Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-11-18
The Search for Sir John Franklin.

glOnS, mas given Il lrcSn spur 10 tnc interest
with which the civilized world follows the
movements of the gallant men. who are
striving to penetrate the mystery of those
icy seas. That interest derives Il painful and
intense element from the fact that ON the cX-
petitions now ON foot depends the cluci-
dation OF the great problem Of " the frozen
North" If thy bring us no tidings of Sir
John Franklin and his men, all hope of know
ing their fate must be resigned, till the grave
gives up its dead for in all human rrobabil-
ity, no more searching expeditions will fol-
low ON the track, or can hope to succeed
where these have failed.
None can say that the search if now given
up, has been abandoned without due outlay
of effort and money.
No less than 0ghicu searching expeditions
two of them from the United States and the
remainder by the British Government and
Lady Frankln-havc been sent to the Arctic
regions since 1918. numbering in all thirty
three ships, and fitted out at an aggregate
cost Of nearly .frc miHioHS Of dollars. Three
of these expeditions have been sent out the
last year. with six ships including Il store
ship, besides a land expedition to the
Isthmus Of Eoothia. Another, the screw
Steamer Isabella lately sent by Lady Frank
lin, was abandoned at Valparaiso, last Sept,
in consequence Of disagreement among the
officers.
There are now within the Arctic circle
four expeditions, one undcr Mcclure, sent out
in 1850. another under Sir Edward Bclchcr.
sent last year, the United States expedition
under Lieut.. Kane. and the land party under
Rae.
Till these expeditions return, hope of some
knowledge of the fate of Sir John cannot be
quite given up; but in fact the intelligence
latcly Y received almost shuts the door. Sir
John after leaving Bcrchy Island where the
last traces Of him were found. either pushed
ON Westward or went Nurthward through
Wellington Charnel. Commander Mcclure
has settled it that he did not go Westward, or
that if he did, he has persisted without Il
vcstige left of ships or crew. The probability
now is that he pushed through WELLINGTON
Channel into that unknown and mysterious
Sra which surrounds the ioc-and to follow
him thithcr will be the aim of all the effort
now cxrcudinr. That nim will he o,cor-
,J;.Iol ;ri+ j. vi,1,i,, t,,, ,,,,,,,r ,,,.,, !,
Sir Edward Bclchcr and Lieut.. Kane fail to
penetrate the icy barrier, chen nonc can hope
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,.,',.,.,;'n ~ = ,.. ''I.', ,''''' "...I.. :; -,
,.r.,.,I.-.4 .,,'.,. r,,. =!
,.'.'.;n. .n1 ,.,n.I.,.,. u' :n,.i M i 80 -. l.;
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H., rou Jrn,.,.1 fr,,, +Lc y,i,,,n;n,. lr,,or. -,
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''', -" ,'"'' may l'S>""l w 'o"'". Anu
,.'..,'', d. - wa '''1 '''','7'
- '''N '''' Vi '"'' '"' '"O
discovery OF thousand Northwest passages
would sink into insi igniiiclncc. Commandcr
Nc(lurr has demonstrated thc rxistnncr oi
+i,+ ,,.,,,,, ,.,,;,.h c,. c,r h,nlr,l ,.,.,r.
mas h1iied 'le hlNles OF Europe, he has ~
thi, time perhaps forced his ships through the
l7O miles of ic, vet rc;nliiiin.r to h. noyi,otrd
anil h,v;,,, ontor,d H., tr.ti. S,, H.. l.
''''"'7 '''. '" - NV
iAcllIc, may now be ON ms way home by the
Atlantic. He has discovered new land, defined
Il long extent Of coast. and discovered IL new
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". ,,'' ''
received almost Wlth lh"llcrchcc' I"r hc mas
found he trace OF the yoyagers, who have now
been zone for cieht lou,, wears
r,.,l.,. ;,,..,i;,..,,... a. 49,, .,...1;.,....
I'.,' Wv
can hardly De looked Tor TIL another year
/ We suhjoin some interesting extracts from
4 private letter from Commander Nrt'lurp.
l,t,l,. ,.,oo;,.,1 !, r,.,,l -. +l, ..,,,,, ..,
'Io"'"' - .'' i''"''' "
'al'' 'lS'chciu' ana punished III al EhSl'Si
paper
" HER MAJrsry's SHIP RrsolIrr.
Dealy Island. Barrow ; Straits. April 1888.
"Ny dyar uncle our KIND and most un'
/ expected Iett'r reach'I me through travel.
lnS party. HlSwtrhed 'y my excellent inrno
kpIlptT. a. a 4 81 4