Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-02-26
u 5. BRIe ADVANCE,
New y ork. October. 4th. 1881.

.
New ork, October, 4th, 1851.
Sir II have the honor to submit the following
as the proceedings ofthe squadron under my com
maRd, subsequent 10 the 22d of August, 1850, up
70 which time the Department IS already advised of
its movements
On the 23d of August We approached Port
Leopold but the necessity of detention here 10
search for Information precluded by our fall
ing IN with the English yacht Prince Albert"
Commander Forsyth, r. \. He informed US that
the harbor was stll filled with ice, so 10 render
It inaccessible to vessels A boat however, had
been sent IN, but no traces of the missing eXpedi
uon were found.
We now stood over for the north shore passing
TO eastward OF " Leopold Island threading our
way through much heavy stream ice. Barrows
Straits TO the westward. presented one mass of
heavy and closely packed ice, extending close into
the coast OF North Somerset. On the North Shore
we found open water reaching TO the westward as
far as Beech Island.
AT noon on the 25th we we're off Cape Riley,
where the vessel was hove to, and a boat sent
ashore 10 examine a cairn erected IN a conspicu-
Gus position. II found 10 contain record
OF II. H. NJ snip Assistance. deposited the day
before. Another record informed US that our
consort had visited the Cape at the same time
with the Assistance.
Fragments of painted wood and preserved meat
ana TINS were picked up on the low point Of the
Cape; there were also other indications that il
mad been the camping ground of some civilized
travelling OF hunting party. Our sPeculatlons al
once connected them with the object Of our search.
Whilst making our searches on shore. the yes
, sci was sent by strong current near the point.
where becoming hampered by some masses OF
ice she took the ground. Every effort was made
10 get her off but the falling tide soon left her
hard and tast. We now lighted her OF all her
welghty articles about deck, and prepared TO re-
new our efforts when the tide should rise This
I took place about midnight, when she was hauled
( of without apparent injury.
/ The Prince Albert approached whilst a
ground, and Commander Forsyth rendered bis
| assistance; 1t was not however required Soon
after, the Rescue came IN sight from around Beech
I Island, and making US out in our awkward pre-
dIcament, hove TO IN 70 the ofing, and sent boat
/ IN. She had been up Wellington Channel as far
as Point Innes The condition Of the ice preyen-
ted her from reaching Cape Hatham the a2poin-
/ ted place of rendezyous) so she mad returned in
/ search Of US.
On the Goth, with light breeze. we passed
beechy Island and run thro' anarrow lead to the
north. Immediately above Point Iuues the ice of
/ Wellington Channel was fixed and unbroken from
shore 10 shore, and had every indication of hav-
ing so remained for al least three years 1t was
generally about eight teet thick, and the sharp
angular hummocks, peculiar TO recently formed
I ice had been rounded down TO gentle hillocks by
I the action OF the weather for several seasons
Further progress 10 the north was out of the ques-
! ton. 70 the west, however, along the edge of
1 the hXed ice lead presented itself with fresh
eulug wind from ). T. We ran into it, but at
hall way across the channel, our headwav was
arrested by the closing ice. A few miles beyond
! tins, two Of the English vessels Zone steamer)
/ were dangerously beset. | deemed it prudent to
return 10 Point lnues, under the ice Of which the
vessel might hold oa in security until favorable
change should take place.
On Point Innes distinct traces Of encampment
. were found together, with my relics similar to
those found at Cape Riley. Capt Penny (whose
squadron we met here) picked up piece of pa
per containing the name Of one of the officers Of
tranklns expedition. written in pencil, thus
proving beyond doubt that some Of MS party
/ nad encamped here; but when or under what
I circumstances, it was difficult to say The pre-
served meat cans, moreover, bore the name Of the
person who had supplied his ships with that
article
On Poirt lines we also found the remains of an
esquimauxs hut, bur It had evidently been aban
doned for many years. No recent traces OF this
people were found on any OF the shores of Lancas-
ter Sound that we visited
+. The weather becoming more favorable, we
traced our steps far Beechy islandin order 10
make more minute Investigations 10 that quarter.
| tie vessels were made fast TO the land ice or the
\ W side OF the Island on the, 27th Of August
The schooner Felix. Capt. ohm Ross. R. n, and
the squadron under Capt. Penny, Joined US at this
point. Consulting with these gentlemen, Joint
{ search was instituted along the adjacent shores
IN all directions. In a short time one of Captain
Penny men returned reported that he had
dscoved Is several graves" On examination. his
. report proved 10 be correct, Three well made
graves were found with painted head board Of
wood the inscriptions on which were as follows
(lst)
Sacred 70 the memory Of ". Braine, r. NJ
NJ. Erebus. Died April Sd, 1916, aged 90
years. Choose ye this day whom ye will
. seTve.''
(2d)
< Sacred 70 the memory of John Hartwel A.
+ B. II NJ. ). Erebus, aged % years. Thus saith
the Lord OF host, consider your ways
(3d)
! Sacred 10 the memory Of John Torring;on,
VINO departed this life Jan. ist, a. D. 1916, on
4 board II. ". 5. Terror aged 90
Near the graves were also other unmstakabe
evidences of the missing expedition having passed
Us first winter here. They consisted of iunum-
berab.e scraps Of old rope and canvass. The
blocks which stood the armorers anvil. with
many pieces of coal and iron around 1.-THE out
lines of several tents, or houses, supposed 70 have
been the site ofthe observatory. and eTectiors for
sheiterIng the mechanics he chips and the
i snaviHgs fthe carpenter still remained. A short
distance from this was found 4 large number Of
preserved meat tins, all having the same label as
those found At Point lines
From all these indications the inference could 1
not f-l 70 be arrived at that the Erebus and Ter
ror had made this their first winter quarters after
+ leaving England. The spotwas admirably chosen 4
for the security of the ships. as for their early es
/ cape the following season. Everything too went
10 prove up this point that the expedition was
well organized and that the vessels had not re-
cevei any material injury.
/ Early on the morning of the 2sth August H.
3 VI s ship ResoIute (Capt Austin,) with her
steam tsrder, arrived from -hs eastward. Re
newed efforts were made by all parties 10 discov-
! CT some written notice, which, according to his
instructions, Sir J. Franklin ought 70 have deposi-
ted az this place in some conspicuous position
4 caiTn of stones erected on the highest part Of
the island was discovered. 4 most thorough
search with crows and picks was instituted al and
about IT, in the presence OF all hands This search
was continued for several days, but not the slight
est vestge Of record could be found. The graves
were not opened or disturbed
/ Capt SIR John Ross had towed ont from Eng
/ land a small vessel Of about = tons. He pro
posed leaving heF at TINS point 10 fall hack upon