THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.—THE "NORTH STAR." (From the Illustrated London News, May 26.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 362, 3 October 1849, Page 3

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.— THE " NORTH STAR." (From the Illustrated London News, May 26 .)

At length, the North Star, the vessel fitted out by Government for the Arctic Regions, in search of Sir J. Franklia's expedition, has left our shores, with the most anxious hopes for her success. The North Star left Greenhithe at two o'clock p.m. on Wednesday week, towed by the Stromf/oli steam-sloop, Commander Lord Avnclius Beauclerk, who is to tow the North Star to the edge of the ice. This vessel completed taking in her scores, at Woolwich, by the 11th instunt; and, on the evening of the 10th, bags were forwarded to her from the Admiralty containing letters for the Erebus and Terror, diicovcry vessels, under Captain Sir Jjhn Franklin; the Jintcrprinc and Investiyatar, undci Cuptain Sir James Uosa ; and the Plover, Commander Thomas Moore. O n the 12th instant, the Right Hon. Sir Fiancis T. Oaring, First Lord of the Admiralty, Rear-Admiral J. W. Deans Dundas, C. 8., Captain Fitzhardinge BerkeIcy, and the Hon. W. Cowper, Lords of the Admiralty, visited Woolwich, and proceeded on board the North Star, accompanied by Commodore Henry Eden and Mr. Lang, master shipwright, to witneis the manner in which the vessel had been fitted for her expedition to the North Polar regions. Their Lordships remained nearly three quarters of an hour on board, and were aalisfied with the whole of the arrangements which liavo been made Cor the voyage. In the afternoon, the vessel was towed by the Monkey to Creenhithe. The Noith Star is a vesspl of fc()o ions burden, and has been rceenty fitted out at Sheerness, according to the most approved principles, to render it capable of encountering the dangers incidental to the navigation of the Polar Sea*. The hull has been cased over with timber until it has attained a thickness of three feet of solid wood ; and in addition to this, the bow— which is, of coutse, the most exposed part of the vessel — has an extra casing, projecting about a couple of feet beyond thrt ship's sides, to prevent it 3 being stove in by the masses of floating ice which the vessel may expect to encounter during her voyage, The crew of the North Star numbers about lorty, and the majoiity of the hands cue young, active men. Tlicro are twelve officers, scvurul of whom, in common with the commander ( Captain John Saunders ), have previously experienced the hnrdbhipg of Polar navigation. The warm clothing provided for the crew consists of fur caps, which wrap round the bead, and cover all but the bare features ; gloves of the same material 5 and pilot coats of thick rough doth, lined several times through with flmuol, with trowsers of a similar character. In addition to tlie«c there nre boots of thick felt made to come above the knee, and having cork solca four or dvc inched in thickness. Slow shoes, the outer f ra me 1 made of wood, with lining of deer-skin, have ali-o been piovided lor the use of expeditionary parties among the cow. The uppamUH fer warming the ship has been fixed in the giin>room, an apartment appropriated for the officers' mesj. From the furnace., copper tubes cxtrnd through all the Bleeping and othci cabins ; and the beat circulated by this means in so intense, that during our visit on board, in about a quarter of an hour alter the stove had been lighted eveiy piirt of the vessel was thorough y warmed, and the heat in the gun-room itsell wus extieme. With u view of keeping the temperature of the ship as warm as possible, the port-holes aie provided with fell linings, so that when required they can be rendered perfectly air-tight. The slot 1 s with which the hold of \he ship is crowded coiiM&t of preserved meats, stowed away in barrels of sawdust, prt'seived potatoes, in air-ti^ht iron boxes, with theusu.il supply ol biscuits and silt junk, Large quantities ot coal iuhl wood, and barreU of oil and tar, have likewise been hhipped on board, with coppei sufficient to cover the bottom of the vessel in the event of this being found necessary. The North Star is furnished with the usual complement oi ico-auchois, saws, axes, and chisels. The anchors are an improvem nt on those previously used. The saws aie twenty feet in length, with stout projecting teeth. The use to which these are applied ii to relcnse the vessel, in the event of its becoming fro* Zen in with the ice. Tho«c ice saw* are sometimes worked from the ship itself, but more frequently af cr the manner shown in our illustration, that i?, n itrong triangular scaffolding is erected with steps at one side; to the upper part of tbii scaffolding one end of the saw i« slung, by means of a pulley, and at the other end of the saw a couple of hundredweight is suspended. A number of small ropes are attached to the main rope, which runs over the pulley, and these arc grasped by the men, who atcend and descend the steps of the scaffolding, and raise or drop the saw accoiding to their movements. Several sbipi' boats have been presented to the captain and crow of the North Star ; one of tliese is of immense strength of build, and is sufficiently large to hold the entire ctew, with several .weeks' supply of provisions.