The southern press., 1851-08-13
supposed TIdIngs Of Sir John Franklin.

supposed TidIngs Of Sir John Franklin.
The Dundee (Scotand) Advertiser of th'
25th, contains statement by Mr.. G. Douglass
mate " the whsler Flora, just arrived at Strom
ner's, after voyage of one and half years
from which the following interesting extracts
! are made:
ain February last our ships crew partially
abandoned the vessel, and erected large snow
house on the shore, il being in many respect.
more comfortable than on board, and better
suited for hunting operations We had been Al
that time FIVE months frozen up in Lancaster
Sound. In one ofour excursions we fell in with
party of Esquimaux Indians, nine in number
they had slight knowledge Of our language
they inquired whether We were English or
American. On being satisfied on that point
they inquired if we belonged to Chief Franklin
The idea now flashed upon our minds that
they knew something of Sir John and his crew
and we answered in the affirmative. They then
pointed to the right, to towering heap of snowy
mountains, and by their gestures they signified
they had gone to sleep:
= We brought them to our snow-house, when
instantly reported the case to Mr.. Robb, our cap.
tain, and it was agreed that party oftwelve men
would accompany the Indians, and probe their
story to the foundation. The party consisted
of Mr. Page, our surgeon, J. Brown, carpenter
Wilson, Blair, Hall, Murray, Agnew, Crosley
Jones, Jenkinson, Rafferty,, (seamen), and my
self. We had plentiful supply Of provisions
which were packed into a at-bottomed boat
which was covered with seal-skin, and several
rifles, spears, &c,
We started on our dreary journey on March
9th. Our route was one of the widest which
can be conjectured. We proceeded in zig-zag
course up one hill. down another, then to the
right, then to the left, then to the right again.
On the fourth day symptoms of discomfort began
to be manifested by our hardy tars, our feet were
cut and wounded with the sharp projecting frag
ments of ice--the thaw was setting in, and we
were apprehensive of being buried by the falling
avalanche Of snow, which descends like lightning
down the side of the mountains.
4 On the 10th day, April 5th, our guides led us
into large natural amphitheatre among the
mountains After a journey of some miles we
| deserted something waving over the snow--it
was black silk handkerchief tied to the top OF
a walking stick. We eagerly drew out the staff,
and commenced operations by digging about two
feet deep. We came on the body Of a man, and
in few minutes after we discovered three other
bodies. They Were frozen like icicles; decom.
position had net commenced. Their boards
were long and shaggy, while their rigid features
and wasted limbs spoke in the language of ma,
ture-they had died from want.
Their dress was that of British seamen in cold
ATTITUDES. One man had his name written, or
rather engraved, on his arm, "H. Carr" The
rest were all more or less marked, some had
crosses on their breasts, others stars ships, let
tiers, &c. Our hearts sickened at the sight. We
replaced them in their cold desolate graves, and
set'up the same sad memento mori. Poor fel.
lows, exclaimed you have attempted to regain
your homes by an overland journey, but you are
left in the desert.
| The Indians could give us no more intelligence,
so we retured The most probable conjecture
is, large party had set out from Sir John
Franklin's expedition; four had thus perished
in all probability the whole of them are now
dead
! The Star of June IA furnishes the following
items from Northern Mexico
Major Hamilton, who arrived in this city a
/ few Days since from Durang, chihuahua and
Sonora where he has been for a drove of sheep,
has furnished us with some incidents of his trip,
some Of which we annex.
Ma;or HI smilton reports the killing of three
persons who were in his company, by the
| Apaches Or the 2Sth of April, the Indians
came into camp with apparently friendly inten-
tons, and sal ! that they desired to trade. As
soon as the co -apany were put OFT their guard,
| the Indians la need and killed Henry Schmidt, a
German, and 4 man named Arnold. This oc-
Cured at Aqua Prieta. The Americans killed one
of the Indians and the rest ran away On the
next day they net the Apaches who held out
white flag, an declared that they desired peace
with the Amer icans-These and similar pro-
testations indu ced Henry Gray, Of the party,
to return to ca np with the Indians, and on the
road they kle him rs they had done Schmidt
and Arnold. Gray was from Newport, KY, but
for some time ,ast had been residing in FL Paso.
About .he time Major Hamilton passed
| through Santa Cruz, the Apaches made n charge
into that tcwn, where there are fifty troops sta
toned. The soldiers made no resistance, and
the Indians car ried away with them Mexican
boy, aboutfour years old,
The Apiches are well armed, and are at war
with all oher tribes except the Camanches.
They are afraid 10 attack the American emigrants,
but will cut Off stragglers, whenever an oppor-
tunity is afford, ID, and will attack the Mexicans,
no matter It W 1at odds.
| Major Hnmil ton was told by an officer Of the
army in Ssnorl, that in case the Mexican gov.
ernment filled TO afford protection TO the in
habitants Of that State, application would be
made 10 %, United States for annexation.
| Sonora iffords the finest pasture lands in The
world; but bere az in the adjoining States the
inhabitants are in the great est dread Of the In.
dians. Nearly all the ranches have been de.
serted, and the people have fed TO the towns
and villages.
Col. FBsMoNT.-A report was quite current
n few day, sins that Col. Fremont and family
had returned { rom California. This is mistake.
| 10 Ia ,,at ;Go ID bo
| night Of the q eat five at San Francisco, pre-.
sented the gala Mt Colonel with fine specimen
of California ju peniity
lateletter says he has disposed of his great
California land claim, covering some $4,000
acres Of land in the mining region to London
company at 8: y per acre, or an aggregate Of
nearly one mil ion Of dollars, and this in the
face of an all, ged insufhciency Of Fremont's
title, and Of tn board Of three commissioners