NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1939, Page 6

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

SEEKING SHORT ROUTE TO INDIA. The search for the shortest searoute to India via the North-west Passage has inspired many of the world’s greatest navigators. Amongst them was Sir Martin Frobisher, one of that gallant band of sailors who did so much to bring glory to England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Frobisher, who was born in Yorkshire in 1535, set sail on June 7, 1576, to find the North-west Passage. He had three vessels, the Gabriel and the Michael of twenty tons each, and a pinnace of ten tons; with a total complement of thirty-five men. The pinnace was soon lost in a, storm and the Michael deserted. Frobisher sailed on in the Gabriel. His expedition resulted in the discovery of Frobisher Sound. This he believed to be an outlet for the Pacific.

The “Company of Cathay” was incorporated with great hhpes, and Frobisher made two other voyages to Baffin Land, but gave up the search for the North-west Passage in favour of collecting worthless ore. believed to be rich in gold. He served as vice-ad-miral to Sir Francis Drake in an expedition to the West Indies in 1585, and was knighted for his service against the Spanish Armada (1588). He died from wounds received while fighting on behalf of Henri IV of France against Spaniards at Brest.