Important Nautical intelligence
Safety of Sir John Franklin,
and his Expedition.
The New York Herald.
Morning Edition - Saturday, october
20, 1849
The Confirmation of the news received
by the Niagara.
The highly interesting intelligence received by the Niagara
from England, of the probable safety of the long-lost navigator, Sir John
Franklin, and his expedition, is confirmed by an arrival at New London.
This news will send a thrill of joy to all parts of the
civilized world.
We annex the account brought by the arrival at New London:
-
INTERESTING, AND PROBABLY HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS FROM BAFF'N'S
BAY - SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.
[ From the New London Chronical, Oct.18 ]
Capt. Chapel, of the bark McLellan, of this port, from
Davis' Straits, whose arrival we announced yesterday morning, furnishes
information which will at least be read with interest in the United
States, and indeed, in every part ofthe world. About the 1st of August,
while the McLellan lay in Pond's Bay, an indentation of Baffin's
Bay, in latitude 74. lon. 72, the natives of the coast came on board the
Chieftain, an English whaleman, and gave information by signs that
two large ships were lying in Prince Regent's Inlet, and had been there
fast in the ice for four seasons; and being asked with regard to those
on board, whether they were dead or alive, they replied in the same way
that the crews were not "asleep" (that is, not dead) but were all well.
This information was considered by the Englishman and by Capt.
Chapel, as indicating that the ships of Sir John Franklin were clearly
meant.
The Englishman landed at Cape Hay, some distance
from Pond's Bay, a quantity of coal and provisions, with which his ship
was furnished by the British government for the use of the long missing
ships, if they should chance to come there, as they would be obliged to
do on their return to England. This is certainly the latest news from that
quarter, and there is a possibility, perhaps a probability, that
the commander of the unfortunate expedition and his crew are still alive.
Heaven send that it be so!
The McLellan and her gallant officers and crew
have reached home almost by miracle - at any rate, have done so under circumstances
that entitle tham to the highest credit.
On the 12th of June, the bark got "nipped" in the ice,
and only escaped destruction by the almost super-human exertions and good
conduct of those who were in charge of her. She was so severely injured
that she leaked so as to be kept afloat only by the incessant work
of nearly all hands at the pumps, and by means of two large metallic pumps
obtained by Captain C. from the wreck of the English ships crushed and
totally lost just ahead of him. The leak was, however, partially remedied
by thrumbed sails under the bow, though she continued to leak badly
until her arrival home, and was only kept above water by the continual
and unceasing labor at the pumps, till she reached the dock, which, indeed,
is still obliged to be continued as she lies at the wharf. The two Engish
ships, Superior and Lady Jane, mentioned yesterday, were
both lost very near the McLellan. Two of the crew of the lost ships
arrived in her. They are natives of the Shetland Islands.
On the 30th of August, the McLellan lost a man
named Joseph Schneider, of New York, who fell from the mizzen top-mast-head,
and lived but twenty minutes, being shockingly mangled in the head and
limbs. He was twenty-one years of age.
It is due to Captain Chapel, his gallant officers and
ship's company, again to say that their conduct in brining home their vessel,
is deserving of more than common praise, and even with their exertions,
it could not have been done, but for the staunch and enduring qualities
of the ship. The skill and perseverance of the officers and men were objects
of admiration to the Engishmen who witnessed them.
We may give more particulars of the McLellan' voyage
hereafter.
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