Fatal North by Bruce Henderson Page A

brought up from the galley for him.
    â€œThe coffee was too sweet,” he told her. “It made me vomit.”
    Hannah regularly made coffee and tea for the commander. She knew he liked one lump of sugar to a cup. “Too much sugar in it, Father?” she asked.
    â€œNot sugar. Never tasted anything in coffee like that before.”
    That evening, Hall again became very sick, and was in great pain from his constant efforts to vomit. He had a restiess night, and hardly any appetite in the morning. He asked for some arrowroot, but when it was prepared for him he would not eat it. Instead, he had a few bites of preserved fruits—peaches and pineapple. He was also very thirsty.
    When Bessels came in to see him, Hall complained of being chilled. The doctor checked and found Hall had a temperature.
    Next to Hall’s bunk, Bessels heated some little white crystals in a small glass bowl. He carefully mixed it in a clear solutionthat came from a bottle in his medicine bag, filled a hypodermic with the compound mixture, and gave Hall an injection in the leg. The doctor said it was quinine, a standard nineteenth-century treatment for fever.
    Hall’s temperature began to level off and returned to normal.
    The following day, Hall’s temperature remained normal and his appetite improved, but the numbness in his tongue returned. Bessels gave him another injection.
    The next day, Hall’s condition worsened. He had continued numbness of his tongue and mouth, difficulty speaking, and for the first time his mind began to wander. He accused people of trying to do him in. First, he pointed the finger at Buddington, saying the sailing master was after him with a gun. Then he saw “blue vapor” coming out of the mouths of several visitors to his cabin, and believed it was lethal.
    His fears and suspicions soon focused on one man: Dr. Emil Bessels, whom he accused of poisoning him, and even of possessing “an infernal machine” that produced the mysterious vapor. From October 29 until November 4, Hall banned the German doctor from his bedside. During that time Hall, believing there was a conspiracy afoot to poison him, did not eat anything except canned food, and he wanted to open the cans himself. If he was unable to get a can open, he would call on Hannah or Joe to do so, or William Morton, in whom he confided: “They are poisoning me. You won’t leave me, will you?” Hall would oftentimes ask those attending to him to taste his food before he would eat it.
    On November 1, Hall seemed better, and was gaining strength. He was eating more and devoured with gusto a thigh and leg of a grilled hare. He was well enough one afternoon to dress and appear on deck—to the delight of the crew.
    Seaman Noah Hayes wrote in his journal that day: “Captain Hall has grown rapidly better. He seemed to almost literally awake from his sickness, so sudden was the change.”
    Hall called four officers into his cabin—Buddington, Chester,Morton, and Tyson. The commander had something important on his mind. He explained that he intended to resign command of the ship and turn it over to Buddington, while he would retain control over the expedition’s movements. He said he was having the necessary papers drawn up.
    â€œI think I could stand it better without day-to-day responsibility for the ship,” Hall told the assembled officers. “The responsibilities of command have been great upon me, and I have had much worry on my mind. I think I will get well faster, and once I am fit I would have more time to devote to the exploring part of the expedition.”
    Tyson knew only three weeks had elapsed since Hall nearly suspended Buddington due to incompetence, and now he was considering giving the sailing master even more responsibility and control? Because of the measure of this man, Buddington, Tyson knew it would be a mistake. But Hall didn’t ask any of the officers for their