Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-10-20
a Touching Episode Of the Frank
lin Expedition,

lin Expedition,
The important news brought by the last
Ensli.h steamer, in relation to the fate OF
Sir John Franklin and his brave compan-
ions, recalls an interesting incident con-
nec,ed with that memorable expedition, and
which we will narrate. .v., - .,
In the e-West of England are two towns
whose corporate limits are less than q mile
apart, and which have been for many years
united into one Parliamentary borough
One of them, Penryn, has an existence Of
many centuries, being recorded as thriving
market town A. d. 1858. The other, Fall
mouth, had no existence previous to the
seventeeth century, although now an i'm
portant seaport, snd exceeding its older
neiphbor in population and business. Both
towns are situated on the same inist or arm
of the sea, Penryn being at its extreme
head As might be expected, there has ex-
listed strong jealousy between the towns,
which was dc creased by their iil-nssorted
union into one Parliamentary borough
whilst still retaining their separate corPo-
rate existence. Penryn considers lis young
retorts by sneering at the oder borough as
sId-.sshloned endefossifized. Desperate
fights and. bitter personal quarre.s have been
thus accustomed, being even worse state
of things than that formerly existing be-
tween Cleveland and Ohio City. whose
position was somewhat similar TO that OF
the towns in question. - ]
About ffteeh years ago q young Sailor,
named Johns. native Of Penryn. belong
ed TO coasting vessel sailing between that
port and London. He was the accepted
suitor of Miss Cook, young girl ir sbour
his own circumstances, but ~ hose personal
attractions gained the attention of more
,han one Young man of better station. As
is not to be wondered at, the young woman n
was bit OF. coquette, and lirted. in the
absence of her accepted lover, with some
of her other admirers. Among these was
dashing young fellow. professed "laey-
killer" from Falmouth, who Fad once had
a quarrel with young. Johns on account OF
aocaI prejudices. and whose attentions. TO
Miss Cook. were at first .2rnmted by spirit
of malice to his sdversary.; He took her
to places of amusement. rode or walked
with her on Sundays. and endeavored to
make his attentions to her as pubic as pos
sibis. -~ab 4-.,l. .lt..;s.4.., -. .ss,,-~
Rumors of this had reached Johns on
some of his trips homestptas he never saw
aaiem toge ther he always passed the tales
by with as little attention. as possible
Once, however. his vessel arrived in port
on Sunday evening, and the lover hastily
donned his best suit and rushed of to see
his lady love-. She Wss moi at home hav-
ing gone to church 1mpatiently, he hurried
off to the church, and near its gate met his
apparently faithless sweetheart walking
arm-in arm with his deiested Falmouth ad-
.yersary.. Without waiting. to meet them,
he turned ant went on board his, ship, -
1t was the time when the brave Franklin
was forming bis expedition for the explora-
ton of the Northwest Passage. and greai
Inducements in the way, of bounty money
and comparatively large pay were he'd ou'
to the hardy and adventurous mariners =
The.two towns furnished several volunteers
-Penryu sent out four hardy fellows. One
of these was young Johns. Sinns by the
seeming faithlessness of his beloved, he hat
Joined The daring party that were to seel
fame, and perhaps death, amid :he unknown
eterrors Of The North Poe. . sfT.
Soon after this rash step had been taken
iohns learned that Miss Cook was still faith
.tul to him alone. The meeting between
them must have been both sweet and bite
sweet in the knowledge of each, other;
h .constaneyNbiiter in the certainty that the.
must part for it was now too late to retract
Even if il were possible to withdraw from
this service under government. manly hon
or forbade coward;y desertion of the towns
men who had volunteered with HIM; no
would he :are to face the jeers of the pee
pie of the rival town. Besides there wa
a strong hope of speedy return, ,ano til
air. was somewhat proud after all of hi
bravery and the honor which. this DARN
step would attach to his name.
On bright May morning they wer
married in the old Church OF St. Gluviai
and a merry peal rang from the square gre
tower in honor of the npptials, for John
w.s favoriie with very many Of The tow n:
people, and the bride was. as we have sai'
somewhat ST . belle Of the place Til
honeymoon was Of but sfsw days duration
for the volunteers were soon ordered to jo,
their ships. se ~, eeut -a.ss
~. On the $50 of May, l845, the Erebus an
Terror sailed from the river Thames, vii
las souls on board. On the 26th of Jul
j6that year the whaling ship Prince