DEATH OF BELLOT. 451 



But the saddest episode in Arctic history that Ingle- 

 field had to report was the death of Lieut. Bellot, the 

 gallant young Frenchman who acted so prominent a 

 part in the voyage of the Prince Albert, under Kennedy. 

 Bellot's zeal and enthusiasm had led him ag^ain into the 

 regions of ice and snow, under Inglefield. While there, 

 lie volunteered to lead a party over the ice, in August, 

 1853, to Sir Edward Belcher's squadron, which was at 

 that time near Cape Beecher, in Wellington Channel. 

 This party consisted of four men namely, Harvey, 

 Johnson, Madden, and Hook. 



On Friday, the 12th of August, he started, with his 

 little baud, from Beechey Island (at which place the 

 North Star was lying), in charge of dispatches from 

 Captain Pullen. At this season of the year travelling 

 on ice is always considered dangerous, both on account 

 of its decayed condition, and its liability to separate 

 from the shore and break up. Accordingly, Pullen cau- 

 tioned Bellot to keep as close to the eastern shore of 

 Wellington Channel as possible, and provided the party 

 with one of the light India-rubber boats, which could be 

 easily dragged on their sledge, and without which, at 

 such a season, it would have been very unsafe to travel. 



That evening they encamped about three miles from 

 Cape Innes. Next day they made considerable progress, 

 and when night approached made their bed upon the 

 broken ice over which they had been plodding during 

 the day. This was near Cape Bowden. On the follow- 

 ing day, which was Sunday, they passed a crack about 

 four feet wide, running across the channel. During all 

 this time no doubts were entertained as to the safe con- 

 dition of the ice ; and Bellot, in his usual encourag-ino* 



o o 



way, cheered on the men, and put his shoulder to the 

 tracking-lines, saying that he wished to get to a cape 

 which was seen a good way ahead, and which he called 



