The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-10-08
SIR JOHN

since we copied intelligence from the
American Expedition of Search in the
Artic regions, rather uhfavorable 10 the
hope that Sir John Franklin's party is yet
in the land Of the living. The following
from the same paper is Of a bearing con
firmatory of that news:
Traces OF Sra JonN FRANKLrN-AMER-
Q A ExPEDlTIoN.-News from the Ameri-
can Exploring Expedition to the 18th
September, 1850, has been received in
England, in a lettor addressed to the ad-
miralty. Ut is transmitted by the master
of the barque True Love, in a letter as
follows:
~ DAVIS STRAITS, July "a. 1851.
t"My Lords: May it please your Lord
ships to receive at my hands the enclosed
testimony, received on the 18th of July.
of the American searching vessels, OF the
account Of their voyage in search of Sir
John Franklin. On the 18th of Septem-
Der, 1850, they left all the searching ves-
sells at Cape Martyrs, CORVALLIS Island,
they not being enabled to pursue any fur
ther westward direction from that date.
A harbor, called the Assistant Harbor, dis
covered by Captain Ommanney, three
miles south ofCape Martyrs. was the place
in selection by them to winter in. The
bay ice was ioaming very strong at that
time, yet the Advance and Rescue were
determined to proceed homewards; but.
unfortunately, however, a gale sprang up
and drove them up Wellington Channel
fifty miles, and afterwards they were fro
zen in. The American Captain, De Ha-
ven, told me that the winter was very mild.
and that he can give no further particulars
respecting Sir John Franklin than the en-
closed account. He said he was deter
mined to 60 TO the seat of search again,
after having wintered; and all the docu.
ments received from the admiralty, and
others | gave to him.
JOHN PARKER. Master Of the True Love-"
MEMORANDA.
81. On the 26th of August, 1850, traces
were found TO northward Of Port Innis.
Wellington Channel, confirming those
previously found at Cape Riley by Cap
tain Ommanney. These consisted offrag-
ments of clothing, preserved meat tins,
and scraps Of papers, one of these bear.
ing the name of M'Donald, medical Off
Ger in the expedition.
"2. On the eth, Capt. Penny's parties
reported graves. These were at once
visited by Captain De Haven, Mr.. Penny,
and DR.. Kane. They bore respectively
the names Of w. Braine, R. NJ, and John
Hartnell, of the Erebus; and John Tor
rington, of the Terror. the date Of the
latest death being the Sd of April, 1886.
THESE persons belonged to -Franklin's
crew. Added to these sad but unmistak-
able evidences, were the remains of the
observatory, carpenters shop, and m
rers' forge. Upon the hill side and beach
were fragments of wood, metal, and cloth
ing, with stacks Of empty meat tins. Eve
rything indicated permanency and organ
~ization. There can be no doubt that the
cove between Cape Riley and Beechy ISL
and, facing Lancaster Sound. was the first
winter station of the missing vessels. On
the 3lst OF September the impervious ice
of the Wellington Channel underwent a
complete disruption, and by the 9th sew
eral vessels penetrated to the CORVALLIS
side. Such. however, was the inlpenetra-
bic character Of the pack in Lancaster
Sound that by the 10th of ~September'the
entire searching squadron were again con-
centrated about eight miles south of Grif-
fth's Island. This was the lurthest west
ing attained by the American expedition.
the latest dates from Commodore Austin
are of the 18th Of September.
They were then in momentary eypec-
tation Of making winter quarters. and il
is probable that a small harbor discovered
by Capt. Ommanney. about three miles
east of Cape Martyrs, will be the haven
selected. Thence the American vessels.
while proceeding homeward. were frozen
in. opposite Wellington Channel, drifting
during the ensuing winter from a latitude
Of rs 25 throughout the channel and sound
of Baf1in's Bay.
r. Their liberation, after much exposure
and trial, took place on the 10th OF June.
1851, at a point south of Cape Walsing-
ham IS 3O-a linear drift exceeding 1850
miles. The commotion of the ice with its
attendant uncertainty wastheir chief source
oftrial. Every officer and man had mark.
ed scorbutic disease, but no deaths have
occurred. The crews are now refreshed,
and the expedition is endeavoring to re-
gain the seat of search-I have, &C.,
sE. X. KANE, Surgeonto the Expedition"
The London News. ofthe 10th inst, gives
great importance TO these notes, and says:
1.-THE intelligence of traces of Sir John
Franklin and his companions has been
scanned with eagerness by the veteran
Arctic explorers now reposing on their
~laurels at Woolwich, and many of them
are sanguine in the expectation that they
may yet have the pleasure of welcoming
at least the surviving portion of the noble
crews who left Woolwich in May. 1916
with the Erebus and Terror. 1t may be
|. .L..-l.a.Ia l-.e... Al AZ tho Dnxrnl Marin<