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Thursday (Continued) As we came down the Bay (from N.Y.), seaward, could be seen a huge bank of black ^[[& white]] smoke - ^[[The main]] extruded from Sandy Hook, N.W. the distance of 50 miles, apparently. From the point where the bank of smoke commenced to the distance named, its gradations were - Fearful(?), Blackness-Blackness-Blackish(?) Brown, Drab - nearly White-White. The distance to the source, when I 1st saw it, was perhaps 15 miles - The wind was ^[[in the]] S.E., [[underlined]] soon [[/underlined]] [[strikethrough]] the wind [[/strikethrough]] ^[[it]] changed - [[underlined]] that is in 20 minutes [[/underlined]] - to S.W. - I soon learned that a ship had caught fire yesterday - it was that, still burning, that I saw. This eve called at the residence of Robt. Kane, Esq. 1806 Chestnut St - he was not in - shall call (D.V.) at his office to-morrow. [[line across page]] Friday Mar 16/60 Morning called on Mr. Childs of firm Childs & Petersen - With great kindness did he receive me. Expressed his willingness to contribute to the fund required to [[end page]] [[start page]] carry my Arctic expedition. Said he would be one of 50 - I asked him if he would not be one of 25? He pleasantly responded 'Well, Wait & see how you succeede'. I thanked him however for his liberal offer. I called on Henry Goodfellow, 505 Lombard Street, Phila. one of the members of Dr Kane's Expedition - or rather of the 2d Grinnell's of wh. Kane was commander. Had a 2 hours conversation with him - found him genial & intelligent - He agreed with me in relation to the necessity of a further search - Said that there was no doubt if Kane's party had been obliged to abandon the "Advance" & taken up with the Esquimaux they would have been living today if they had