Page:The frozen North; an account of Arctic exploration for use in schools (IA frozennorthaccou00hort).pdf/48

 VI. ELISHA KENT KANE

1853

One of the most famous efforts to find Sir John Franklin was made by an American, Mr. Henry Grinnell, of New York City. From his own private means he furnished ships and most of their equipment for two separate expeditions. The first Grinnell expedition, under the command of Lieutenant De Haven, was sent out in 1850. It reached Beechey island on August 27 of the same year, and assisted in the examination of Franklin's winter quarters there, but returned without wintering.

The second Grinnell expedition went out three years later. This was commanded by a man who became almost as famous as Sir John Franklin himself, Elisha Kent Kane. Kane had been with De Haven in 1850, and thoroughly understood the work of Arctic exploration. He liked the wild, exciting life, and he had an ardent desire to find the brave men who had been lost, and to bring them home with him.