The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-10-27
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Sir John Franklin.

Sir John Franklin.
The following interesting account from
Commander Mcclure, who went out in
search of the Sir John Franklin, we copy
from the N @ Y. Tribune:
1--WE learn from Tile London Globe that
dispatches have been received at the Ad-
mirality from Commander Nc Clure, who
sailed in Dec, 1849, in Search of Sir John
Franklin in II. M. s. Investigator. and
from Capt. Kellett, who sailed in the spring
of185e, in H. M. S. Resolute, on the same
mission. We regret to say that no traces
towards success in the maine object of
their mission have been discovered; but we
have beer. n.favored with communication of
a letter from Commander Mcclure, dated
II. NJ. S. Investigator, Bay of Mercy,
Baring's Island, April, 1858, which an
nounces his success in accomplishing the
long pfoblematical enterprise of the North
Western Passage. The gallant writer
states that during the winter of 1850, his
vessel wintered in pack, without sustain
ing any damage (and, surprising to say,
he has to reportthe same result at the end
of the third wrinter, frozen waters called
Prince of Wales's Strait, and communi-
eating with Barrow's as he ascertained
on Oct 26, of that year. In July, 1861,
he states: Such a body of ice came down
upon us with strong east wind, and set
the vessel so far to the south, that we de-
termlned to attempt a passage by the east
end of the cliffs of Banks Land, forming
the north entrance of the large island un-
der which we now are The difficulties
and hangers of this passage may be es-
timated from his statement that the ice
hoes encountered measures from forty five
to seventy feet beneath the water, and on
ly six or seven above. It is interesting to
learn that inhabitants have been discover
ed further northward than known pre-
vlously, at Wollaston and Victoria Lands,
and northward still on the tract desicna-
ted as Prince Albert's Lands. These
were found exceedingly kind and friendly,
and great quantities of copper were found,
apparently in very pure state. This
metal is used by the natives for edging
their weapons, &C., but they appeared to.
be amused at seeing pieces Of it picked up
by the crews, as possessing. value. In
April, 1852, Commander Mcclure went
to Melville Island on sledges, expecting
to find there one Of Captain Austin's yes
sells, or, atalleyents, store of provisions;
but was disappointed to find only notice
left by Lieutenant Clintock, saying
where provisions were, and giving the po-
sition of their ships. It was inferred that
the search was supposed to be abandoned,
and no other vessels expected to have
come thus far. Since October 1851, the
crew of the Investigator is stated to have
been put on two-third's allowance half a
pound of meat per diem in climate where
their commander states they could read
lily have consumed four On the hills ad-
jacent to the bay from which the letter is
dated, large numbers of deer and other
game have been found, which must have
contributed welcome relief from the
shortscommons of the previous polar So
journ The only portion Of Captain Kel-sl
let's letters with which we are, as vet,
made acquainted, is the brief notice dated
Melville Island, 7th May. that NC Cure
had joined about a fortnight, all well, but
half starved From. Capt. McClure's
own letters it appears that he had already
detached some of his crew to return home
by Baffin's Bay, and a small party by the
Mackenzie sH4 -.f3 i..t zoi