Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-10-16
The American Expedition in search Of
Sir John franklin.

The Advance, one Of Of the two vessels sent
out nv Mr.. Henry Gsinnells in May 1850 re"
r,,urned TO New York., on the 30th uit. The
Rescue, her consort vas expected ]" a day or
two. @
We subiosp a few particulars Of the voyage
0On the night of the 18th September, after
ror,ino with the British ships, anGb she Advance
and the Rescue were frozen in by the ice oppo-
site to Wellington Channel, and from this point
a drift of ice commenced which is without pre-
cedent The vessels were carried te- 70 deg:
30 min north latitude, the highest ever attained
by any vessel oDthat meridian, Thencethey were
carried ON the drift south to Lapcaster Sound
which they reached in Novemberi when tine
thermometer fell TO III degrees below zero.
tSuch was the comrnotion OF the nelos on veg tnaC
thev could not light fires, while the bedding was
frozen, and iccles hung fromithe ceiling o. the
cabin. Q o. .o,,nO, o.
The drift of ice continued along Lancaster
Sound till il broke w against the capes, and
fearful connection was the consequence. Two
plains of ice, in meeting together, would crush
to pieces an ordinary vessel but die vessels Of
this expedition were so strong tAtk the resuie
was that, instead of being smashed they8Were
forced zip out Vi she water SIX feet Eeyss inches,
with list of two feet on one side. Tins was
lon the 18th of November, and the crew were.
all out on the ice, with their sedges preparsdI
and clothing and provisions to start for lane.
They lost all hope of ever returning in the ships
In the end, however, Il was deemed advisable to-,
stick to them.
People residing in our climate can have no
conception of the dreariness Of such a scene.
Just imagine these brave fellows assembled on
THE frozen waste of waters with the intention
of making for land amidst the solitary desolation
and darkness that surrounded them. For eigh-
ty-one days they had lost the sun, and the pitchy
darkness of this long night was such as Ameri-
cans who have never been in that region cannot
have the least idea Of.
On the evening Of the 18th of January, the
ice again became sod and the ships were frozen
in fast, and it was only on the 10th of June that
they escaped from it in Baffin's Bay in latitude
IS deg. 80 min. after drift of 900 miles, and
an Imprisonment of five months. This 10 the
greatest polar drift on record. Capt. Backs
famous drift in Hudson's Bay, was less than this,
and in open ice; yet strange to say, only imIna-
terial damages were done TO the vessels in this
perilOus voyage.
After emerging Captain De Haven turned to
the North again, and made an effort to re-enter
> Lancaster Sound, but without success. He sue
> ceeded in reaching the upper Melville Bay re-
y gion, but was once more confined for a time in
the ice, and after narrow escape Of being shut
infor the present Winter, and finding the sea-
son on the 18th of August, SO far advanced as to
preclude all hope of reaching the scene Of action,
they determined TO return home. Fresh meat
o was procured at Greenland, the crew was resto-.
red to health, and on the 10Th September they
left on their return voyage for this port. The,
officers of this expedition are convinced that it
is possible for Sir John Franklin to live many
years in those regions; there is plenty of game
to be had, and means of protection are at hand,
and, no doubt, Lady Franklin, who has, never
despaired for moment, will still hope on. 1t
is, however, barely possible, but exceedingly
improbable, that sir John Franklin, or any OF
the officers or men Of his expedition, now lives.