The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-15
Traces of Sir John Franklin---Amcricau Expe
ditiOn,

Traces of Sir John Frankln---Amcrican Expe.
/ dition.
News from the American Exploring
Expedition to the 18th September, 1850
has been received in England, in letter
to the Admiralty. 1t is transmitted by
the master of the barquc True Love-
The persons whose graves are mentioned
belonged TO Franklin's crew.
"DAvIs STRAITS, July "a, 1851.
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 vessels at Cape
Martyrs, Cornwallis Island, they not be-
ing enabled to pursue any further west
ward direction from that date. A har-
Dor called the Assistant Harbor, discov-
cred by Captain Ommanny, three miles
south Of Cape Martyrs, was the place in
selection by them to winter in. The bay
ice was forming very strong at that time,
yet the Advance and Rescue were deter
mined to proceed homewards but, un-
fortunately, however, gale sprung 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 particu-
lars respecting Sir John Franklin than
the enclosed account. He said he was
determined to go to the seat of search
again after having wintercd and all the
documents received from the Admiralty
and otherers gave to him.
MEMORANDA.
81. On the Goth of August, 1850, ira
cere were found to the northward of Port
Innis, Wellington Channel, confirming
those previously found at Cape Riley by
Captain Ommanney. These consisted of
fragments of clothing, preserved meat tins,
and scraps of papers, one Of these bearing
the name of Mcdonald, medical officer in
the expedition.
80. On the 9th, Captain Pcnny's par
ties reported graves. These were at
once visited by Capt. De Haven, Mr..
Penny and DIR. Kane. They bore res
pectively the names of w. Braine, r. M.
and John Hartnell, Of the Erebus, and
John Torrington of the Terror, the date
of the latest death being the Sd of April.
1916. Added to these sad but unmistaka-
bic evidences were the remains of the
observatory, carpenters shop, and armor-
cr's forge. Upon the hill side and beach
were fragments of wood, metal, and cloth
ing, with stacks of empty meat tins. Ev-
cry thing indicated permanency and Or
ganization. There can be no doubt that
the cove between Cape Riley and Beechy
Island, 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
complete disruption, and by the 9th, sew
eral vessels penetrated to the CORVALLIS
side. Such, however, was the impene-
trable 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 furthest
westing attained by the American expe-
dition. The latest dates from Commo-
dore Austin are of the 18th of September.
"They were then in momentary eNpec-
tation Of making winter quarters, and it
is probable that 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 latitude
of 1925 throughout the channel and sound
to Baffin's Bay.
"Their liberation, after much exposure
and trial, took place on the 10th Of June,
1851, at a point south of Cape Walsingham
65.3O-a linear drift exceeding 1850
miles. The commotion of the ice, with its
attendant uncertainty, was their chief
source of trial. Every officer and man
had marked scorbutic disease, but no
deaths have occurred. The crews are
now refreshed, and the expedition is cn-
deavoring TO regain the search.
81 have, &C.,
"E. A. KANE,
"Surgcon to the Exhibition"
The London News of the 10th instant