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HMS Terror: Sir John Franklin's doomed ship found after 168 years underwater | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The second of two British explorer ships that vanished in the Arctic nearly 170 years ago during an expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage has been found. | The second of two British explorer ships that vanished in the Arctic nearly 170 years ago during an expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage has been found. |
The Arctic Research Foundation said in Canada that the HMS Terror had been located by a research ship. | The Arctic Research Foundation said in Canada that the HMS Terror had been located by a research ship. |
Last seen in the 1840s while under the command of Sir John Franklin, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror have long been among the most sought-after prizes in marine archaeology and the subject of songs, poems and novels. | Last seen in the 1840s while under the command of Sir John Franklin, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror have long been among the most sought-after prizes in marine archaeology and the subject of songs, poems and novels. |
The wreck of the Erebus was found in 2014. | The wreck of the Erebus was found in 2014. |
Adrian Schimnowski, the expedition leader of the research ship that located the HMS Terror, said the ship was found on September 3, adding: "It is a perfect time capsule." | Adrian Schimnowski, the expedition leader of the research ship that located the HMS Terror, said the ship was found on September 3, adding: "It is a perfect time capsule." |
The Terror was discovered in 26 yards of water in Terror Bay, a small indentation on the coast of King William Island west of the community of Gjoa Haven. | The Terror was discovered in 26 yards of water in Terror Bay, a small indentation on the coast of King William Island west of the community of Gjoa Haven. |
Canadian Rear-Admiral John Newton said the two Franklin ships were found about 31 miles apart from each other. | Canadian Rear-Admiral John Newton said the two Franklin ships were found about 31 miles apart from each other. |
Sir John and 128 hand-picked officers and men had set out in 1845 to find the Northwest Passage, the long-sought shortcut to Asia that supposedly ran from the Atlantic to the Pacific by way of the harsh, ice-choked Arctic. | Sir John and 128 hand-picked officers and men had set out in 1845 to find the Northwest Passage, the long-sought shortcut to Asia that supposedly ran from the Atlantic to the Pacific by way of the harsh, ice-choked Arctic. |
The death of all 129 men made the Franklin expedition the worst tragedy in the history of Arctic exploration. | The death of all 129 men made the Franklin expedition the worst tragedy in the history of Arctic exploration. |
Historians believe the ships got trapped in thick ice in 1846 off Prince William Island, and that Sir John and some other crew members died in the ensuing months. | Historians believe the ships got trapped in thick ice in 1846 off Prince William Island, and that Sir John and some other crew members died in the ensuing months. |
The survivors apparently abandoned the two ships in April 1848 in a hopeless bid to reach safety overland. | The survivors apparently abandoned the two ships in April 1848 in a hopeless bid to reach safety overland. |
Dozens of searches by the British and Americans in the 1800s failed to locate the wrecks, and some of those expeditions also ended in tragedy. | Dozens of searches by the British and Americans in the 1800s failed to locate the wrecks, and some of those expeditions also ended in tragedy. |
But they opened up parts of the Canadian Arctic to discovery and ultimately found a Northwest Passage, though it proved inhospitable to shipping because of ice and treacherous weather. | But they opened up parts of the Canadian Arctic to discovery and ultimately found a Northwest Passage, though it proved inhospitable to shipping because of ice and treacherous weather. |
Mr Schimnowski said the mystery might have remained if not for a late-night conversation on the Martin Bergmann, a research vessel, between himself and Sammy Kogvik, an Inuk and Canadian Ranger from Gjoa Haven. | Mr Schimnowski said the mystery might have remained if not for a late-night conversation on the Martin Bergmann, a research vessel, between himself and Sammy Kogvik, an Inuk and Canadian Ranger from Gjoa Haven. |
Mr Kogvik started talking about something he had seen seven years ago while snowmobiling across the sea ice off Terror Bay. | Mr Kogvik started talking about something he had seen seven years ago while snowmobiling across the sea ice off Terror Bay. |
He recalled how he had looked behind him to check on his hunting partner when he spotted a large pole sticking up out of the ice. The two Inuit stopped and took pictures of what looked like a ship's mast. | He recalled how he had looked behind him to check on his hunting partner when he spotted a large pole sticking up out of the ice. The two Inuit stopped and took pictures of what looked like a ship's mast. |
But when he got home to Gjoa Haven, he found he had dropped his camera and lost the shots. | But when he got home to Gjoa Haven, he found he had dropped his camera and lost the shots. |
"He kept the story secret because he didn't want people not to believe him," Mr Schimnowski said. | "He kept the story secret because he didn't want people not to believe him," Mr Schimnowski said. |
"We listened to Sammy's story on the bridge of the Bergmann and changed course to take a look," he said. | "We listened to Sammy's story on the bridge of the Bergmann and changed course to take a look," he said. |
In the days since the discovery, the crew has identified a number of the Terror's features. | In the days since the discovery, the crew has identified a number of the Terror's features. |
There is video of the ship's bell, a cannon similar to those on the Erebus has been spotted and the ship's helm is still there "in perfect condition," said Mr Schimnowski. | There is video of the ship's bell, a cannon similar to those on the Erebus has been spotted and the ship's helm is still there "in perfect condition," said Mr Schimnowski. |
There are no plans to raise the two ships. | There are no plans to raise the two ships. |
Associated Press | Associated Press |
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