Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-08-09
From the National Fra.
Expedition to the Dead Sea and the Jordan. =

From the National Fra.
Expedition to the Dead Sea and the Jordan.s
After the surrender of the town and
castle of Vera Cruz Lieutenant Lynch APP
piled for permission to make thorough
exploration of the Dead Sea. When but
young midshipman, he tells US, almost
the very least i'll the escort Of the good La
fayette, he was seized with an insatia:e
yearning to look upon the country which
was the cradle Of the human race, and the
theatre of the accomplishment Of that RAJ
ces mysterious destiny the soil hallowed
by the footsteps fer,ilized by the blood and
consecrated by the tomb, OF the Saviour
His application was granted, and he
was ordered to take command of the Uni
ted States storeship Supply proceeded
TO Smyrna, and solicit through Mr. Cass,
American Minister at Constantinople, per-
mission from the Sultan to pass through
his dominions for the purpose of explo-
ring the Dead Sea, and tracing the Jordan
to its source If the favor was refused,
he was to rejoin his squadron if granted,
he was directed TO relinquish the ship to
the first lieutenant, and land with his par
ty on the coast of Syria, while the ship
was 10 proceed, with It's stores, to the
squadron, and Commodore Read was or
dered TO send her back in time for their
re-embarkation.
During the time required for laying in
stores, the Lieutenant had two metallic
boats constructed, one Of copper, the 9TH
err of galvanized iron, and he shipped ten
seamen, young, muscular, sober, native
Americans, for their crew. Two officers,
Lieutenant J. B. Dale, and Passed Mid
shipman Aulick, were detailed 10 assist
him. F. E. Lynch was appointed to the
charge of the Helburiam; Henry Bedlow,
Esq, and DR. J. Anderson were associa-
ted with the expedition as Volunteers
Air-tight gum elastic water bags were
procured; and necessary equipments for
safety OF life and limb in their perilous
and novel undertaking.
November Goth, lS47, he sailed from
New York, and, having touched Gibraltar
and Port Mahon, on the 9Th Of February,
lS4S, entered the Gulf of Smyrna.
AS we passed, the Bay Of Vourla o.
pened OH our right, and on the left were
some remarkable green hills, and beyond
them, long, very long, low track, with
barely visible assemblage Of white dots
still beyond. Ii was Ismir, Infidel Ismir
Christian Smyrna! The setting sun en-
purpled the neighboring mountains, gild-
ing here, and showing there, in one soft,
yet glorious hue, lending characteristic
enchantment to our first view of an ORR
entail City,
He landed in Smyrna, spent day or
two there, of which be gives an animated
description, and on the 18th embarked for
Constantinople, where he landed on the
10th. In the short period spent here,
waiting the result Of his application for
the frman, he saw everything that was to
be seen. and jotted down his ideas with
freshness and piquancy for which our A
merican travellers are famed.
March 9th, receiving the long-expected
frman, in half an hour after, he was on
board the steamer Hellespont, on the 9Th
rcioined the Supply and on the 10th
sailed from Smyrna, for the coast Of Sy-
ria. Chased by Levanter, they took
refuge from its fury in the Bay Of Scio,
and visited the city in ruins. Weighed
anchor on the l4th, but, encountering an
other gale, bore away for Scala Nouva, on
the coast of Asia Minor, where, while
weather bound, they visited the ruins of
Ephesus. Set sill again, all day OIL the
Narrative Of the United States Expedition Of the Jo
dan and the Dead Sea, F. w. Lynch, U. s. n, Com
mander Of the Expedition-wth maps and numerous H.
ustra,ions philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard For sale