American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-02
The Expedition I'm Search OF SIR John
Franklin.

voyage undertaken in philanthropy, full OF
peril, full of incident and successful in eyery-
| thing but the great object of her search. The
first grand cause for triumph is, that all her
hardship, enterprise and danger have not cost
the sacrifice of a single life. How eminently
this blessing is owing to protecting and ever
watchful Providence viii be apparent from a
| simple narrative of the incidents that befel the
expedition, and the peculiar trials by which
the Advance was tested, in those hitherto un-
known and untrayeled seas. Truly God was
on the waters shaping the destiny of this great
mission of charity, even though fated not to
discover the long-lost wanderer. But let us
begin our narrative:
The American Expedition entered yelling
toms Sound on the Goth of August, 1850, where
they met Captain Perry with the Lady Frank
lin and Sophia, and were afterwards joined by
Sir John Ross and Commodore Austin. On the
9th Captain Perry discovered unmistakable
evidence of Franklin's first winter quarters
three graves with inscriptions on wooden head
boards, dating as late as April, 1916. Their
inmates, according to these inscriptions, were
OF his crew-two from the Erebus and one from
the Terror. There were, beside fragments Of
torn canvas, articles of clothing, wood, and
cordage, undoubted evidence of large and
long encampment but affording no indications
which would serve as guides to the searchers or
give assurance to hope
On the 9th of September the expedition
forced through the ice to Barlow's Inlet, the
ultimate limit of their western progress. From
this they set sail on the 18th, with the inten-
ton of returning to the United States, but were
| locked in near the mouth of Wellington's Chan
mel.
Here commenced those perlous adventures,
any thing comparable to which were never en-
i
ern icedrift they were helplcssly drfted to 75o
25/ north latitude, and thence drifted again
into Lancaster Sound, somewhat, we should
say, in southeasterly direction. The agita-
ton of the ice elevated the "Advance nearly
seven feet by the stern, and keeled her two feet
eight inches starboard. In this position she
remained, with some slight changes, for five
consecutive months. And while in it, the
depth of winter closed its frozen terrors around
the expedition. The polar night fell upon them,
and for eighty days no ray of solar light broke
upon them. The thermometer (Fahrenheit)
ranged 40 degrees below zero, and sometimes
sank to 46. Early in this awful night (Novem-
Der 5th,) the Rescue was abandoned, for the
purpose of economizing the fuel and the crews
of both vessels determined to brave their fate
together. They every moment expected the
| embracing ice would crush the vessel to atoms
and consequently stood prepared, sleeping in
| their clothes with knapsacks on their backs, to
| try chances on the ice, mid storm, and terror,
and night. For this terrible trial they had
made every preparation-had provision sledged,
and every thing in readiness which might be
useful for such journey. They were then 80
miles from land, and 80 certainly did they ex-
pect that they should make this alarming trial,
that on two occasions 18th December and 23d
january the boats were actually lowered, and
pWQ Qcoar a1 on fha loo 10
tastrophe.
During this period the scurvy became cpl
demic, and assumed an alarming character
Its progress defed all the usual remedies, and
only three men escaped the attack. Capt De
Haven was himself the greatest sufferer. The
constant use of fresh water obtained from
melted ice, active mental and physical exertion
and the care of Divine Providence, arrested any
fatal result; and the disease yielded to q bey-
erage composed of a sort of apple tea and lemon
juice. After entering Bafins bay, Jan. 1877
the ice became fixed, and the little expedition
became stationary and fast in the midst of a
vast plain of ice, ninety miles from any land
The stores, materials and cordage were slowed
away in snow-houses erected on the ice, and
sort of encampment was formed, with all the
appearance, if not the solidity, of terra frma.
The table of ice varied from three to eight feet
in thickness.
Nor was this situation Of peril and awe with
out its attractions. Auroras Parhelia (mock
suns) and mock moons Of the most vivid lustre
succeeded one another without intermission
and as day approached, the twilights, streaking
the northern horizon, were wildly beautiful
AT length the god of day showed his golden
face, (18th Feb.,) and was hailed with three
hearty American cheers. Gradually his inhu-
ence was felt, and the waxen-like color of the
- - Al -. Il.
duced, gave place to freckles and tan The dis
ease, too, quickly disappeared.
On the 18th of May the Rescue was re-occu-
pied.
The disruption of the ice was sudden and up
palling. In twenty minutes from it's first mov-'
ing, the vast field, far the eye could reach,
became one mass of moving foes, and the ex-
petition once more drifted southwark BY
continued providential assistance it passed the
perils Of Lancaster Sound and Baffin's Bay, and
on the 10th of June emerged into open water,
latitude 60 deg. 30 m. north, little south of
the arctic circle being thus released from an
Imprisonment of nearly nine months, during
which they helplessly drifted LOGO miles. |
While in Lancaster Sound the roar of the roll |
ing water and tumbling ice exceeded all earth |
ly tumult, and was sometimes so loud and
stunning as to render both voice and hearing
useless
Capt. De Ravens first care on his escape was
to repair damages and restore the health and
yigor of the crews. With that object he visited
Greenland, where he reftted After short
delay, with unabating courage and un6inching
purpose, he once more bore northward On
the 7th of July the expedition spoke some
whalers, and on the 9Th passed the whaling
feet by the Dutch islands, there arrested by
the ice. BY the 18th the expedition reached
Bafhn's island, and entered through vast masses
of loose ice. Here the Prince Albert Joined
They continued in company till August Sd,
warping through the ice, when the Prince deter
mined to try the southern passage De Haven
persevered in his course until the 9Th, when he
| became completely entnnpled in foes and herns