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Arctic Experiences: Aboard the Doomed Polaris Expedition and Six Months Adrift on an Ice-Floe
A compelling account of the ill-fated 1871 American expedition to the North Pole recalls the extraordinary story of survival and endurance in the face of the most extreme conditions of weather and starvation.
- GenresHistory
504 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1874
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About the author
George E. Tyson
5 booksGeorge Emory Tyson (1829- ) was a captain of whaling vessels and the assistant navigator of the unsuccessful Polaris arctic expedition (1871).
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December 1, 2008
What is interesting about this edition of the Polaris expedition is that even though the introduction by Mr. Edward E. Leslie was written only a few years ago, it is written very much in the style of Captain Tyson’s narrative [memoirs]. It ties in wonderfully & it is a pity more modern day writers cannot write in the same manner.
The Polaris expedition is one of the amazing tales of survival. To live on so little for so long, & to suffer through so much with no losses, is nothing short of miraculous. And although everyone on the floe suffered, Captain Tyson did so even more than the rest of the crew. He seemed to be the only one truly aware of the plight they were in---& Meyer’s instigating certainly did not make things easier.
Stealing & sabotage ran rapid.
[On page 223] Tyson wrote “ But people can’t die when they want to; and when one is full of life and vigor, &only suffering from hunger he don’t want to die. Neither would you.” Surely, life & vigor are the only things that kept him going. One can certainly understand his bitterness on finding the winter encampment of Buddington & the rest of the crew, with stores of provisions abandoned. “There is one thing certain: These men did not suffer from the want of food or fuel.” But at least Tyson felt that “If it is God’s will that we should die by starvation, why let us die like men, not like brutes.” He was just as worthy as the praise he gave to his own Commander Hall.
The Polaris expedition is one of the amazing tales of survival. To live on so little for so long, & to suffer through so much with no losses, is nothing short of miraculous. And although everyone on the floe suffered, Captain Tyson did so even more than the rest of the crew. He seemed to be the only one truly aware of the plight they were in---& Meyer’s instigating certainly did not make things easier.
Stealing & sabotage ran rapid.
[On page 223] Tyson wrote “ But people can’t die when they want to; and when one is full of life and vigor, &only suffering from hunger he don’t want to die. Neither would you.” Surely, life & vigor are the only things that kept him going. One can certainly understand his bitterness on finding the winter encampment of Buddington & the rest of the crew, with stores of provisions abandoned. “There is one thing certain: These men did not suffer from the want of food or fuel.” But at least Tyson felt that “If it is God’s will that we should die by starvation, why let us die like men, not like brutes.” He was just as worthy as the praise he gave to his own Commander Hall.
Displaying 1 of 1 review