Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-12
THE NORTHWEST PAssAGE-cApT. McCLURE's
DISPATCHES

l. ". warren,
Sea, August "a, 1880" After giving preliminary
facts the Captain his arrival in Smiths Bay,
and says that at A. NJ the 9Th Of August being
Point Drew he sent Mr.. Court shore to erect cabin
and bury notice Of their having passed The party
landing met by three natives Who at first shy
became communicative 1t then ascertaned that the
party consisted of ten TENTS and that they had arrived
only three days before.
Several of them came off to the vessel but had little
to barter all their hunters were away but immediate
y we had been observed they were sent for and would
soon arrive Then said they, sYou will be gone and
how disappointed they will be- They appear q simple
kind people, very poor very filthy, and to US looked
ceedngy wretched The time of our return was repeat
edy inquired for by them They would have quantity
Of SKINS they anxious for to wait little
they might send off supply of rcndeer but the boat
turning and the wind fair made them few presents
and gave them letter to be forwarded to the Russian
Fur Company and made sail to the eastward the wind
being light we close along Shore in from four to
six athoms, we had great many ysiters many of them
had been their whole lives between the Coppermne and
Point Barrow These could give information of the
missing expedition.
81 am certain that had any of them reached these
shores must have heard of it, The coast is inhabited
throughout and the natives are to all appearance kind
and merry race and when gave them presents through
the medium OF the interpreter we told them that
were looking for lost brothers, and if they any
white in distress they be very kind to which
they assented by saying they would and give them pen
is exceedingly low observed upon Point Pitt conca
mounds thinking they might have some communication
buried beneath, in to examine them While in stays
the vessel took the ground but hove OF almost i'm
medlately without any damage the bottom being soft
clay The boat sent to the mound reported them
old Esqumaux caches where they deposited their venison
They left bottle containing nole OF our passing"
On the 18th of August the captain discovered Joness
Island, and again body of natives came off,
Through the interpreter, Mr. Mertschng, we learned
4latyL
had they the smallest article Of European manufacture
about them lieutenant Pullens boats they observed
last year, but they were some distance OIL and conse-
quently had no comHunicaton) They live during the
summer months upoa these desoate islands, and in the
winter retire short distance the mainland TO their
warmer residences. Their women and tents were upon
another island. They fine active set of young
men, average height about five feet six inches. These
barter their skins, &C. with tribe further west, who in
their turn do the with Others until they reach the
Russian post upon the Colylle To them entrusted
despatch for their Lordshps which they promised most
faithfully should be forwarded to the Colville.
g made them o few presents also beats ensign, in
commemoration Of the first man-of-war whose flag has
ever hoated in these sterile regions The agncence of
the gift they could not for time comprehend, and
were loathe to touch it but length the interpreter
made them understand it sent them by great chief,
and in return they to be very kind to all white men
they met and show it to them All this they promised
The chief then seized it in his and across the
island to his canoe followed by the remainder of his tribe
and no doubt hurried with the joyful tidngs to the
men, We find westerly SET which prevents our making
but slight progress the wind hanging SO much to the
eastward"
The second despatch is dated August 3Oh, 1850. On
the oath, attempting land Port Warren in
stead of being greeted with friendly signs several natives
appeared and menaced the party the most significant
manner.
" Taking no heed Of these hostile demonstrations we
pulled in; they retreated, yelling furiously Upon
reaching the full of the beach made the same signs Of
friendship which we had used with the Esqumaux for
Their west but without any effect until joined by the in
terpreter who was in full native costume. This gave
them confidence and upon his explaining friendly
intentions they approached but when within about thr
ty yards remarkng muskets which the boats
had their fury revived. To pacify them they laid
upon the ground where they became the object Of
tous examination. Still unsatsfed, they beckoned to
take them the boat Seeing nothing short OF this
would allow of any communication sent them away;
when they approached and permitted to examine their
bows and arrows
'Mr. Miertsching informed me that we had been OBJ
served at o'clock in the morning; the whole tribe had
Immediately taken to their baidars with their most vau
able skins and left the settlement with the exception of
the chief and his son. who remained defend their pro-
pery, 1t would have been undignifed retire when
danger was apprehended. sick and his mother,
seeing friendly disposition joined DR.. Arm
strong examined the poor lads foot; it in fright
full state of NOTIFICATION. The chief stated that they
were at war with the neghboring tribes and had
siOnal skrmshes with the Indians that they had no
municaton with any person belonging the Great river
Mackenzie had they seen any white people before
but when the freezes 1.-THE latter end OF next month";
the whole tribe proceed west and trade with the Esqui
maux whom we had met Jones's island
The interpreter told him that he had found brother
in the chief of one of those tribes whose At
tauwas the old chief capped his hands and said he knew
him we'll that he the great chief he traded with and
their reason for going such distance, in preference to
the Mackenzie, that the white had given the
Indians very bad water, which killed many and made
others foolish drunk and that they would not have any
such water From this evidently appears that the com
pany lose annually many valuable skins which find their
way 70 the Colville instead of the Mackenzie.
Observing an old fat brass button suspended from
the ear Of the chief he said it taken from white
man who had been killed by of his tribe who went
away in his kyack when the vessel the white
man belonged to party which had landed at Point
warren and there built house; nobody knew how they
came as they had boat but that they went inland
the man killed had srayed from the party and that he
The only answer that could obtain to the probable
time when this transaction took place was that 1t might
be last year, or when was a child
10 examine the grave l very anxious, but was
prevented by the state Of the weather becoming oggy
with fresh breeze, which compelled immediate
return to the ship; so, making them few presents, we
parted on very amcable terms This intelligence appear
ed OF SO important nature with respect to the white
men on the point that determined to remain until 1t be-
came sufficiently clear to land and examine the house
which might possibly contain some indication Of the miss
ing expedition this detained eighteen hours but to
have left with doubt would have been subject OF per-
petual regret.
"At 2 A. NJ. on the following morning. the 25th, we
reached the point the weather being toeraby clear The
interpreter Dr. Armstrong and myself went shore in
eager expectation OF discovering some clue that woad
lead to knowledge of the parties but in this
miseraby disappointed. Two hus indeed were to excite
hopes but upon approaching them we found the wood
work to be perfectly rotten and Of very old date, with