New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-12-02
The Fate Of Sir John FRANKLIN.

To the Editor Of tie Lo,d5r Times
sfr-Fhe question has frequently been assed ii me,
forming the expedition under Sir John FrsnsIin being
seen By the Rsqnineux, aud f3r all these being forud
lead at or near the sauce apote
IL is my duty. we'll DESIRE to give every infor
nation ON this distressing sunjeet oay the rela-
ives and friends Of the les men, but also the public
large, and the best medium doing 40 In through the
columns Of your far and wide spread Journal should
consider the following remarks worthy Of place
As have the blue books on the subject Of Arctic
fiacoyery py me, may make in my state
asnes qns g sr as my memory serves me, the last
eess we nad OF Sir John Franklin in 1845 that he
ad provisions for trsa or somewhat mora than tlrss
sears which he could last sor four Again
eregs of the ErebUs and Terror when in B ss Raw on
their passage Westward killing and ssltfua invgn
great numbers Of WATERFOWL as reaoaree in case Of
necessity =
The information obtained by ne from the Esouiuapx
10y mode of questioning which they understood and IN
which they were induced to explain the different places
where they had passed the winter saasons since the wear
iS4g was consider perfectly eoneusive the spring
II 1850 being the period melancholy catastrophe 10
which refer This viii make the time elaspsd se Sir
John Franklin was Last In Baain;s Bay until the
spTing Of 1850 very nearly five yesrs.
Surprising that the provisions carried from EnQau hy
the expedition did last four years (by the end Of which
have doubt the Of the vessels would be much re-
ducea in numbers and those that surviFd greatly de-
bilitated) the party would be wholly thrown the
greasy rancid salted waterfowl which believe most per-
sons IN agree with me in thinking would increase the
fatality Of seurry If already existed that dread
disease. it it had not previously made ts appearance
This may account nationally for few whits hav-
ing been seen by the natives.
Again, g all the dead being found at or near the
same place, z -
Nothing moro natural or more easily accounted for
by person Of experience in the Arctic Seas and whose
mind is property constructed.
Let ~ for moment picture to ourselves party Of
gallant men reduced By want and perhaps disease to
freaf extremity, pushing their way the mouth of
large ,such the Back the ice on which they e-
pectad would break up in short time and permit them
to embark in their boat Having arrived near such
river the strength Of had failed so that tey could
not travel even when unattached the sedgs and the
others we're unable tn drag them. What step would
brave men take in such dificulty Ny reply would be-
cling together-sop and let the stronger to
MI game for the support Of themselves and the weaker
until the ice broke up then embark turn by turn in the
eoat and thus travel with much greater and speed
To show that this opinion is not mere fancy or fiction
On my part may menrion that my first feeling ON hear
ing the ournfni tdngs of regret fhaf not
been with the suffering partya feeling difficult ana
yze but which must have arisen instantaneously and
without reflection from an idea that my greater ezpe
useful in extremity and DANGER
state this net as any thing praiseworhy or commend
able On my part but to explain what think would be
the sentiments Of any having che ordinary
OF courage and love for his fellow-nan.
Another point to which would for a moment advertis
the tragic event connected with the last days of
eoantfymau
The Esquinaux whom saw at Pelly Bay preceded me
To Repuse Bay and when returned we're living in the
most friendly with the three men left in charge of
our property there None Of these understood
ef the Esquimaux language yet was Informed by them
before had communicated any Of my news that they
believed party OF white had died Of starvation far
to the westward, aud that they had been reduced to
very dreadful alternative before death On my asking
my informants how they had discovered this they
piled by the signs made them by the natives
It may be demanded why did not give all these
sons in Confederation Of statements In the report
the Admiralty. The answer is simple kept such for
my more detailed report the Honorable Huasnns Bay
Company which circumstances to which have alluded
in previous communication that appea-ed in your pc
| peg have prevented me from completing.
may add. in support Of what stated few days ago
regarding carrying with them useless articles
aTing to abandon their ships in the Arctic ssa, that
have since learnt from the best anthotysr ehn
bimseE-that in efacting his wonderful escape after
three years dstenton in Prince Regents Inlet be dis
rbuted his silver plate among the men rather than
il behind and thus brought NEST of it To England with
linn
Shoud you think these remarks worthy of yo1r notice
have the honor be- Sir your very oh4dient servant
Tavistock Hotel Nov o. JOHN RAE