	last	two	weeks	of	his	life,	Bessels	has	been	the	primary	 suspect	 in	 the	murder	of	Hall,	 so	his	version	of	events	is	particularly	relevant.	Bessels’	 narrative	 adds	 context	 to	 the	 expedition	 in	many	respects,	but	on	perhaps	 the	most	 important	 issue,	the	circumstances	of	the	death	of	Hall,	it	is	unfortunately 	 REVIEWS	•	233GEOCRYOLOGY:	 CHARACTERISTICS	 AND	 USE	OF	 FROZEN	 GROUND	 AND	 PERMAFROST	LANDFORMS.	 By	 STUART A. HARRIS, ANATOLI BROUCHKOV and CHENG GUODONG.	Boca	Raton,	Florida:	CRC	Press,	2018.	ISBN	978-1-138-05416-5.	xliii	+	765	p.,	maps,	b&w	and	colour	illus.,	references,	subject	index.	Hardbound.	US$229.95.	Also	available	as	an	ebook.With	 increased	development	of	 resources	 in	cold	 regions	of	the	world,	these	remote	areas	that	witness	recent	climate	warming	 receive	growing	attention	by	 the	public	 and	by	governments	with	territories	located	at	high	latitudes	or	at	high	elevations.	Information	on	their	natural	environment	is	much	needed	in	order	to	address	issues	associated	with	life	 and	work	 in	 the	 frigid	domain.	The	book	by	Harris,	Brouchkov,	 and	 Cheng	 provides	 pertinent	 information	for	 such	 needs.	 Geocryology,	 which	 is	 the	main	 title	 of	the	book,	is	defined	as	the	study	of	the	effects	of	sub-zero	temperatures	 on	 the	 surface	 layers	 of	 the	 Earth’s	 crust	(p.	 1).	 The	 book	 is	 divided	 into	 three	 parts	 that	 reflect	tightlipped.	 In	 one	 page,	 Bessels	 recounts	 the	 rapid	deterioration	of	Hall’s	health	and	his	death	following	his	return	 from	 the	 sledge	 journey,	 ultimately	 concluding	that	 the	unfortunate	Hall	had	suffered	a	 stroke.	Bessels’	narrative	 sheds	 no	 additional	 light	 on	 the	 mysterious	circumstances	 of	 Hall’s	 death	 or	 who	 may	 have	 been	implicated	in	that	death	if	it	was	murder.	As	for	his	personal	feelings	toward	Hall,	Bessels’	narrative	only	infrequently	questions	Hall’s	skills	as	leader,	and	he	is	guarded	in	his	comments,	making	only	isolated	criticisms.	Bessels	found	Hall	“weak”	in	simply	accepting	Budington’s	opinion	that	farther	 northward	 progress	 in	Polaris	 was	 not	 possible (p.	143).	When	Hall	concluded	that	Polaris should	abandon	the	push	to	 the	north,	Bessels	confided	that	“the	success	of	 the	 expedition	 [was]	 sacrificed	 to	 the	 whim	 of	 an	individual”	(p.	149).	Although	these	unflattering	comments	about	 his	 commander	 reflect	 Bessels’	 disappointment,	nothing	 would	 suggest	 that	 murder	 was	 contemplated.	Similarly,	 Bessels	 makes	 no	 mention	 of	 any	 verbal	disagreements	he	had	with	Hall.	In	 contrast	 to	 his	 restrained	 opinions	 in	 regard	 to	 his	fellow	 participants,	 Bessels’	 descriptions	 of	 the	 natural	world	around	him	were	far	more	unreserved	and	revealing.	He	 was	 an	 astute	 observer,	 and	 his	 narrative	 reflects	his	 inquisitive	 nature	 and	 the	 breadth	 of	 his	 scientific	knowledge.	Within	each	chapter,	his	narrative	interweaves	scientific	details	and	descriptions	of	everything	from	birds,	mammals,	 flora,	 and	 peoples,	 to	 extensive	 commentary	even	 on	 geology	 and	 glaciology.	Bessels	 also	 supplied	 a	115-page	appendix	to	the	narrative	of	physical	observations	(which	 constituted	 an	 extract	 from	 the	 longer,	 separate	volume	 of	 physical	 observations	 published	 in	English	 in	1874).	Bessels	intended	to	publish	his	natural	history	and	ethnographic	observations	in	a	second	volume	of	scientific	observations,	but	the	U.S.	Government	never	provided	the	funding,	so	this	narrative	serves	as	the	only	record	of	those	observations.	 Interestingly,	 notwithstanding	 the	 enmity	between	Bessels	and	Hall,	the	death	of	Hall	and	the	disaster	that	struck	Polaris,	 the	narrative	reflects	Bessels’	faithful	continuation	 of	 his	 scientific	 responsibilities	with	 a	 19th	century	wit	and	humor	that	runs	through	the	narrative.	Bessels	 also	 provides	 additional	 details	 about	 the	wintering	at	Port	Foulke,	to	which	Tyson	was	not	a	witness.	Importantly,	this	aspect	of	the	narrative	demonstrates	that	Bessels	was	obsessed	with	making	a	name	for	himself	 in	geographical	discovery,	and	 it	contradicts	 the	notion	 that	Bessels	 simply	wished	 to	 return	home	after	Hall’s	death.	Following	the	separation	of	the	Polaris	crew	and	the	ship’s	wintering	 at	 Port	 Foulke,	 Bessels	 attempted	 to	 organize	another	attempt	by	sledge,	with	several	 Inuit	 to	assist,	 to	achieve	a	farthest	north	and	perhaps	even	best	the	highest	latitude	achieved	by	the	British	Arctic	Expedition	of	1875–76.	The	trip	ended	in	bitter	disappointment,	as	the	sledge	party	failed	to	reach	as	far	north	as	Polaris	Bay,	the	seat	of	their	previous	winter	quarters;	however,	the	attempt	speaks	to	Bessels’	single-minded	determination	for	geographical	achievement.	William	 Barr’s	 informative	 introduction	 provides	 the	background	to	the	Polaris	expedition,	its	principal	actors,	and,	 just	 as	 importantly,	 the	 broader	 historical	 context	within	which	the	Polaris	expedition	was	set.	At	that	time,	the	pursuit	of	science	and	a	spirit	of	nationalism	motivated	European	and	American	nations	to	actively	enter	the	polar	arena,	hoping	to	make	new	scientific	discoveries	and	leave	their	own	geographic	mark	in	the	far	North.	The	extensive	notes	for	each	chapter	also	serve	to	provide	background	to	Bessels’	comments	and	references	and	place	them	in	their	proper	19th	century	context.	Perhaps	 the	most	 intriguing	 aspect	 of	William	Barr’s	translation	is	the	epilogue,	which	includes	the	publication	of	 tantalizingly	 new	 information	 regarding	 a	 possible	motive	 for	 Hall’s	 murder	 by	 Bessels.	 Correspondence	recently	 identified	 by	 Arctic	 historian	 Russell	 Potter	suggests	that	immediately	before	the	departure	of	Polaris from	New	York,	Hall	and	Bessels	were	both	vying	for	the	affection	of	Miss	Vinnie	Ream,	an	attractive	young	singer.	Hall,	 in	 the	 company	 of	 Bessels,	 visited	Miss	 Ream	 on	several	occasions	while	in	New	York,	and	both	appear	to	have	been	captivated	by	her.	The	 infatuated	Bessels	 sent	an	affectionate	letter	to	her	at	the	time	of	departure,	while	at	the	same	time,	Miss	Ream	was	sending	friendly	letters,	gifts,	and	a	flag	to	Hall.	Could	a	love	interest	have	been	the	motive	for	Bessels	to	murder	Hall?	Perhaps	more	facts	will	be	uncovered	to	answer	that	question.	In	summary,	William	Barr’s	translation	should	appeal	to	those	with	more	than	a	passing	interest	in	Arctic	history	and	to	those	seeking	more	details	about	the	Polaris	expedition	and	its	naturalist	and	scientist,	Emil	Bessels.	Douglas W. WamsleyRidgewood, New Jersey 07540, USAwamsleyd@msn.com

Polaris: The Chief Scientist's Recollections of the American North Pole Expedition, 1871–73, by Emil Bessels; edited and translated by William Barr

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Polaris: The Chief Scientist's Recollections of the American North Pole Expedition, 1871–73, by Emil Bessels; edited and translated by William Barr

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