Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-02-18
A TOUCHING EPISODE OF THE FRANKLIN
EXPEDITION.

A TOUCHING EPISODE OF THE FRANKLIN
EXPEDITION.
The news in relation to the fate of Sir John
Franklin and his brave companions recalls an
interesting incident connected with that mem
orablc expedition, and which we will relate:
In the west of England, are towns whose lin
its are less than mile apart, and which have
been for many years united in one borough
One of them, Penryn, has an existence of many
centuries, being recorded as a thriving market
town in 1858. The other, Falmouth, had no
existence previous to the seventeenth century,
although now an important seaport, and exceed
ing its older neighbor in population and bust
ness. Both towns are situated on the same in
let or arm of the sea- Penryn being at the ex-
treme head. AS might be expected there ex-
lists and has existed a strong jei lousy between
the towns, which was not decreased BY their ill
assorted union into one Parliamentary borough
whilst still retaining their separate corporate
existence. Penryn considers its youngest neigh
Dor as an upstart, while Falmouth retorts bv
sneering at the older borough old-fashioned and
fossilized Desperate fights and bitter personal
quarrels have been thus occasioned.
About fifteen years ago, young sailor named
Johns, native of Penryn, belonged to a coast
ing vessel sailing between this port and London.
lie was the accepted suitor of Miss Cook,
young girl of about bis own circumstances, but
whose personal beauty attracted the attention
of more than one of better station. She was
something Of a coquette and hirted in the alb
sencc of her lover with some of her other ad-
mirers
! Among these was dashing young fellow
proiessed "lady-killer," from Falmouth, who
once had a quarrel with young Johns on account
of local prejudice, and whose attentions to Miss
/ Cook were at first prompted by spirit of NAL
/ ice to his adversary. lie took her to places of
amusement. rode or walked with her on Sun
days, and endeavored to make his attentions to
her as public as possible.
Rumors Of this had reached Johns on his way
home, but as he never saw them together, he
always passed the tales by with as little atten-
ton as possible. Once, however, his vessel az
rived in port on a Sunday evening, and the low
er hastily donning his best suit rushed off to
see his lady-love She was not at home. having
gone to church. lmpatiently he hurried off to
church, and near its gate met his apparently
faithless sweetheart walking arm-in-arm with
his detested Falmouth adversary. Without
waiting to meet them, he turned and went on
board his ship.
1t was the time when the brave Franklin was
forming his expedition for the exploration of
the Northwest Passage, and great inducements
in the way OF bounty money, and comparatively
large pay, were held out to hardy and adven-
turous mariners. The two towns furnished sew
eral volunteers. Penryn sent out four hardy
fellows. One of these was young Johns. Stung
with the seeming fathlessness of his beloved,
he had joined the daring party that were to seek
fame, and perhaps death amid the unknown ter
rors of the North Pole. Soon after this rash
step had been taken, Johns learned that Miss
Cook was still faithful to him alone. The meet
ing between them must have been both sweet
and bitter-sweet in the knowledge of each 9TH
er's constancy-btter in the certainty that they
must part, for it was now too late to retract.--
Even if it were possible TO withdraw from this
service under government, manly honor forbade
a cowardly desertion of the townsmen who had
volunteered with him; nor would he care to
face the jeers of the people of the rival town.
Besides, there was strong hope of a speedy
return, and the girl was somewhat proud after
all of his bravery and the honor which this
daring step would attach to his name.
On bright May morning they were married
in the old church of st. Gluvias and a merry
peal rang from the old square grey tower in
honor of the nuptials, for Johns was great
layorte with very many of the townspeople, and
the bride was, as we said, somewhat of belle
of the place. The honeymoon was of but a few
days duration, for the volunteers were soon or
dered to join their ships
On the 23d of May, 1915, the Erebus and
Terror sailed from the river Thames, with 1875
souls on board. Or the Goth of July, in that
year, the whaling ship Prince of Wales spoke
them at the entrance OF Lancaster Sound. That
was the last time the members of the expedi-
ton were seen by civilized men.
The wives of the explorers monthly drew halt
the pay of their husbands. The other half ac-
; cuniulated in the hands of the government I'M
I'll the return of their husbands, or the notfca-
ton of their deaths. Mrs Johns drew her paw,
and lived at home with her parents, eagerly
looking for accounts of the progress of the ex-
petition In time she became the mother of a
boy, and in her new duties she passed the time
less heavily.
Months rolled on to years, but still no tdings
of the fated vessel. Expedition after expedi-
ton went in search of the missing men, but al
ways returned with the same story of privation
danger and want of success With painful ca
gerncsS the anxious watcher grasped the Lon
don weekly newspaper in search of news of the
lost ones, and earnestly sought the opinions OF
skiliul navigators as to the chances of their
safety. Hope at last seemingly died out in all
! hearts but hers. She clung to the last straw.
, Those who climbed the steep of Pendennis
Castle eight or nine years since, may have seer
, on Sunday afternoons n comely woman, clad in
, plain, but neat dress, seated on an embrasure
of the channel, waiting and watching for the
vessel that never came. Her little boy skipped
about, picking the daises and buttercups that
| spangled the glossy slopes.
, At length hope died out of all hearts but hers
But still she lived on her quiet life. The visits
} to the nights were no longer made, but friends
saw that the absent one lived in her thoughts
Then came the sad tidings brought by DIR. Rae
convincing every one that the drama of life had
actually been played out in those everlasting
ice-felds Government which had continued
, to pay the bereaved wives, was now compelled
to officially announce the explorers as dead
The half pay which had accumulated in its cof-
fers was now paid over to the representatives OF
J the deceased, and pay was stopped. To Mrs
} Johns the sum paid amounted to about fl0O
t sterling.
Now, at last, the widows weeds were put on
= and the fatherless lad was dressed in mourning
t When we last heard of them--about year ago
) they were still living in their native town
pursuing the old course of life. The widow
, eked out her little fund by sewing, and remain
ed still constant to her first love.
Whether the husband, who had seen but q