Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-11-24
The Arctic Expedition.

had been able to proceed up Wellington
Channel, it being quite clear of ice, has
given fresh hope to many of the relations
and friends of the missing navigators, as
they naturally infer that if Sir Edward
Belcher could proceed up the Wellington
! Channel this year, Captain Sir j ohm Frank
lin and his companions could have passed
up with similar ease in 1916. Sir Ed
ward Belcher's opinion that Sir John
Franklin did not leave his winter quarters
at Beechy Island in hurry, has given
additional hope that traces of the further
progress of the missing expedition VIII be
found, and the great suspense which has
hitherto prevailed relative co their fate
will shortly be removed
From the London IIerald.l
We have beard that intelligence has
been received from the squadron COM
mandod by Sir E. Belcher, and led by
him up the Wellington Channel, to the eff
I feet that, from what they have discover
ed floating down the channel-remains
of whales, bears, and other animal sub
stance-the party have been led to the
conclusion that not only is there food for
mankind in that direction, but that the
floating portions of whales and bears from
the relics of what have been actually con-
sumed by human beings.
Sir E. Belcher has, by this time, most
probably explored the regions pronoun-
ced to be inaccessible by Captain Penny,
but injudiciously abandoned, and has
thus confirmed the truth Of Pcnny's testi-
mony. 1t is fearful to contemplate the
consequences of a years delay in follow
ing the track presumed to have been ia
ken by Franklin, as, of course, hopes of
etfectual success must be diminished by
the years postponement of that search
which Penny SO warmly suggested on the
spot, and which he so nobly volunteered
to undertake on his return to England last
autumn.
A etter from Captain Belcher to the
Admiralty, dated 9Th August, acquaints
the Board with his having reached Cape
Warrender, and that his crew continued
healthy. On the 18th of August he again
writes from Beechy Island in this letter
he reports the Gruitless attempts made by
the different vessels and officers of the
squadron to further the objects of the eX-
petition. The following is the only pas
sage which appears to us to possess the
least interest. Captain Belcher writes:
Immediately on my arrival at Beechy
Island, accompanied by Captain KeIlett,
[ proceeded with service parties, under
the command of Commander Richards
and Lieutenant Cheyne, to examine close
ly Beechy Island and coasts adjacent fol
records of the missing expedition, but
without the slightest case of Importance
After most laborious search, including
the lines of direction Of the head boards Of
the graves, and head and foot, as we'll as
at ten feet distances, and throughout the
loose earth, no trace, not even a scratch
on the paint work, could be traced. Up
on very mature consideration, aided by
Captain Kellett and Commander Pullen,
; arrived at the conviction that no hurry in
removing from these winter quarters can
be traced.
Everything here bears the stamp of or,
der and regularity ;. and although it is
matter of intense surprise, and incompre
hensible to all, it is my firm conviction
that no intention of leaving record a
this position existed. Other reasons oc
cur to me for such determination, the
principal of which is that Sir John Frank
lin would not consider this as likely
spot for inquiry, and it is evident that by
mere chance they happened to fall upor
their traces. If L am asked why, my
;, reply is that, at Cape Riley, or any othel
prominent and accessible positions, be
, You'd the discovery of former visitors, Sil
John Franklin would place his beacon
, certainly not here.
1t may next be inquired, why have
the former searching parties failed to inC
these marks My reply again is, look
even to the cairns erected last year BY
E the well-organized expedition of my pre-
dGceSsors. They are easily overlooked
passed unnoticed, or destroyed by ami
mails"
In subsequent paragraph he says =
6 1t Is my firm conviction, that had Sin
John Franklin, been disposed to leave any
record of his movement, many very pro
mInent points present themselves and we
shall yet find them on the shores of the
Wellington Channel"
Lieut.. Hamilton, in letter addressed
to Captain Kellett, commanding II. NJ
ship Resolution, reports that at spot call
ed Caswell's Tower, near Bcechy Island
to which he and some other officers OF
the expedition had walked, his attention
was attracted by one of Edwards small
potato cases, and he writes -
8. On searching we discovered several
of Goldner's preserved meat canisters, Sc
ven or eight wine bottles, replace, and
small well; the bottom of it was lined
with small stones. A pathway of large
flat stones led to the well No cairns no,
: documents were found. These articles
evidently belonged to some of Sir John
tranklin's parties; most probably shoe
ting party. l then descended the tower,
which is about the same height as Beechy
Sound, but much sleeper. Neither cairns
nor documents were found"