Washington sentinel., 1853-11-08

ing ascertained; Capt Mcclure Dendeavored to
reach Barrow's Strait and thence make for
England. With what feelings must this record
have been written. September "a, 1851:
Sept 24-At daylight, observing Barrow's
Strait full Of ice, and large masses setting into
this bay, determined upon making this our
winter quarters, and finding a well-sheltered
SPOT on the south side Of the shoal upon which
we last night grounded, ran in and anchored in
four fathoms, lat 76 8 N, long. III 54 W..
This night were frozen in, and have not since
moved. The position is most excellent, being
well protected from the heavy ice by the pro.
lection Of the reef which throws it clear of the
ship six hundred yards"
Here the ship was fozen up, and remained
where she was found by other parties. A journal
was deposited by party from the ship at
Winter Harbor. This is portion of this dis
patch:
1t is my intention, if possible, to retnrn to
England this season, touching at Melville Island
and Port Leopold, but, should we not be again
heard of in all probability we shall have been
carried into the polar pack, or to the westward
of Melville Island, in which cases any attempt
to send succor would only be to increase the
evil, as any ship that enters the polar pack
must be inevitably crushed; therefore, q depot
of provisions, or ship at Winter Harbor, is the
best and only certainty for the safety Of the
surviving crews.
.sNo trace whatever has been met with, or any
information obtained from the natives, which
could by any possibility lead to the supposition
that Sir John Franklin's expedition, or any Of
his crews, have ever reached the shores we have
visited or searched, nor have we been more
fortunate with respect to the Enterprise, not
having seen her since parting company at the
Straits of Magellan on the 10th of April, 1850.
s'This notice was deposited by travelling
party in April, 1852, consisting of Captain
Mcclure, Mr. Court, second master; John Cal
der, captain Of the forecastle; Sergeant Woon,
royal marines; George Gibbs, "A. b.; George
Bounsall, Al. b.; John Davis, A. B.; and Peter
Thompson, captain Of the foretop.
"Whoever finds this, it is requested that it
may be forwarded to the secretary Of the ad-
miralty.
aDated on board her Britannia majesty's dis
covery ship Investigator, frozen in, in the bay
Of Mercy, latitude "A north, longitude III 54
west, April IL, 1852.
AROBERT LURE, Commander
"Unless there is vessel now at Melville
Island, it is not my intention to revisit it, but
make the best ofmy way down the straits.
"R. McCLURE.n
Meantime the other ships dispatched from
England had made their way to these regions,
and among them Captain Kelletts. from whom
Captain Mcclure parted at Behring's Straits.
"a party from his ship found the dispatch of
Captain Mcclure, and were thus directed to
the position Of his ship. A private letter thus
describes the first meeting of the two parties:
"This is really a red letter day in our voyage,
and shall be keptas holiday by our heirs and
successors forever. AT nine o'clock of this day
our lookout man made the signal for party
coming in from the westward; all went out to
meet them and assist them in. A second party
was then seen. DR.. Domville was the first
person met. cannot describe my feelings
when he told me that Captain Mcclure was
among the next party. was not long in
reaching him and giving him many hearty
shakes-nop purer were ever given by two men
in this world Mcclure looks well, but is very
hungry. His description Of Pins making the
Harbor Of Mercy would have been fine sub
iect for the pen Of Captain Maryatt, were he
alive.
aMcClure and his first lieutenant werewalking
ont the foe. Seeing q person coming very fast
towards them they supposed he was chased by
bear, or had seen bear. Walking towards
him, on getting onwards . hundred yards they
could see from his proportions that he was not
one of them. PIN began to screech and throw
up his hands, (his face as black as my hat; this
brought the captain and lieutenant to q stand,
as they could not hear sufficiently to make out
his language.
AAt length PIN reached the party, quite beside
himself and stammered out, on Mcclure ask
inc him, who are you, and where are you
come FROM y Lieutenant PIN, Herald, Capt
Kellet.n This was more inexplicable to Nc
Clure, as was the last person he shook hands
with in Behring's Straits. He at length found
that this solitary stranger was true English
man-an angel of light; he says He soon
was seen from the ship; they had only one
hatchway open, and the crew were fairly jamb-
ed there, in their endeayor to get up. The sick
Jumped ont Of their hammocks, and the crew
forgot their despondency; in fact oil was
changed on board the Investigator ="
i Thus was it demonstrated that there is a
northwest passage. Commander Mcclure was
a lieutenant in the first expedition sent out in
search Of Sir John Franklin, and for his good
service he received promotion. It was his in
tention to make his way through Barrow's
Straits to England and though he brings no
further tidings Of the missing expedition, yet
honors will be showered upon'him for his heroic
enterprise. AT the last accounts he was at the
Mercy harbor, and is probably, If no misfortune
has met him, now nearing his native land.
From the London Times Oct 8.
ARCTIC REsEARCHEs. o.
REPORT OF CAPT. INGLEFIELD.
. 4l-L5 \ - -k2