268 A rctic and A nt arctic Exploitation [part i 
men to Bathurst Island, where he met Sherard Osborn, who 
had explored the northern side of this island with its two 
deep inlets, and sighted another large island to the north 
which was named after Mr Find] ay, the cartographer. 
Hamilton then returned to his main sledge, and reaching 
the extreme northern point of the Sabine Peninsula, 
discovered two islands which were named Vesey Hamilton 
and Markham after his old messmates in the Assistance. 
He returned to the ship after an absence of 54 days, 
having covered 663 statute miles, and made some inter- 
esting discoveries. This completed the extensive explora- 
tions of 1853, comprising 1800 miles of coast line. 
The officers and crew of the Investigator had been 
rescued from the fate of Franklin and his people by 
Mecham's discovery of M'Clure's record. On the arrival 
of the sledge with the good news at the Bay of Mercy, 
Captain M'Clure travelled to the Resolute to discuss 
arrangements with Captain Kellett. It was determined 
to abandon the Investigator, officers and crew being housed 
on board the Resolute and Intrepid. Thus was a third 
North West Passage discovered. 
Lieut. Cresswell of the Investigator with 26 officers 
and men were despatched to the North Star at Beechey 
Island to be sent home at the first opportunity. The 
Admiralty had sent out the Phoenix, commanded by 
Captain Inglefield, and the Breadalbane transport, under 
Mr Fawckner, Master R.N., to communicate. The Bread- 
albane was crushed by the ice off Beechey Island and 
sank. Captain Inglefield had brought out with him 
Lieut. Bellot, the young French officer who had been 
with Kennedy. Most unfortunately the ice floe on which 
he was, with some men, got adrift. It was never known 
exactly what happened, but he must have slipped off the 
ice and was drowned. Lieut. Cresswell and his party went 
home in the Phoenix. 
Mindful of the possibility that Captain Collinson might 
reach Melville Island in the Enterprise, Captain Kellett 
built a large house, 40 feet by 14, of stone with a wooden 
roof covered with painted canvas, in which a depot was 
placed of seven months' provisions for sixty men, and -a 
cairn was built on Dealy Island, 42 tons of stone being 
used in its construction. 
