Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-11-08
GRAND HAVEN MICHIGAN, WEDNESDAY, Nov s. 1854

asked III ne ever saw Wnlte people, repDed In the
negative, but said that a large party, Cat least
forty persons) had perished for want Of food,
some 10 or II days. journey to the westward.-
The substance of the information, obtained at
various times and from various sources, was as
follows:
In the spring, four winters past, (spring ls5O)
party of white men, amounting to about forty
were seen travelling southwark over the ice, and
dragging boat with them, by some Eequimaux,
who were killing seals on the north shore of
King Williams Land, which is large island
named Kei-ik-tak, by the Esquimaux. None of
the party could speak the native language intel
igibly, but, by signs, the natives were made to
understand that their ships or ship had been
crushed by ice, and that the " whites" were now
going to where they expected to find deer to
shoot. From the appearance of the men, all of
whom, except one officer, (chief) looked thin,
they were then supposed to be getting short Of
provisions, and they purchased a small seal from
the natives.
AT later date, the same season, but previous
to the disruption of the ice, the bodies of about
thirty white persons, were discovered on the
continent, and five on an island near it, about a
long days journey, (say about 35 or 40 mles)
to the N. w. of large stream, which can be no
other than Backs Great Fish River, (named BY
the Esquimax, Out-koo.h-ca.lik) } as its descrip-
tion and that of the low shore in the neighbor-
hood Of Point Ogle and Montreal Island agree
exactly with that of Sir George Back. Some Of
the bodies have been buried, some were in a
tent or tents, others under boat that had been
turned over to form shelter, ard several lay
scattered about in different directions. Of those
found on the island, one was surpassed to have
been an officer, as he had telescope strapped
over his shoulder, and his double.b .barrelled gun
lay underneath him.
From the mutilated state Of many of the
corpses, and the contents of the kettles, it is evil
dent that our miserable countrymen had been
driven to the last resource-cannibalism- a
means of proonging life.
There appears to have been an abundant stock
of ammunition, as the powder was emptied in
heap on the ground by the natives, out of the
kegs or cases containing it, and quantity of ball
and shot was found below high water mark, hav-
ing been left on the ice close to the beach,
There must have been number Of watches,
telescopes, compasses, guns, (several double
barreled) &C., all of which appear to have been
broken up, as saw pieces of these different ar
ticles with the Esquimaux, and together with
some silver spoons and forks, purchased as ma.
ny as could obtain. A list Of the most import
ant of these | inclose, with pen-and-iDk sketch
of the events and initials on the forks and spoons
The articles themselves shall be handed over to
the Secretary of the Hon. H. B. g. Co. on my
arrival in London.
None of the Esquimaux with whom l con-
versed had seen the "whtes," nor had they ever
been at the place where the dead were found,
but had their information from those who had
been there, and those who had seen the party
when alive.
From the head of Pelly Bay--which is bay,
ry, | crossed 60 miles of land in westerly d.
rection, traced the west shore from Castor and
Pollux River to Cape Porter of Sir James Ross,
and could have got within thirty or forty
miles of Bellot Strait, but thought it useless
proceeding further, as could not complete the
whole.
Never in my former Arctic journeys had met
with such an accumulation of obstacles. Fogs,
storms, rough ice, and deep snow we had to fight
against. On one occasion we were four and a
half days unable to get q glimpse of the sun,
or even to make out his position in the heav-
ems. This, on level coast, where the compass
was of little or no use, was perplexing in the ex-
treme.
The weather was much finer on our return
trip than when outward bound, and our loads be-.
ing lighter, our days marches were nearly doub-
le the distance, and we arrived at Repuse Bay
on the 26th May, without accident except in one
instance, in which one of the party lost toe from
frost bite.
The commencement of spring was very fine,
but June and July were colder. We were un-
able to get out Of the bay until the 9th of Au-
gust
Our progress along the coast as far as Cape
Fullerton, was much impeded by ice but on
getting to the southwark Of the Cape we had
clear water, and saw no ice afterwards.
The conduct of the men, am happy to say,
was generally speaking, good; and we had not
a single case of sickness all the time of our alb
sence.
Being anxious to send this to Red River by
the first boats, write in haste and briefly, but
shall have the pleasure of sending more detail
ed account by some future opportunity.
With the utmost respect, | have the honor
to be your very obedient servant,
JOHN RAE.
List Enclosed in DR.. Rae's Letter.
CHESTS.
No. /. Head of (apparently) Walrus or Sea-
horse, with dragons wings
No. 2. A Griffin, with wings and forked tongue
and tail.
No. 8. A Griffin's head, with wings.
No. "A Dove with Olive branch in its bill,
surrounded by scroll, with the motto,
Spero meliora.
No. 5. A fish's head, with apparently coral