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/.