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Posted: 13 Dec 2023

Taken: 12 Dec 2023

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Dr. Kane's sketch of the three graves on Beechey Island of members of the Franklin expedition discovered in August 1850. Kane was surgeon on the first Grinnel Search Expedition, (1850-51)

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 Dinesh
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. . . On the morning of 27 August, Kane was with William Penny, John Ross and others ‘when a messenger was reported, making all speed to us over the ice. The news he brought was thrilling. ‘Graves, Captain Penny! Franklin’s winter quarters!” some distance away, on a crest of land, ‘amid the sterile uniformity of snow and slate, were the head-boards of three graves, made after the old orthodox fashion of gravestones at home.’ they marked the graves of two crew members of the ‘Erebus’, able seaman John Hartnell, and marine private William Braine, and that of stoker John Torrington from the ‘Terror’ all of whom had died during the winter of 1845-6. On the head-board of John Torrington’s grave ws a sentence noting that he had died on 1 January 1846 ‘on board of H.M. ship
Terror’, an indication that Franklin’s ships had not been wrecked by Beechey Island, as some supposed. The causes of death were not given, but on the head-boards of the two men from the ‘Erebus,’ Franklin’s ship, was inscribed puzzling and uncharitable words from Bible: for Hartnell, ‘Thus saint the Lord of Hosts, consider your ways’; and for Braine, ‘Choose ye this day whom you will serve’. Once engraved, Kane’s sketch of the Beechey Island graves found wide circulation in his own best selling “Personal Narrative,’ in Illustrated periodicals, and in the still popular panoramas. Huddled close together under the icy cliffs, the head-boards and their inscriptions sent an ominous message about the missing crews
14 months ago. Edited 14 months ago.

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