Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-09-07
From the Washington Union.
Navy Dennrfmenf.

THE ARTIC EXPEDITION " SEARCH FOR DR.. KANE
As much interest has been manifested, and frequen
inquiries made at the department as to the nature o
the instructions to Lieutenant Hartstene, commanding
the Arctic expedition for the relief of Dr.. Kane ant
his companions the Secretary of the Navy has con
sented to their publications
NAVY DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1855
SIR A resolution of Congress approved February
J. 1856, authorizes the Secretary of the Navy tc
provide and dispatch suitable naval other steam
err and, if necessary, tender, to the Arc SEAS fol-
the purpose of rescung afording relief TO Passed
Assistant Surgeon E. K. Kane, of the United States
Navy, and the officers anl men under his command y
The barque Release and steamer Artic having been
procured, and especially fitted and equipped for this
service under your supervision and inspection, with
tu ratlons and extra provisions tor two years, and
clothing peculiarly adapted for The climate OF the Arc
tic regions, and such officers and men detailed as the
department, as we'll yourself, considered necessary
and sufficient and the command of the expedition
having been already assigned to you, you will, so
soon as the above named vessels in all respects
ready for sea, proceed with them, by all means, as
early as the first of June, in the prosecution of the
object OF the resolution of Congress, economizng as
/ much as possible in the use of coal.
1t is understood, from reliable sources, that you can
renew your supply of coal at Way-g island, at
which point it would seem to be advisable that you
should touch, unless unforeseen circumstances admon
lsh you to do otherwise, some more practicable
point should be ascertaned by you. I will endeavor
to procure and forward to you letters of introduction
tron the representative of Denmark TO the govern
or OF the Danish settlements at which it may be use.
tul and prudent that you should touch for the pur.
pose of making inquiry and procuring information.
DR.. Kane sailed from New York in the Advance
early inl une, 1853, since which the department has
received no information from him. 1t is believed
however, that intelligence was received of him at
Upperna7ck in July, 1858, by his father Judge Kane,
OF Philadelphia The expedition then going
north and this is the last that has been heard from
IT. The department, however, learns, and deems it
proper to put you in possession of the information,
that 1t was the intention of DR.. Kane, after leaving
Uppernavck on his way up, to make depot of pro-
visions and erect beacon, &C., at Cane Alexander
the east cape OF Smiths Sound or at Cape Isabella
most probably the former. The department furth-
er learns that it was then the intention Of Dr. Kane
10 pass up Smiths Sound, and proceed west and, in
case 1t was necessary for him to abandon his vessel
ne would make for Beechy Island.
rhould you tall III with any OF Franklln's party,
your own humane feelings will suggest the propnety
OF extending to them all the relief in your power.
Before sailing, you will acquant Lieut.. C. c. Simms,
who has been ordered TO command the Arctic and
whom, of course you will consider your second in
command, fully with all your plans and intentions,
and appoint places of rendevouz, so that in the
two vessels of the expedition may any time become
separated each may know where to look for the other
You will sieze any opportunity tina: may offer of
communicating with the Department, informing 1t OF
your progress and your future movements, and you
Will also take particular to avail yourself of
cry OCCASION for leaving you pTUUced records and
signs 10 tell Of your condition and intentions For this
purpose you will erect flag stafs make piles of stone,
or other marks, in conspicuous places, burylng bot
tie at the base containing your letters. Should the
two vessels be separated, you will direct Lieut. Simms
to do likewise.
The Department has every confidence in your
Judgment, and relies implicitly upon your sound dis
credon. You are aware of the generous cOnsidera-
ton which prompted Congress 10 authorize this mis-
sion of humanity. | have determined to trust you
with it's execution, untrammecd by stringent direc
tons, qctaCh might embarrass yOu and conflict qrlh the
suggestions Of circumstances and Developments of the
future.
Judge Kane, the father of the Doctor is in posses
sion OF much important information left by his son,
to be used in the event of a search for him. This
will aid you much | would suggest, however, that
you should, unless constrained by strong hopes of
future success, avoid passing winter in the Arctic
regions, and on nc account useessy hazard the safe
ty OF the vessels under your command, or, what is
OF more importance, unnecessarily expose to danger
the officers and men committed to your charge Your
attention is also especially directed to the care and
preservation of their health for which hygencs have
been abundantly furnished.
transmit herewith, for your Information and gui-
dance, Hpy of the instructions to Dr. Kane, dated
November 81, 1852 as also, copies of series of let
ters from Sir Edw. Parry Sir Francis Beaufort and
other Arctic authorities, written by command of the
British Admiralty and kindly furnished to DR.. Kane
with the object of advancing the interests of the ex-
pedton to which he had been assigned by the Te-
partment
Sincerely trusting that you may be enabled to car
ry out successfully the ohjecs OF the expedition
der your command, and that a Divine Providence will
protect You in the hazardous enterprise for which you
and your companions have so nobly volunteered.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. G. DOBBIN.
Lieutenant Henry J. Hartstene,
United States Navy, Commanding Expedition
for relief Of Dr. Kane and Companions, New
York.
The following touching letter was written on the