52 ELISHA KENT KANE. 



executed a systematic and thorough reconnoissance 

 of Wellington Channel; and that until that date the 

 health of his crews had been good, only three being 

 known to have died out of a hundred and thirty. 



During the sojourn of these vessels at Beechey 

 Island, Dr. Kane visited the English ship Resolute; 

 and he narrates that, when he observed how far 

 superior the organization and preparation of that 

 vessel to confront Arctic rigors were to those of the 

 American squadron, he felt a sensation of despond- 

 ency. Says he : " In comparison with them we have 

 nothing, absolutely nothing." Yet it does not 

 appear that this insufficiency of means and aids ren- 

 dered the American explorers less resolute or less 

 successful than their more favored competitors. 



By the 7th of September the expedition reached 

 Barlow's Inlet. On the 9th they passed Cape 

 Hotham, and soon entered Lancaster Sound. On 

 the 10th a singular incident occurred ; for, as if by 

 a favorable accident, all the squadrons then cruising 

 in the Arctic regions in search of Sir J. Franklin met 

 without concert opposite Griffith's Island, consist- 

 ing of the Resolute, Intrepid, Assistance, Pioneer, 

 Lady Franklin, Sophia, Advance, and Rescue. 

 These squadrons were commanded respectively by 

 Austin, Ommaney, Penny, and De Haven. But 

 they quickly separated to very different destinations. 



