254 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [parti 
which, with Beechey Island, forms a good harbour. 
This cape is a cliff rising from the sea, with a talus of 
fallen rocks and stones at its base. Strange things were 
reported on shore. There were numerous remains of a 
camping party, and among the relics a long staff with 
a cross-piece at the end, secured with spun yarn, and 
four bent pieces of cask hoop fastened to it. This had 
probably been used with a net for catching specimens. 
The officers of the Assistance thought that the winter 
quarters of Sir John Franklin must be off Beechey 
Island, but Captain Ommanney seeing open water before 
him resolved to push onwards. 
The other ships soon afterwards arrived at Beechey 
Island, and discovered Franklin's winter quarters : first 
Penny's brigs, followed by the Resolute and Intrepid, then 
the Felix and the two American vessels. The Prince 
Albert had gone home, nobody knew why. After the 
most exhaustive search, no record could be found. The 
cause of its disappearance will never be known. 
The Assistance was beset for some days in Wellington 
Channel, and then rounded Cape Hotham, the south-east 
point of Cornwallis Island. Again the ship was stopped 
by the ice, within 150 yards of a low gravelly promontory 
where the ice was piled up to a height of 20 feet. On 
the morning of September 6th, the tide setting rapidly to 
the eastward, a heavy floe struck the ship, which sus- 
tained severe pressure and was listed over to port, forced 
astern, and raised feet out of the water. The kedge 
anchor was set in the ice to hold the ship, but the fluke 
gave and snapped off and the rest of the anchor was 
hurled into the air. The shank was then imbedded in the 
ice and the chain secured to it, and this, with four large 
hawsers, at last held the ship. Next day a northerly 
wind drove the ice off shore. The Intrepid discovered a 
bay suited for winter quarters on the south coast of 
Cornwallis Island, which was named Assistance Harbour. 
But the cry was still Westward Ho ! Pushing on- 
wards, the Assistance and Intrepid were finally stopped 
by an immense field of ice extending from Griffith Island 
to Cape Walker, entirely precluding further progress. 
On September 10th the Resolute and Pioneer joined 
company, then Mr Grinnell's schooners, and Penny's brigs 
