The Gaps

Investigations over nearly a century ago are nearly impossible to complete. Everything- from the memories to the technology- have changed so drastically that it becomes near impossible to sift through the moments to achieve a conclusive answer. It's a challenge that many historians today face- and without absolute certainty, nobody can answer definitively. It is why historians often are called interpreters, as they piece together the world through the evidence, to interpret the history. 

In this case- the Historian writings around the case trump the media of it at the time. There appears only to be snippets of news-articles that cover the case of the Polaris during the time, and the aftermath of them, however- Historians sifting through the accounts and recollections of letters and memoirs have stumbled upon a possible motive for Emil Bessels; that being, a love triangle between him, Charles Francis Hall, and Miss Ream- whom seemed to have the affection of both men. Professor Potter- of Radeska's article "Murder Mystery: Captain Charles Francis Hall Died of Arsenic Poisoning on Way to North Pole: The Vintage News." studied Miss Ream's autobiography, deducing that this may be the possible motive. (Radeska)

This is only speculation, however- over the research on her biography. Outside of that motive- and the Arsenic used to kill Charles being something that Naturalists like Emil would bring on the expedition, there is no way of knowing if this is even correct- or if someone else had done the deed simply to presumably save themselves from what the crew thought was a doomed expedition. It could've even been a collaborative effort- a mutiny by the crew. Nobody is certain- but historians today, mimicking the voices of bystanders at the time, put their suspicion on Emil Bessels as the likely culprit. The answer is unfortunately, forever lost to time...

1. Radeska, Tijana. “Murder Mystery: Captain Charles Francis Hall Died of Arsenic Poisoning on Way to North Pole: The Vintage News.” Thevintagenews, 10 Oct. 2017, www.thevintagenews.com/2017/10/11/murder-mystery-captain-charles-francis-hall-died-of-arsenic-poisoning-on-way-to-north-pole/.

The Media Coverage

Even at the time, reporters and newsletters of the event had many doubting the word of Bessels. Even the Fire-chief, many years later, seemed to question his word during a comment about the fire at his house. "He may know more than the Surgeon is letting on". The media was quite vocal of their suspicion, despite the Naval-Board's ruling. Of course, nowadays this would be grounds for defamation or slander, however- news was a lot more disorganized back then. This article snippet is from the Semi-Weekly-South-Kentuckian.

Emil Bessels had to emphatically claim his innocence, however, that never stopped people from believing what they willed, and suspicion of him seemed widespread, for what little media-coverage there was. In the Alexandria Gazette, he proclaims his testimony, backed up by the engineer- a friend of Bessels.

Timeline

 It's 1860. The First Foray

    Charles Francis Hall, a new explorer, was about to embark on his first expedition to learn the fate of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition, that had departed England nearly 2 decades ago in 1845. The lost Expedition was set to explore the northwest passage, yet they would suddenly disappear, never to be heard from or seen again. Charles Hall was a researcher and explorer- but only for a few years. He'd only begun to be interested in the artic, and the story of the Franklin Expedition, just 3 years prior. Until then, according to sparse information on his background, he'd been living life in Ohio, being an engraver, blacksmithing apprentice, and even a journalist- when he published his paper, the Cincinnati Occasional. That same paper would later become the Daily Press. 

    Still, Charles was infatuated with finding the lost expedition, arriving in Frobisher Bay up in the chilly north of Canada, setting out to find any survivors of the waylay crews. While he did not find the Franklin expedition, he did meet with the Inuit tribes, which had told him of Frobisher's expedition and their relics amid the island. Francis analyzed these relics, and had an inkling that he may not only have an idea where the Franklin expedition had gone- but that they were still among the living. He returned home, beginning to pen a few books on what he'd learned, before setting out once more on the waves.

However, notably, he would run into conflict with his editor, A man equally invested in the lost-expedition's fate.

It's 1864. The Repulse-Bay Expedition.

Charles set about once more to seek the survivors of this expedition. He began towards Repulse Bay in a small Whaling ship, the Monticello. It was a small exploring-force, which wasn't originally intended for this expedition. Charles actually had attempted to command a Navy Schooner; however, funding was tight- as the United States was still embroiled in a civil war. Notably, he was also known to clash with the second-in-command, so the plan was scrapped in favor of something a bit more practical. Francis arrived at the Island to find no sign of the survivors, but he did uncover evidence to the fate of the expedition. He interviewed the native population of Inuit tribespeople to try and piece together the story as to the expedition but found himself unable to conclude much due to his suspicion that his findings were unreliable. 

Tension in the crew would suddenly explode. Charles was a very volatile man, and incredibly critical of the crew he'd hired. This latest string of frustrations pushed him to a confrontation with his crew, which he (Charles Francis Hall) recorded in his journal "suddenly would burst in mutinous conduct" (Hall 1).  He ended up firing a shot at a man. That same crewman would die a few days later. The whaling-crew shipped off, leaving Charles at the island. He lived with the Inuit tribe for a time, before returning to the United States.

It's 1871. The Polaris Expedition.

Taking the reins of a crew aboard the steamer-schooner "Polaris", Charles took command of a new expedition- the final hurrah for the travelled and now experienced expedition Commander. Charles was allotted funds of 50,000 dollars by Congress for this expedition to the North Pole. He assembled his own experienced team, that he knew well. They embarked for Thank God Harbour, arriving just before the winter.

By November 8th, after falling deathly and violently ill, Charles Francis Hall passed-away in the bay aboard the very ship he once commanded. 

While at the time it was thought he had perished to some sort of ailment or complication with the harsh weather- it was incredibly suspicious. Not even four days ago, Hall had accused the ship's Surgeon 'Emil Bessels' of "wanting to poison him" (Testimony- Captain George E. Tyson [2]). However, Emil was not the only suspect. In fact, this ill-fated expedition began with the team instantly fragmenting. Charles was not well-liked by the rest of the expedition and drew ire from a majority of the bunch. However, the expedition not only disliked Charles, but distrusted each-other.

They buried Hall in now Hall Basin, and began once more towards the North Pole, under the command of another crewman. However, their endeavor for the North Pole would be cut short, as heavy ice floundered the Polaris. They escaped aboard a passing Whaling-ship, returning home. Hall would be the only casualty of this doomed expedition.

It's 1968.

A case, once lost to time, is re-opened when large amounts of Arsenic is discovered in Charles Francis Hall's body, confirming that he did not die from a random illness, but likely, had perished from Arsenic poisoning.

1. Hall, Charles Francis. Narrative of the Second Arctic Expedition: Voyage to Repulse Bay, Sledge Journeys to The Straits of Fury and Hecla and to King Williams Land, and Residence among the Eskimos during the Years 1864-69, Edited under the Orders of the Secretary of the Navy. Washington: Govt. Print. Off., 1879.

2.  Kai, Chihiro. “The Murder Mystery Linking a Bird Specimen at the National Museum of Natural History to the Mysterious Death of an Arctic Explorer.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 31 Oct. 2024, www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-of-natural-history/2024/10/31/the-murder-mystery-linking-a-bird-specimen-at-the-national-museum-of-natural-history-to-the-mysterious-death-of-an-arctic-explorer/.

Introduction

A Northwest Passage.

Franklin's Lost Expedition.

Humans had always sought to chase the horizon. The view of a vast scrape of land- no matter how treacherous or hostile, people would find themselves making trails and warm sanctuaries to dot the untouched landscape. Many times, this would lead to tragedy. Lost explorers, or elements too severe. These expeditions would be lost to time, claimed by the land that they had so softly travelled. Franklin's Expedition, unfortunately, befell such a fate.

Humans also had a habit of seeking an answer. Franklin's expedition had disappeared, and many wanted to know why. Yet, try as they might, the northern atmosphere was simply too harsh and cold. It was years of travel, tending aboard a ship that could split the frosted ocean. Very few could muster the courage and the will to last through such a trip.

We'll follow the story of one Charles Francis Hall: an explorer, author, researcher, and the man who wished to answer this question, once and for all. 

We will go over his expeditions into this artic ocean- to learn the circumstances of the lengths he'd cross to accomplish this goal- and, notably, the mysterious circumstances of his death, that to this day just like the Franklin Expedition, remains unsolved.

Overview

The Polaris Expedition

    The boards are creaking. The ship's oaken frame groans against the gentle waves of the passage, a weary old hull of an exploring vessel, a screw-steamer schooner, sleek and agile for the time. The boilers usually brewed a fiery inferno, to contrast the deathly chill of the northern passage's frosty air. Yet, it was calm and cold, as the boat rocked in the gentle bay.

The search for Franklin's lost expedition was still on the minds of eager, hardy explorers. The ill-fated expedition of Franklin's, it in itself a mystery, would lead to the death of one more.

A troubled team of researchers, headed by a particular figure- it's troublesome Commander. Known for his many claimed credits- some of which are disputed, this particular crew had been through hellish waters to seek this lost expedition. Yet, it seems, while death was a common occurrence, one would stand out above the other incidences for its suspicious quality.

A split team, and a crew seemingly tight-lipped about the happenings aboard the ship. The Command of the expedition would suddenly experience a bout of madness and illness, leading to a brutal death, and a sudden end to his life. Some say murder by a rival, others say mutiny, but what happened aboard the Polaris- to Charles Francis Hall- is still lost to the fog of the Canadian bay.