The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-01 00:00:00

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN AUSTIN, C.B.
The Chairman (addressing Captain Penny, who
was present) said—Before we commence the pro-
ceedings I must inform you the committee have de-
termined on allowing you to be present during the
examination of Captain Austin and his officers. We
think it is rather a stretch of fairness, as no accusation
is brought against any of the officers in your expedi-
tion ; but it is proper that all parties should be in a
position to correct any misrepresentations that may
be made, and we therefore allow you to be present.
The Chairman (to Captain Austin)—Are you pre-
pared to go into your evidence now ? Captain Aus-
tin—l am perfectly ready to answer any questions
that may be proposed to me, reserving the privilege,
which I may hereafter have occasion for, of referring
to my notes and to documents, some of which I shall
refer to with great reluctance if it become necessary.
With that privilege I am ready to go into the exami-
nation.

Chairman—The first question the committee wish
to put is in reference to your opinions respecting re-
ports contained in your letter of the 11th August,
1850, as to Adam Beck. Do you continue to consider
that the examination at that time was a full and suffi-
cient one, and do you still entertain the same opinion li
as to that story ? Captain Austin—l do, precisely.
I consider that everything was gone into, and that
every one who was present agreed that the conduct of
Adam Beck was most discreditable.
Chairman—To what circumstances do you allude
that have not been detailed in reference to Adam
Beck ? Captain Austin—Everything bas since been
borne out by the conduct of Adam Beck.
Chairman—What do you allude to ? Captain
Austin—l allude to his stopping back, and to what
passed when he was landed, which Captain Onaman
ney can speak of better than I can—to his conduct
when with Sir John Ross. He was a man in whom
no faith could be placed, from his irregular conduct,
and I believe drunkenness. I think he was about the
worst description of a civilized savage I ever saw.
Chairman—Do you consider that from Ponds Bay
on the south, to Cape Warrender on the north, have
been properly searched, and all the points as far as
Lancaster Sound ? Captain Austin—Yes ; 1 believe
it has all been thoroughly examined.
Chairman—And you extend that answer both north
and south as far as Lancaster Sound ? Captai❑
Austin—Yes ; I believe that from Ponds Bay to Port
Leopold has been thoroughly examined. Searching
and examination are two different things; this coast
has bee❑ most satisfactorily examined.
Chairman—Do you consider that the whole of the
south coast as far as Port Leopold and Ponds Bay has
been thoroughly examined ? Captain Austin—Yes,
most thoroughly examined.

Chsirmanl-What were your proceedings after pass-
ing Port Leopold ? Did you get to Cape Riley and
find the first traces of the expedition ? Captain Austin
—We proceeded to Cape Riley, rounding Beechey
Island, where I was detained.

Chairman—Give an account of your further pro-
ceedings. When did you receive information of the
discovery of Sir John Franklin's winter quarters ?
Captain Austin—The moment I reached the fast ice
at Union Bay where the vessels were lying, Com-
mander Phillips came out and assisted in leading
Resolute in, and from whom I heard of the graves.
I was up all night, and was unequal to go on shore.
At length Captain Penny and I went together to the
graves, and then considered that here were the winter
quarters.

Chairman—ln fact you discovered undoubted
traces] of the missing expedition ? Captain Austin—
I saw that there were traces of the expedition having
wintered there.

Chairman—What was the next step you took ?
Captain Austin—l accompanied Captain Penny and
some other officers to the top of the hill at Beechey
Island ; while there we went to a cairn, took it down,
and examined it to a certain extent, but not in a way
we were satisfied it should be examined. We then
returned to the ship. Both of our searches were made
at this cairn. Nothing do I recollect being found at
this moment more than a few shot. I beg to hand in
my report. . .

Chairman—ln paragraph 8 of your letter to the
Admiralty of the 14th of July, 1851, you state that
you consider that the departure of the expedition was
somewhat sudden ? Captain Austin—Yes ; lam of
that opinion. There were a number of coal bags and
other materials left about, which it is not probable
would have been left unless the missing expedition
had gone away suddenly, or if they had been prose-
cuting. There was a great deal of burning material,
coal bags, and other things, which evidently proved
to me that they had gone out rapidly, or wore not
advancing.
Chairman—What quantity of coal bags was there ?
Captain Austin—Perhaps a dozen altogether.
Chairman—All empty ? Captain Austin—Yes. I
brought away tour. There might have been more
than a dozen.

Chairman—What were your :further proceedings
afterwards ? Captain Austin—l will go on with my
narrative. I proceeded as far as was in my power. I
will explain what I mean by the word power. I con-
aidered it was my duty to go to the westward, looking
to the westward position as being one of difficulty,
and that if anything should have to be done in the
Wellington Strait I could return ; and further, that it
was necesary then, from what I saw of the state of
the ice, to be prepared for making arrangements for
the forthcoming season for action, the present season
of navigation being evidently. closing very fast. As
ROOD as possible after opportunity offered we proceeded
to the westward.
Admiral Fanshawe—When you speak of proceed-
ing to the westward, was it in pursuance of your
orders to use every possible exertion to get to Mel-
ville Island? Captain Austin—Yes, most un-
doubtedly it was. I used every every exertion to
get to Melville Island.
Captain Austin continued his narrative—We were
stopped at the south end of Griffith Island, and there
the expeditions were together, with the exception of
that of Sir John Ross in the Felix. After reaching
this spot Captain Penny cam@ on board, and con-
versed upon the matter fully, the subject being the
operations that should now be entered into to insure
the accomplishment of our object, at the same time
offering to convey Captain Penny or one of his officers
to examine an apparent lead to the south-west. I
refer to my circular which I addressed to Lieutenant
De Haven, in command of the American expedition.
I think you will find that Captain Penny did not
receive it.
Chairman—ls it dated the 11th of September,
1850 ? Captain Austin—Yes, it is. The substance
of it was a conversation between Captain Penny and
myself when he came on board.
Chairman—You had better read it, and it will be-
come part of the evidence.
Captain Austin—The substance of this circular
was gone into in conversation with Captain Penny.
Captain Ommanney came on board, and there was a
question about some dark clouds in the south-west,
near Cape Walker. Looking to the state of the ice,
which was drifting to the southward, and the weather
generally, I thought it would be anything but the
duty of an Arctic navigator to proceed. Captain
Penny's vessels were moving about from one part of