Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-11-28
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OBe 4ailp Spy.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1854.
Sir john Franklin.


1t is a singular coincidence connected with
Arctic discovery, that we should receive in
telligeuce from every party engaged in the
search for Sir John Franklin within one week,
the American expedition under DR.. Kane
alone excepted, and at the same time, learn
the melancholy fate of Sir John Franklin
himself and his brave companions. 1t is sin
GUAR too, that this news should come to us
from different quarters. First the return to
England of the ships which have been en-
gagged in exploring the regions contiguous to
Bafin's Bay, approached from the Atlantic,
accompanied by the officers of several vessels
abandoned in the ice. Next, to hear from
California of the remarkable escape Of the
exploring ship Enterprise, Capt. Collinson,
after being frozen up in the Arctic Sea for
three years and lastly, of the discovery of
the dead bodies of Sir John Franklns party,
near the mouth of the Great Fish River of
Capt. Back.
The discovery of the remains of franklin
ard his party, in region which has received
less attention from the searching parties THAI
any other, will cause sincere regret among the
philanthropic individuals who have been FORE
most III promoting and directing them, that
they had not made provision for the contin-
gency which they seem to have overlooked.
The struggle has been to reach the high polar
latitudes, in the belief that Sir John Franklin
had attained them, where he had found him
self in an open sea, with a temperature less
severe than in lower ATTITUDES. Here, it was
furthermore supposed, that his Ships either
became disabled, or were crushed by the ice,
in which event the party had been subsisting
upon game and fish, which there is every rea-
son to believe abounds there. 1t is true that
parties were sent out to explore the northern
shores of the continent which were traced
for many hundred miles, as well as the several
straits and nlets between Barrow's Strait and
Behring's, except one which is known as
Prince Regents Inlet, nearly south Of Wei
lington channel. 1t was within this inlet
that Sir John Ross was compelled to abandon
his ships, the Fury and Heca, and after an
absence of four years make his escape in open
boats to Baitins Bay, where he met the whal-
ing feet.
The reason why this inlet has not been ex-
amined by any of the searching expeditions,
is, because it was known that it afforded no
passage through, and that Sir John Franklin
would not, in consequence, attempt to seek
passage there, particularly after it had proved
so disastrous to Sir John Ross. But when
the former sailed, he believed, in common
with most others, that an opening existed
through the head of Prince Regents Inlet,
otherwise known as the Gulf of Boothea to
Behring's Strait; and it is asserted that Sir
John intended to seek passage there, in case
he should fail in making his way through
Wellington channel, or any ether northern
route. An examination of the head of the
Gulf of Boothea was subsequently made by
order of the Hudson's Bay Company, when
it was discovered that no passage existed
through it to the westward, as had been be-
lieved
In view of all these facts, while the various
expeditions were being fitted out in England,
Col. p Force, of Washington, addressed a
letter to DIR. ScoTesby, distinguished Arctic
navigator, recommending that thorough ex-
animation should be made of the shores of the
| Gulf of Boothea, both by sea through Prince
| Regents Inlet, and by land from the west
! ward, which he said g would be much more
likely to lead to the discovery of Franklin,
than an examination Of any Of the points to
w ich public attention is directed This
suggestion at first met with approval, and it
| was stated in the London journals that YES
sci would be sent to make thorough explor-
alton of this inlet and gulf.
If our readers will examine a recent map
of the Arctic regions, they will perceive that
il Franklin found Wellington channel closed
by ice, as it usually is. he would then seek
one of the Southern or Western passages, viz:
Prince Regent Inlet, the passage between
North Somerset and Prince of Waless Land,
called Ommanneys Inlet, or to push up Bar
rows Strait towards Melville Island.
IL is now evident that Sir John did make
the attempt to push his way either through
Prince Regents or Ommanney's Inlet, where,
losing his ships, he was compelled to force his
way to the nearest point where he could OBJ
tair relief. II the disaster had happened to
his ships near the entrance of these inlets he
would, as Sir John Ross did before HIM, have
retraced his steps to Leopold Island, where he
would have found provision, and probably
met some of the many vessels in search of
him. But it is evident he was far to the south,
up one Of the nlets referred to, so that his best
chance to escape was to proceed south to some
of the trading ports of the Hudson's Bay
Company. Judging from the spot where the
remains of the party were found, he might
have been on his way from either of the inlets
mentioned, as both converge towards Backs
River.
1t does not appear that either of the search
ing parties traced the shore where the final
disaster took place, though it is certain that
the track of Sir John must have been crossed
by several. There is too, but little doubt,
that Sir James c.. Ross in 1849 was on the
track of, and very near to the object of his
search. We are Of opinion that had the re-
commentator, so urgently pressed by Col.
IOTCc 10 eAdIulne U1e nedQ OF Grlnce regents
Inlet, as well as the Western Shore of Boo
thea Felix been followed, the sufferers might
have been relieved. Or if one-half the efforts
that were made to the north of Barrow's
Strait, had been made south of it, like sue
cess would have attended them. Yet, the
course followed was the advice of the most
experienced Arctic navigators.
Thequestion is asked why Franklins party,
having an abundance of provisions, starved
to death. This can only be accounted for by
supposing the ships to have been crushed and
completely overwhelmed by the ice, together
with their contents. Such catastrophe, it
is known, nearly befel the gallant De Haven.
In such an event, the party were left with
small supply of provisions, with which they
attempted to reach the outposts, and persisted
in the attempt. 1t appears that DR.. Rae has
been directed 10 fit out a new party next sum-
mer, to seek the remains of Sir John Frank
lin and his party, in the hope that his jour
mails may be found, and, in a measure reveal
the mystery which must otherwise over hang
over it.
A DINNER.-The following proclamation
sets an example, which is not likely to be so
extensively followed, as to become danger
Gus precedent:
He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the
Lord. A proclamation by Louis Lewiston. -
In obedience to the dictates of my belief in