The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-05-11


In these 'ere clos,
Aud settles up-lguess. .-
The Arctic ExpeditIon..Sir John Franklin's
Ships seen In an immense Iceburg.
The British admiralty has issued series of
documents and evidence which appear TO con-
vey the proof that in the spring of last year,
the two vessels comprising this i'll fated expe-
dition. were seen off the Banks of Newfound-
land wedged to an iceberg.
1t appears by the evidence referred to, that
o Mr.. Storey, the master of an English mer-
chant ship, when at Tynemouth some few
months since, fell into conversation with an
English naval officer, in the course of which
he accidentally alluded to a statement he had
heard made BY Captain Coward, of the Brit
ish brig Renovation, Of North Shields, that
the latter had seen, in the month of April OF
last year. on the Banks of Newfoundland, a
largo iceberg, some FIVE miles in length-that
on o nearer approach to it, under the water
it could be observed shelving out to consid-
cradle distance at tho lee side thus acting like
q vane in keeping that part to the leeward-.
that no passing, as CLOSE as prudence would
allow, thwo three ma sted vessels were observed
close to, but out of the ceberberg-that they
were regularly housed, with their topsail yards
and topgallant masts down; and that no hu-
man beings could be seen on board. The na-
val officer naturally inquired how it was that
this piece Of information had not been CON-
municaed before, and received for reply, that
Captain Coward, the master of the Renoration
had, with surprising solidty, contented himself
with NEARLY mentioning it to his friends. He
it appears, was then on his voyage to Venice;
and the British Admiralty has forwarded in
structions to the Consul at that port to inter-
rogate him closely upon his arrival OF course
the general presumption is, that If the state
ment be true, they were the two ships Of the
Franklin expedition; and it is assumed, that
the catastrophe Of an iceberg breaking away
| from the place where it had formed. would, no
doubt, be sufficient to cause the crews to rush
on foot to the nearest fafe point, the ships
drifting away with the iceberg in the interval
would leave no means Of rejoining them. The
respectsbility and good faith of Capt Storey
and Coward are vouched for.
The British Admiralty then addressed a
confidential letter to the coast guard officer at
Sunderland, directing him to proceed to Ty-
nemouth, and make inquiries of Capt. Storey,
who stated that he left Bristol for Quebec, as
master Of the brig .4gnes, on the 9th Of April
1851: he crossed the Banks of Newfoundland
about the goth, arrived at Quebec on the 5th
of May. There he met Captain Coward, who,
as far as his (Cspt. Siorey's memory served
him, gave him the following relation:
"When near the east end of the bank, in AZ
deg. 80 univ. n, wind n. E. fresh breezes and
clear weather, as much as / could carry fore
topmast studding sail, fell in with icebergs,
one of which was very large,with field ice at
tached to il; in which there were two three
masted ships, having their masts struck and
yards down, and all made snug; to all appear
ance they had passed the winter together in
the ice At about five o'clock in the morning,
when within one mile of them, the mate called
me to see the iceberg and ships; by the time
I got up and dressed and on dock, my ship
was abreast of them; took spying glasses and
examined them to see if there was any one on
board, but could not see any one. At the
time did not think of Sir John Franklin's
missing ships anxiety to get ahead out of the
danger while the weather was clear from fogs
and being to far past before / could make up
my mind, caused me not to reduce sail and ex-
anime them moro accurately. am since of o.
pinion they might possibly be the missipgships.
Capt. Storey states that a Capt. Cleugh wa;
also present when this narration was made
The coast guard officer then sought an in
! terview with the wife Of Mr. Coward, who al
30 stated that her husband had mentioned the
matter to her, and she furnished him with hit
address when he should arrive at Venice Mr.
Ceugh was also sought out, and stated that he
also heard Coward's statement, and that he had
Joined in the conversation. The chief officer
of Captain Coward's vessel, Mr.. Simpson, wa.
next sought for and was found in Limerick
and he gave the Admiralty authorities this
following statement!
On the Goth of April, 1851, at six A. NJ,
saw two full rugged ships Zone about fvehun,
dred tons the other three hundred and fifty,
on an iceberg, high and dry, the larger one on
her beam ends, head TO the westward, three
ships lower masts Only standing with bowspri
masts painted white, apparently not housed
over; the smaller one was about three hundred
tons, head to the South, with lower and top
sailyards across, sails unbent topmast on end
Yards very square and black, not housed over
nearly upright; both vessels apparently aban
doned. The Renovation was then about thirt,
|, miles to the eastward of Cape Race, and tn
iceberg about FIVE miles northwest. The mas
J ter was sick in bed, and when called him ant
stated that two vessels were in sight on al
iceberg, he was too unwell to take any notice
and answered. '.very well' / therefore di'
not like to take the responsibility of bearing
up to examine the vessels. The.log on boar
on board the Renoration was kept by mo, ant
: those circumstances were entered by me in tn
log; I think il is still in possession of MI
Emanuel Young (the owner, at North Shields
: Mr.. Simpson has furnished the Admiralt
with a sketch of the vessels, both of whic
; were painted black. The man at the wheel OF
, board the Renovation has also been examined
, and corroborates Mr.. Simpsons statement.
We leave our readers to draw their own con
clusions from these statements. II is probabl
> that the appearance of the two ships was Al
: optical, delusion, caused by adouble refectio
Of the Renovotion from two surfaces Of tn
; iceberg to vhichit is said they were attached
I as If the objects had been real ships some o:hs
7 vessels would have seen them onA coast 2
. mhoh frsqusnted % Newfoundland 10 by 6st
ing and trading vessels.