The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-12-28

/ House Is tdDie Hlduc iioHl 'hS 49,
bers of an old English ship. the Re
solute. 1t was presented to President
Rutherford d. Hayes by Queen Vic
1 toria. and since that time has moi
only held an honored place amGus
the furniture OF the White House, but
has been used by each successive
President. 1t can also lay claim tt
fame from the fact that il is the table
on which the peace treaty between
this country and Spain was signed
during President Mckinley's admins
| tration.
Attached 10 the table is plate
bearing the Following inscription;
III, NJ, $. ResoIute formed part OF
! the expedition sent in search of Sill
John Franklin in 1852. was abandon
ell in latirGe - d"gronS, Al Minute
north and 1ol degrees II Minutes
west, May II. 1854. Sc was discov
cred and eXtri>atCd Sept. 10, 1855, in
latitude 67 north by Captain Guiding
ton of the United States whaler Geo
Kenny. The ship was purchased
fitted out and sent as gift to hel
ma jesty. Queen Victoria, by the Presi
dent and people of the United states
as token of good Will and friendship
This table was made from her tim
bers when she was broken up and is
presented by the Queen of Great
Britain and Ireland to the President
of the United States as a memorial
OF the courtesy and loving kindness
which dictated the offer of the gift
of the ReSolute."
The table was presented to Presi
dent Hayes Nov. 90, 1880, and forms
the last chapter in story OF more
than twenty-five years duration. But
the inscription. although OF compar
atively descriptive nature. falls far
short of telling the entire history OF
the suffering attendant upon the ships
desertion in arctic seas. and the cere'
mony and rejoicing upon its return 10
England.
The story begins with the sending
out OF four vessels. including the Re
solute by the British government in
1852. under Sir Edward Belcher, in
search of Sir John Franklin, the not
ed English explorer. and his party.
The Resolute was commanded by
Captain Kellett, and during the win
ter of 1S52-52 was held fast in the
pack at Melville island. In the au,
tumn. while on a Sledge ride, one OF
the ResOlute's party found trace OF
another ship, which was also fast IN
the ice. rescue party was dis
patched from the Resolute. the ship
located and those on board transfer
red to the Resolute The following
winter the Resolute was also forced
10 winter in the pack. and the follow
ing year. fearing a similar occurrence,
Sir Edward Belcher ordered that the
ship be abandoned The officers and
crew were taken to England on the
North Star while the Resolute was be-
lieved to be inextricably embedded
in the ice This rescue on the part OF
the Resolute made the ship OF added
value to England.
II was the following year, 1868,
that Captain Burlington, of New Lon
don. Conn. in command Of the Amcri.
can whaler George Kenny, while on
a whaling voyage sighted the Reso.
lutte, about twenty miles from Cape
Mercy in Davis strait. and about 1900
miles from her original location when
abandoned. Captain Burlington took
possession Of her, and dividing his
lutte and abandoning his cruise re
turned to the United States with her.
The British government, when mott
fed of the rescue, generously waived
all claims to recover ana repossess
her in favor of those by whom she
had been found.
The vessel was taken to New Lon.
don, Conn, and it was in June, 1886,
that Senator Foster OF that state Of
fered a resolution inquiring into the
eXpediency of isuing an American
register to the Resolute. This was
dropped however, at the suggestion
of Senator Mason of Virginia, who
stated that he intended to offer reso.
lutions for the restoration of the yes.
sci to England. This he did in the
same month, proposing that 100000
be appropriated for the purchase OF
the ship from here present owners
and for repairing her This resolution
was passed unanimously, sent to the
House, but congress adjourned with,
out taking action.
At the extra session called that
year by President Pierce, Represen.
tative Cliugham called up the resolu,
ton in the House and said that Eng.
lish papers were 'complimenting
America for her liberality and that
he hoped there would be no objection
and moved that the resolution be put
upon its passage. The resolution
passed and was signed by the Presi
dent the same day. Aug. 2s, 1856.
The vessel was purchased and fully
repaired at New York navy yard
Commander Henry ]. Hartstene being
placed in command of her on the re,
turn trip to England. On November
10, 1856, the Resolute sailed from
New York, and after a bad voyage
reached Spithead on the 18th of De.
cember, with the United States and
British ensigns flying at her peak