In 1870, an Arctic Pole enthusiast by the name of Charles Hall persuaded the United States government that our country needed to be first to plant our flag on the North Pole --- a feat that had been attempted by many European countries without success. The resulting expedition failed to reach the pole, nearly cost the lives of everyone involved, and did result in the death of its leader, Charles Francis Hall. The subsequent investigation resulted in a government cover-up of the mutinous actions by some of the polar party, and in particular, the scandalous accusation that Commander Hall had actually been murdered.

For nearly 100 years, the mystery remained unsolved, until a small group of men undertook to either prove or disprove the theory that Hall had been the victim of a cruel, cold-blooded crime. Bruce Henderson has now researched the original inquests held by the US Navy, personal journals of the members of that ill-fated expedition, as well as the autopsy reports issued as a result of the 1968 team's efforts to uncover the truth. In FATAL NORTH, Henderson's recreation of events as they took place is unquestionably accurate, and is written with such a flair for storytelling that readers will be mesmerized. Following the events as they unfold, one can't help but be astonished at the incredible audacity of the official government investigators to largely ignore or conceal what was so blatantly obvious.

There were, no doubt, many who saw the expedition as doomed from the very beginning, based on the odd mixture of personalities that made up the 1870 US expedition. Charles Hall's credentials for leading such a massive undertaking were limited in many ways. He was neither a scientist nor a ship's captain, but he did have a life-long interest in arctic exploration and had undertaken several trips previous to this official attempt. Unfortunately, there were others in the group, specifically Dr. Emil Bessels, who felt they were far more qualified to lead the exploration. Bessels was a scientist of some repute and anxious from the beginning to exercise more control over the daily excursions and claim any glory for himself. In fact, Bessels became a prime suspect in the death of Hall very early on. Another who fell under the spotlight of suspicion was Sidney O. Buddington, a Sailing-Master with years of experience at the helm in the ice-filled waters of the North Atlantic. Although Hall originally felt Buddington an able, trustworthy seaman; he soon found his confidence misplaced, as Buddington became a drunkard, discipline among the crew eroded, and mutiny became a serious threat.

George Tyson, Hall's original choice for Sailing-Master, was a longtime friend and veteran sailor, who eventually joined the expedition in a somewhat vague capacity. His presence became an irritation to Buddington and created a conflict from the outset. But it was Tyson's strength of character that saved the lives of 18 people, and through his journals, along with those of the other survivors, invaluable details of this historic event were recorded for posterity. Henderson's spellbinding reenactment is both exciting and sobering. His poignant observations on the perils faced by any group attempting to survive in the harsh climate of that region are eloquently woven into this masterful narrative.

"Once beyond the range of the men's voices, Tyson heard no other sound. It was entirely calm: no wind, no movement of any living creature --- nothing but a leaden sky above, ice beneath his feet, and silence everywhere. It hung like a pall over everything. So painfully oppressive did it become that Tyson was tempted to shout aloud to break the spell. At last he did, but no response came, not even an echo."

You needn't be an Arctic adventurer to enjoy and appreciate the moving and suspenseful tale of the fateful expedition of the USS Polaris. You'll only need a strong stomach to cope with the grittier scenes, as these people fought to reach beyond the furthest footsteps of mankind and ended up fighting for their very lives.