The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-07
Str John Richardson,s expedition.

The following narrative of the events of this ex
petition, which has been addressed by Sir John
Richardson to the Secretary of the Admiralty will
complete our report of what has been done up to
the present time for the relief Of Sir John FRANKLIN
Son the 25th of March, ls4S, Mr.. Rae and ! left
Liverpool in the North American mail steamer Hi
hernia, landed fortnight afterwards at New York,
andproceededby way ofthe Hudson and Lake Cham
plain to Montreal, where found waiting for six
teen Canadian Uoyageurs, forming the crews of two
canoes provided by Sir George simpson, Governor
OF the Hudson's Bay Company's territories Our
route lay through Lakes Ontario, Erie, st. Claire
and Huron, to Sault St. Marie, where we were de-
tanned some days waiting for the breaking up Of
the ice on Lake Superior. When the lake opened
we resumed our voyage to Fort William, and from
thence to Rainy Lake, the Lake of the Woods, and
Lake Winnipeg, where we were again stopped for
some days by ice; but having at length succeeded
in breaking our way through. we entered the Sas-
katchewan river on the 9th Of June, and ON the
18th reached Cumberland House. Here we learned
that Mr.. Bell had set out fortnight previously,
but had been detained by ice in Beaver lake for
four days. We followed him with diligence through
Beaver lake, Churchhill river, Isle la Crosse,
Buffalo and BETTY lakes, to Methy Portage, where
we overlook him ON the Goth June, 1S4S. With the
assistance OF the U0yageurs from Montreal, the
boats and stores were transported, on the mems
shoulders, across the Portage in eight days; this
laborisus proceeding having been rendered neces-
sary by the death of the whole of the horses usually
employed there The two canoes with their crews
were sent back to Canada. On the 18th of July,
having reached the last portage ON Slave river,
three boats were arranged Tor the sea voyage with
full loads of pemican and able crews, consisting in
the aggregate of eighteen men. Mr.. Rae and /
embarked in them to proceed with all speed to the
mouth Of the Mackenzie, leaving Mr. Bell with the
remainder of the party and two boats containing
the stores for winter use, with directions to make
the best Of his way to Great Bear lake. to establish
fishery at its west end, near the site OF Fort
Franklin for the convenience Of the party, in
he IF ia havin 10 the Mackenzie
and lastly, having traversed the Lake to its northern
extremity, dwelling houses and store houses
the influx of Deasc river, and to carry on fshe
res at such suitable places he should discover in
the neighborood. He was also instructed despatch
James Hope, "a Cree Indian belonging to his party,
who had been formerly employed in the expedition
under Messrs. Dease and Simpson, and knew the
country well } together with native hunter Of the
district to the banks Of the Coppermine, in the be-
ginning of September, there to hunt till the Goth of
the month, and look out diligently for the arrival
Of the boats. On my way to the sea, landed three
bags Of pemican at Fort Good Hope, the lowest of
the company's posts ON the Mackenzie, for the use
of any party from Sir James Ross's ships from
the Plover which might reach that establishments
and likewise deposited one Of the same arti
Gle, with several memoranda and letters at Point
Separation, which forms the apex of the delta of the
Mackenzie, marking the locality in the manner
agreed upon. We reached the sea on the 4th of Au-
gust, and had an interview with three hundred Es
qumaux, whowe collected to meet US, having been
their hunting parties on the hills skrting the river.
The distance from Point Encounter, where we met
this party, to the mouth of the Coppernine river,
including the larger infections OF the coast line, is
upwards of eight hundred miles; and as we had al
most constantly head winds, rowed along near
the shore, landing at least twice day to cook,
casionally to hunt, for the most part at night to
sleep shore, and often to look out from the high
capes. Our communications with parties of Esqui-
maux, assembled on the highlands to hunt whales,
or scattered in parties of two or three along the
coast in pursuit of reindeer and waterfowl, were
frequent They came off to US with confidence, and
through the medium of our excellent Esquimaux,
Albert, who spoke good English, we were able to
converse with them rapidly. They invariably told
Us that no ships had passed, and were reoiced to
learn by our inquiries that there prospect of
their seeing more white men on their shores. Up to
Cape Bathurst, or for about one-third Of the dis
lance between the Mackenzie and Coppermine, the
Esqumaux informed US that for six weeks of sum-
mer, or they expressed 1t, for the greater part
OF two moons, during which they were chiefly oc-
cuped in the pursuit of whales, they never saw any
ice. We found an Esqumaux family encamped on
the extremity of Cape Bathurst; but to
that place we could effect landing without OBJ
servation. we erected a signal post and buried a
of pemican; and we made similar deposite,
marked by pile Of painted stones, on the cx-
tremity OF Cape Parry. After rounding the lat
ter cape observed, for the fret time the voy-
age flows of drift-ice, which became more numer-
GUS as we approached Dolphin and Union Strait;
and in this part of the coast we Esquimaux,
though we found few recent traces of their hunt
ing parties. On the Odd Of August we had strong
gale Of westerly wind, before which under
sail for some hours, but il speedily augmented TO
violent storm, and we were compelled TO provide
for the safety of the boats by running among the
ice, loosely packed on Point Cockburn. During
the night much ice drifted past and in the morning
we found ourselves hemmed in by dense packs, ex-
tending as far the eye could reach. Up TO this
time the weather had been Of the usual summer
temperature of that region, but 1t now became very
cold, and we had continual frosts, with frequent
snow storms, during the remainder OF our stay on
the coast By keeping close TO the beach in places
where the shallowness of the water kept of the
larger pieces Of ice, by cutting passages for the
boats where the packs abutted against the rocks
by dragging the boats over the smoother foes, and
by making portages along the shore, according 70
circumstances with the aid of occasional spaces Of
open water, succeeded, with much labor, in
making way to a bay between Capes Hearnt
and Kendall, by the end Of the month. had pre-
viously thought il advisable 10 abridge the labors
the crews, by leaving one boat, with its cargo Of
pemican, on the north side of Cape Krusenstern
and by the time that we came near Cape Kendall
the two remaining boats were scarcely sea worthy
having been much cut by the young ice which now
bound the foes together The ground was covered
with snow, open water was visible from the high
est capes, and tho winter appeared TO have set in
with vigur. found myself, therefore, reluctantly
compelled 10 abandon the boats, and to prose.
cute the journey TO our winter residence on Great
Bear lake, by land. The pemican and am.
munition were carefully concealed for future use
the boats were hauled upon the beach, and tho
party directed 70 prepare for the march; the bag
gage consisting OF thirteen days provisions, cook
ing utensils, hatchets astronomical instruments, a
few books, the ammunition, two nets, with several
setting lines. Halkctts portable boat, package
Of dried plants, my bedding, and few articles Of
clothing, were distributed by lot. Each man car.
red in addition 20 his assigned load, his own ban-
ket, moccssins and such articles Of clothing as he
chose. All were furnished with snow-shocs. Mr.
Rae carried the greatest part of his own bedding
and spare clothing. We set out on the 3D. Of Sep
ternber, and on the following day came to an en-.
campment OF Esquimaux. They cheerfully ferricd
us across the mouth of wide river, which manned
the Rae We afterwards crossed the Richardson
In Lieutenant Halkett's boat, and, following the
line Of the Copperminc and Of its tributary, tn,
Kendall, we gained branch Of Dcase's river
and ON the thirteenth day reached our destined
quarters az Fort Confidence. Our march through
half frozen swamps, over hills covered with
snow, was necessarily toilsomc but by keeping a,
much ss possible in the river valleys, we had u
pass only ono night without firing for the purposs
Of cookery. In q thick fog, during which VIC were
able TO proceed in the proper direction by compass
James Hope and his Indian companion. who had
been despatched by Mr. Bell 10 meet us, lost their
way, and 80 missed us but on coming TO our trail
on the Kendall they perceived that we had passed
and returned 10 Fort Confidence two days after our