Talk:Polaris expedition

Article improvements

Clevelander: What do you think of the article so far - any improvements you can recommend? I did a complete read of it and made changes, but I'm going to take a break from looking at it now. I think you said you have the Loomis book, if so, perhaps you could find useful references in it regarding the autopsy? My Farley Mowat book has some pictures (more wood cuts), I'm going to try to scan and add at least one of them. (Depending on copyright status.) When it's ready I'll submit for GA status. Zatoichi26 (talk) 03:38, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

It looks good! My main concern here would be in making sure that we balance the accounts of the more controversial figures, particularly Budington, Bessels, and Tyson. Parry has a very partisan view on each, and I think some balance and context from Loomis and others important. I'll get to work! Clevelander96 (talk) 16:02, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

p.s. great map too! I may work to add some PD images of others of the crew, of Hannah and Joe, etc. -- I have many from old newspapers of the era, which would be copyright-free. Clevelander96 (talk) 17:36, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, I was happy with how the map turned out. I am going to get Ninety Degrees North from my local library, to try and substantiate some of the Parry citations. New images would be a great addition. Zatoichi26 (talk) 03:07, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

I've added appropriate images. Also tried to tweak the claims about Budington by Parry, who really sets out to vilify him. Loomis and other sources, the government inquiry among them, all make it clear that, after Hall's death, discipline broke down generally and many of the crew -- including Tyson himself -- were dipping in to the ship's stores of alcohol. Clevelander96 (talk) 15:52, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Nice image additions. I agree with your changes, it makes the article more balanced. Does the Loomis book mention the board of inquiry at all? So far all we have is Parry citations for that paragraph. Zatoichi26 (talk) 01:39, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

Thanks. And yes, Loomis has an entire chapter on the board of inquiry -- I also have a copy of their entire original report. So I can add something on this -- it would be good to have some sense of the more important testimony, such as that of Budington, Bessels, Tyson -- and Joe and Hannah were quite vocal in supporting Hall's belief that he was being murdered. I'll whittle away at it! Clevelander96 (talk) 14:21, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

Bessel(s) et al.

Finetooth, thanks for your excellent suggestions. I will attend to adding citations in the early part of the article, as I'd like to cite sources other than the book by Parry, which I fear bears too much of the weight of citation -- having everything cited from just one volume of pop-history is unwise, I feel.

That's too bad about the map -- these copyright treaties that, willy-nilly, re-copyright works from abroad are, as ever, frustrating and pointless! The suggestion to use an earlier map is a good one, though.

About Bessels: there seems little question that this man's given name was Dr. Emil Bessels -- there is a CDV with his signature here which confirms it. Nevertheless, as the image's caption shows, it was quite common at the time for newspapers and books to drop the "s." It should be Bessels, throughout -- and perhaps I should create a cropped version of the image, to avoid confusion?

I'll tend to these and other things over the next day or two. Clevelander96 (talk) 13:04, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

• I second that, very useful suggestions by Finetooth - thanks! I am working on a new map using the 1915 map from the Canadian gov't site, should be ready soon. Zatoichi26 (talk) 22:29, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Infobox

I believe an infobox:event in the lede section would improve the article. Any objections? Cmguy777 (talk) 22:58, 5 May 2012 (UTC)

Featured article

I believe the Polaris expedition would make a good featured article. Reads like a Hollywood movie, but was an actual event. Cmguy777 (talk) 23:00, 5 May 2012 (UTC)

Photo moved

Photo and caption moved to be replaced by Infobox style. Cmguy777 (talk) 15:28, 7 May 2012 (UTC)

Polaris, from a wood engraving published in Harper's Weekly, 1873