Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-28
~ Fnte Or Be JOIN TransIIn.

written with a modest simplicity which reflects
high honor on the personal character of the
author, while the record of his acts presents a
brilliant illustration of his practical energy and
and courage. The following abstract Of the
book from the Tribune gives connected his
tory of the voyage, its psrils, NiS its success
truth stranger than fiction.
Immediately after the return of DR.. Rae, in
| 1854, with some relics of Sir John Franklin 3
expedition, Lady Franklin determined to ap~
propriate the remainder Of her fortune (already
much exhausted by previous searches) to an
exploration of the localities in which the last
traces of her husband had been discovered =
| The Government had declined taking any part
| in further enterprises for that purpose, from a
| conviction that, as there was no prospect of
| saving life, it would be wrong to expose the
otfic rs and men to the perils insepara6Ie from
such an undertaking. Lady Franklin, ae-
cordingly, at once commenced preparing TO
sond out an expedition, equipped and stored
at her own expense. Several friends OF the
cause, including some of the mcst distinguished
scientific men in England, volunteered their
aid, and thus a considerable additional sum
was raised in furtheranee of the effort
| On the 18th of April, 1857, Lady Franklin
offered the command of the proposed expedition
to Capt. M'Cintock, by whom 1t was most
cheerfully accepted. A better choice could
hardly have been made. Capt. AClintock had
already served in three consecutive expeditions
from ls4s to 1854; was eOnversant with ali
details of the service; was deeply interested in
the cause; and had eminently distinguished
himselfin the voyages of Sir John Ross and
Capt. Austin, and especially in his extensive
journeys on the ice, when associated with Capt,
Kellett.
The screw yacht Fox, of Ut tuns burden,
which had been purchased for the enterprise,
was placed at his disposal, and arrangements
made to speedily reft her for the voyage. Her
velvet hangings and splendid furniture were,
of course, removed; the large skyhghts and
capscious ladder ways were reduced to limits
more suitable to polar cline; the whole vessel
was externally sheathed with stout plabking,
and internally fortified by strong crOssbeams,
longitudinal beams, iron stancheons, and dag
onsl fastening the false keel was taken eff, the
slender brass propeller repIsoedhy more mas
siVe iron one, the boiler taken out, altered, and
enlarged; the sharp stem cased in iron, until it
resemblsd ponderJus chisel set up edgeways;
and the whole rig of the yacht adapted TO her
new and hazardous duties. The strietess econ
omY was necessarily observed in the internal
fttiug up ofthe vessel. The officers were cram
med into little cabins, hardly better than pig
eon~holes, in order to make room for provisions
and stores. The mess room for five persons
measured eight feet square. The only appara-
tus for heating the yacht was few very small
stoves.
As soon as the design of the enterprise was
made known, many old shipmates Of Capt M
IFHI offo "A
their services, aid in this way an excellent crew
was obtained, seventeen sut of the twenty-five
persons of whom it was composed having al
ready served in the Arctic search. The second
in command was Lieut.. w. b. HObson, an
officer distinguished in Arctic service. An in
elliRent commander in the mel camille lmsrine,
Capt Young, who had been actively employed
in the Black Sea during the greater Fart of the
Crimean campaign, joined the expedition as
sailing master. Dr. David Walker volunteered
for tue post of surgeon and naturalist; and Just
before sailing, Carl Petersen, the Esquimau1
interpreter for Capt. Penny and DR.. Kane,
arrived from Copenhagen to take part in the
enterprise.
Provisions sufficient for twenty. eight months
we're taken on board, including preserved veg
etables, lemon juice, and pickles, for daily con
Isumption, and preserved meats for every third
day, together with as large supply Of AllsOp'i
stoutest ale as room could be found for. Sew
ieral tuns OF pemmiean were added to the stores
composed Of prime beef cut into thin slices and
dried over a wood fire, then pounded up and
mixed with about an equal weight of melted
beef fat.
The little vessel sailed from Aberdeen on the
first of July, and arrived in Melville Bay on the
twelfth of August Thus far the voyage had
been without difficulty, but here the ice began
to press in, covering the whole bay toward the
north, quite in the steep face Of the great
glacier which takes the place of the coast line
The appearance Ofthis stupendous glacier, ex-
tending its unbrOken length for 40 or so miles
was in the highest degree imposing. Its sea
cliffs, at the distance of OF miles, seemed
comparatively low, yet the icebergs detached
from it were Of the lOftiest description The
far. off outline seen against the eastern sky, had
faint tinge Of yellow; it was almost horizontal
and of unknown distance and elevation. There
was an unusual dearth of birds and seals; every
thing around was painfully still, except when
an occasional iceberg was split of from the
parent glacier; when a rumbling crash was
heard, like distant thunder.
After several Intellectual attempts to escape
from the ice, it became apparent, before tho
close of August, that the vessel would be com
PEELED to winter in the pack. The dreary sea
son passed away more eheerfully than one
would imagine; Christmas was celebrated by 6
general festival; hams, Plnm'PuddIngs, PreserV
ed gOoseberTies and apples, nuts, sWeetmeats
and Burton ale graced the merry board; the
officers joining with the crew IN the convivla
snjoyments of the day. Nor was the arrivao
the New Year permitted to pass without lob
servancs due" Exactly at midnight, the band
consisting Of two flutes and an aeoordeon, struck
I'D q lively tune at the door of the captain, and
procession was formed of amateurs in gro
tesaue apparel, armed with fryingpans, gridi.
ronP, kettles, pots and pans, with which to add
to the charms of the concert. DO
After almost incredible perils, the vessel was
opce more in the open sea, on the 26th of April
having been carried back by the floating ice
nearly fourteen hundred miles, the longest drif
on record Steering for HolsteinbOrg, the ex
lpsdition safely arrived at that place in two
DAYS, where they remained little more thar
| week TO refresh and Tetit the crew. They lefl
Holsteinberg on the Sth OF May, and proceeding
steadily northwaTd, arrived once more in Mel
Vills Bay in about thirty days The latter par
Of Auuust was spent in struggling with the ieC
in Bsllot Strait, narrow passage between
North Somerset and Boothia Felix, and Rftel
Ave different attempts, they succeeded in steam
ing through on Sept. 9th, and made fast to tbs
ice across its western outlet, at distance o
two miles from the shore. The ice was il
large. stout fields, Of more than one Winter
growth. apparently immovable in CONSEQUENCE
Of the numerous islets and rocks which rosl
through aud held it fast Here they took VI
their quarters for second Arctic Winter.
During the early part Of September, Captain
MClintock was employed in preparing provis
ions and equipments for travelling parties OF
sIedees, with which he determined 70 make I
thorough search in the Spring. The plan in
Guided three separate routes and parties of fou
men, commanded respectively by himself, Lieut.
Hobson, and Capt. Young, .dog>sledge snC
driver beng attached to each party. Capt