The final relics of the Franklin Expedition were discovered by McClintock and a party of volunteers.  Starting from England in a little vessel called The Fox he and his crew passed through a hundred dangers from shipwreck, icebergs, and other perils.  But at length, in April, 1858, they found on King William’s Island the record which told plainly and fully the fate of Franklin and his companions.

[Illustration:  RELICS OF THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION. 1.  Loaded Gun. 2.  Fragment of Ensign. 3.  Anvil Block. 4.  Portable Cooking Stove. 5.  Chronometers from Erebus and Terror. 6.  Medicine Chest. 7.  Testament 8.  Dipping Needle.]

The document contained two statements, one written in 1846, mentioning that Sir John Franklin and all were well; and a second, written in 1848, to say that they had been obliged to abandon the Erebus and Terror, that Sir John Franklin had died in June, 1847, and that they had already lost nine officers and fifteen men.

Other traces of the sad end which overtook the expedition were also found.  In a boat were discovered two skeletons; and amongst other books a Bible, numerous passages in which were underlined, showing that these gallant men in their last hours had the comfort of God’s Word to support them when earthly hopes had passed away.

The object for which Sir John Franklin had sailed, viz., the discovery of the North West passage, had been attained, but no single man of the expedition, alas, lived to enjoy the fruits of the discovery.

A SAVIOUR OF SIX

THE STORY OF FIREMAN FORD.

In the waiting room at the head quarters of the London Fire Brigade, in Southwark Street, London, is an oak board on which are fixed a number of brass tablets, bearing the names of men who are entitled to a place on this “Roll of Honour”.

From amongst these let us take one, and tell briefly what befell him.  It will serve as a sample of the dangers which beset the fireman daily in the pursuit of his duty.

“Joseph Andrew Ford,” so runs the official record, “lost his life at a fire which occurred at 98 Gray’s Inn Road, at about 2 a.m. on the 7th of October, 1871.

“Ford was on duty with the fire escape stationed at Bedford Row, and he was called to the fire a few minutes before 2 a.m., and proceeded there with the utmost speed.

“Before he reached the fire, three persons had been rescued by the police, who took them down from the second-floor window by means of a builder’s ladder; and, on his arrival, there were seven persons in the third floor, six in the left-hand window, and one in the right-hand window.

“He pitched his escape to the left-hand window, and with great difficulty and much exertion and skill succeeded in getting the six persons out safely (the woman in the right-hand window being in the meanwhile rescued by the next escape that arrived, in charge of fireman W. Attwood); and Ford was in the act of coming down himself when he became enveloped in flame and smoke, which burst out of the first-floor window; and, after some struggling in the wire netting, he fell to the pavement.