The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-07-06


SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.-The London papers give
an interesting account of the sailing of the North
STAR the vessel fitted out by Government for the
Arctic regions in search of Sir John Franklin's ex-
peditlon. The vessel was towed out 10 sea bv the
war steamer StrOmboli. She was visited bT The
Lords of the Admiralty previous to her sailing, to-
gether with master shipwright, to see that every
thing was properly fitted for their long and danger
Gus voyage.
The North Star is a vessel Of 500 tons burden.
and has been recently fitted out at Sheerness, ac
eordlng 10 the most approved principles to render
II capable of eneOuneFing the dangers incidental
to the navigation of the Polar seas The hull has
been cased over with timber until it has attained a
thickness of three feet Of solid wood and in ad
dltlon to this the bow-whch is Of course the most
exposed part of the vessel-has an extra casing
projecting couple of feet beyond the ships sides
10 prevent its being stove in by the masses Of float
ing ice which the vessel may expect to eneountn
during her voyage. The crew of the North Star
numbers about forty, and the majority of the hands
are young, active men. There are twelve officers
several of whom, in common with the commander
Capt John SaundeFs9 have previously experienced
the hardships of Polar navigation
The warm clothing for the crew consists of fur
caps which wrap round the head, and cover all lint
the bare features; gloves of the same material; ;
and pilot coats of thick rough CLOTH lined several
times through with flannel, with trOwsers of sim
liar character In addition TO these there are boots
Of thick felt, made to come above the knee and
having COFk 6Oi6S TOUR OF flNe lnCneS thickness
Snow shoes, the outer frames made of wood, with
lining of deerskin have also been provided for the
use of eXpeditionary parties among the crew.
The apparatus for warming the ship has been
hxed in the gun-roOm, an apartment appropriated
for the officers mess From the furnace conner
tubes extend through all the sleeping and other
cabins; and the heat circulated by this means is so
Intense that, during our visit on board, in about
quarter of an hour after the stove had beenighted
every part of the vessel was thoroughly warmed
~ Al. L. III
With view of keeping the temperature of the ship
as warm as possible, the port holes are provided
with felt Innings, so that when required they can
be rendered perfectly air tight.
The stores with which the hold Of the ship is
crowde , consist Of preserved meats slowed away
~ barrels of saw dust, preserved potatoes in air
ught iron boxes, with the usual supply Of biscuits
and salt junk. Large quantities of coal and wood,
and barrels of oil and tar have likewise been
shipped on board, with copper sufficient to cover
me bottom OF the vessel, in the event of this being
found necessary.
The North Star is furnished with the usual com.
plement OF ice anchors, Tvs, axes and chisels.
The anchors are an improvement on those pre-
Vlousiy used The saws are twenty feet in length
with stout projecting teeth The use to which
these are applied is 10 release the vessel, in the
event Of its becoming frozen in with tbs ice These
lee-saws are sometimes worked from the shin ITSELF
but more frequently strong triangular scafolding
Is erected with steps at one side the upper part
of this scaffolding end Of the saw is slung, by
means Of a pulley, and at the other end of the saw
a couple Of hundred weight are suspended. A
number Of small ropes are attached to the main
rope which rams over the pulley, and these are
gfasped by the young men, who ascend and de-
scend the steps the scaffodng and raise or drop
the saw, according TO their movements.
Several ships boats have been presented 20 the
captain and crew of the North Star; one of these
is Of immense strength Of build, and is sufficiently
large to hold the entire crew, with several weeks
supply Of provisions