The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-28
The Arctic Expeditions.


the recent movements of the several ships en-
ployed by the English government and people
in search of Sir John Franklin:
The North Star, Master Commander J. Saunders
arrived at Spthead on Saturday last (the 2Sth nj.
timo,) from the Arctic regions, without bringing
any satisfactory udings oil Captain Sir j. Franklin
or his people.
The North Star sailed from Greenhithe about the
middle of May, lSi9, laden with stores and provi-
sons for the northwest searching ships, and the
last accounts that received from her were
broughtto England by Captain Lee, in whaler
dated the 18Th of July, in that year. There has
therefore, been much fear expressed for the safety
OF this ship which has happily been relieved by her
safe arrival.
The North Star reports communications from the
various expeditions which have been despatched TO
the Arctic in quest of the lost explorers.
On the Dist of August last, at the entrance Of
Lancaster Sound, she fell in with, and communica-
ted with, the Lady Franklin, Captain Penny, and
her tender the Sopita, all Well Captain Penny
reported that Captain Austin's ships had got
gust and che had left them on the 18th off Cape
Dudley Digges; that some of the vessels would pro-
coed, IL the ice would permit, through Barrow's
Straits, to examine and explore Bapkes's Land.
On the Goth of August, the North Star spoke the
FetiI, Captain Sir John Ross, all well.
On the 3oth OF August, she communicated with
the Prince Albert Commander Forsy The, who stated
that he mad been trying to get into Port Mel and
other places, but was prevented by the land ice;
that he had seen Captain Austn's ships in We'll
lngton Channel; that Captain Austin had gone in
the intrepid steamer to explore parts of the
coast and would visit Ponds Bay; that of the
small American searching vessels on shore
near Bauows Bay, but as the captain had declined
the assistance offered by the Prince dbert, il was
supposed she would come off without damage.
we are sorry TO state that none Of the vessels
with which Commander Saunders had communi
Gated had gained the smallest reliable information
respecting Sir John Franklin although this spring
has been most favorable for the exploration in Bat
fins Bay, from the early breaking up of the ice
The North Star finally left Ponds Bay for Eng
land on the 5th of September and has had good
passage home coming to the westward and south
ward OF Ireland, and up the Channel to Spithead
\ She has brought letters to the Admiralty on the
subject OF the expedition, from Sir John Ross of the
FeiiI, August 22 from Captain Penny, of the Lady
Franklin, August p; from Captain Ommanney, Vi
the assistance, August l6 but the tenor of the
ports thus conveyed is so little OF precise charac-
ter, that 1t is difficult to elicit Ineligible
tive rom their obscure statements.
IL would appear from them that on the 18th of
August last, Captain Ommanney, In the assistance
and Sir John Rose in the FeiiT, when of Cape
York, in Baflin's Bay, having observed three male
Esquinlaux on the ice close by, despatched Lieut.
Gator in the Intrepid steamer, tender the assist
ance, and Commander Phillips in the whale boat Of
the Feir, to communicate with them; and accord
Ingly long conversation or palaver was held be-
tween these Esquimaux and one OF their nation who
was IN the boat OF the Feiir sort OF interpreter
! but who, understanding no European Ian guage but
Danish, could not communicate the nature of the
intelligence to those around him. In this difficulty
4 the boats dropped on board the Prince Albert,
( another Of the exploring vessels in the neghbor
hood, and there put the interpreter, Adam Beck,
Gas he is called,) in communication with the cap
talns steward, John Smith, who understood lit
! tie OF the language" as Sir John Ross says,
good DEAL" as Captain Phillips says, and who
presently gave such an account of the intelligence
I as startled every body on board. Its purport
as follows That in the winter of 1896 when the
snow was falling, two ships broken by the ice
good way oil IN the direction of the neighboring
cape, Dudley Digges, and afterwards burned by a
"A a alI
IN question were not whalers, and that epaulettes
were worn by some of the white men; that part
4 OF the crew were drowned that the remainder
were some time In huts or tents, apart from the ma
tives; that they had guns, but no balls and that,
being In weak and exhausted condition, they
were subsequently killed by the natives with darts
This the form given to the Esqui-
mauxs story by John Smith, captains steward of
the Prince AibeJt.
Impressed with the importance of these tidings
4 Captain Ommanney and Captain Phillips immedi-
aely made their report 10 Captain Austin in the
Resoiute, which was then in company with the Pc
4 la near Cape Dudley -Dgges. Captain Austin at
I once decided upon investigating the truth OF the
/ story, and with this view despatched message to
the Lady Franklin, another of the ploring ships,
which lay few miles of, and which had on board
i regular Danish interpreter. This interpreter duly
arrived, but proceeded forthwith to translate the
story by statement "totalfy at variance with the
II Interpretation Of "the other whom, as We arc
n told he called u liar, and intimidatcd into silence
II though no sooner the latter left TO himself than
he again repeated his version Of the tale and stout
h ly maintained its accuracy. Meantime, an addi-
/ tonal piece of information became known, name
ly, that certain ship had passed the winter safely
housed in Woistcnholme Sound-a statement soon
ascertained by actual investigation to be perfectly
true, and since fully eucidatcd by the return TO
tins country OF the vessel In question, the North
Star.
Such is the substance Of those communications
from the commanders Of the expedition With
respect 10 the value Of the intelligence, il may be
observed that Captain Penny states, in his official
letter of the 2lst Of August that "having offered
his services together with those Of his interpreter
(thc Dane above mentioned,) he was happy TO find
the sole foundation for the dings to be that the
North Star had wintered in the place referred TO-"
Captain Penny, II may be added, also mentions
that 'the EsquimauX from whom the report
obtained" had been on board bis ship for several
hours without making any such communication
though he had been subjected TO questions in abuu-
dance. The account altogether, is Of little
credibility, and, as contemporary observes, with
respect TO the Esquimaux's story, even If under
stood and translated Alright, IL lie ''by inn
probable that the anxious and incessant prosecu-
ton Of inquiries in these waters may have sug-
gescd motives TO the native tribes for inventing
magniiying tales likely to arrest the attention Of
their eager visitors"
in corroboration Of the above II should be stated
that the Prince Albert Commander Forsyth,
rived at Aberdeen between eight and nine O'Clock
on Monday night, (the crew all wcll;) and it is
stated ON "good authority" that the division Of the
exploring ships under the command Of Captain
Austin has carefully examined that part OF The
coast in Bain's Bay where the OF tho catas-
opho IL reported TO have taken place, and has not
been able 10 discover single trace relic OF any
thing belonging 70 them, which could not have
been the case had they persisted in the manner re-
ported.
With respect to Captain Forsyth's voyage, we
find aud annex some interesting gleanngs in and
from London papers
The following letter from Captain Forsyth, re-
porting the return Of this little expedition, consist
ing of his solitary vessel the Prince dbTi will be
read with the deepest interest not only for the in
tollgence II conveys, but for the extraordinary
and unoxamplcd exploit pcrforncd-for it Is no.
thing loss-durng one short season in the Arctic
seas.
IL will be fresh in the recollection Of our readers
that this branch expedition, equipped by the unr-
ing energies OF Lady Franklin, aided by few pri-
vatc personal trcnds and public sypathizcrs in the
causc-equippcd too, in the space Of three short
wcekslcft the port Of Aberdeen after all the other
vessels had long proceeded on their voyage; but,
unlike all those expeditions, che boldly stcmmcd
the waves Of the Atlantic, and threaded the ice
bergs of BaiIn's Bay aonc-aud would have win
tered alone in those dreary regions, whittier she