Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-10-30
Discovery of Sir John franklin.

Franklin and crew whose fate has kept the
civilized world for several years in unllup-
py suspense.
MONTREAL, Oct. 2l.-The Montreal
Herald of this morning has the following:
SIN our extra of yesterday evening We
informed the public that rumor was cur
rent in town that the remains Of Sir John
Franklin and his crew and their ships had
been discovered.
I'VE Immediately despatched special
messenger to the Hudson Bay Cbmpany's
house at Lachine,a and through the kindness
of the Governor, Sir George Simpson are
enabled TO lay before our readers the fol-
l5kihs 6ttlina bf dispatch received by
him yesterday from DR.. Rae.
CDR. Rae has been absent on the coast
since the first of the month of June 1858,
and returned to York Factory on the 28th
Of August last, whence he forwarded let.
tiers by express to Sir George Simpson via
the red river settlement.
"After briefly noticing the result Of his
own expedition, and the difficulties with
which they had to contend, he proceeds
to state from the Esquimanx he had OBJ
tanned certain information Of the fate of
Sir John Frahklh's expedition, who had
been starved to death after the loss OF their
ships which were crushed in the ice, and
while making their way south to the Great
Fish river oil Buck near the outlet of which
party Of whites died, leatlng accounts
of their sufferings in the mutilated corpses
Of some which had evidently furnished
food to theft Unfortunate companions.
"This Information. although not derived
from the Esquinaux who had commnica-
ted with the whites and who found their
remains, but from another band who OBJ
tanned the details rira roce, may yet be re-
tied on. No doubt is left of the truth OF
the report, as the natives had in their pos
session various articles OF European manu-
facture hich had been in possession u
the " lites.
"Among these are several silver spoons,
forks, &C., on one which is engraved -
Sir John Franksin K. G.. b." while the
others have erests and initials on them
which indemnity the owner as having be-
lohged TO tire Inflated expedition. Draw
lngs o. some of these nave been sent down.
This fearful tragedy must nave occur.ed.as
long ago as the Spring Of 1850.
The foregoing embraces all the particulars
IS vet known in Montreal
BosToN, Oct. 23.-Thc Montreal pa
pers receied here contain some additional
details of the discovery Of the remains Of
Sir John Fran klin's exploring party. In
The spring Of 1850. party Of forty whites
.,., ~: ,u couf1,,rarJ oyor ill.,. SSo
dragging :their. boats by some Es1ufmanx
who were oscfpIed in killing seals on the
north shore Of King Williams Land
None of the party could speak the nsti*e
language intelligibly but by signs the ma
tives were made TO understand that their
ships had been crushed in the ice. aud that
the whites were now going where they ex-
pected to be able to shoot deer.
From the appearance Of che meH, all Of
whom with The exception Of one chief off
Ger, locked thin, it was supposed they had
got short of provisions and they purchased
a supply o: seals from the natives. At a
later date in tie same season, previous to
the disruption Of the Ice, the bodies Of a
bout 80 white persons were discovered Oh
the continent, and five more bodies vera
found on an island neal about a long days
Journey, say 50 or 40 miles, northwest ola
large stream which can be no othei than
Bucks Great Fish River.
Some of the bodies were buried, and
some found in tents and undeIcoats turned
over them; and several lay scattered about
in different directions. OF those found on
the island, one is supposed 10 have been an
officer as h. had a telescope strapped over
his shoulder, and double barreled gun I'M
der him. From the mutilated state of ma
ny of the bodies, and the contents of ket-
Ties, it was evident that the unfortunate par
fv hadbern driven tocannibaism to prolong
a miserable existence. They appear to
have had an abundant stock Of ammunition.
Among tie articles in the possession of
the natives were the fragments Of watches.
telescopes, compasses, guns, &c. which
had been broken up by them. Or. Rae
saw pieces Of these articles with tine Esqui-
maux, together with come silver spoons,
forks, &c., and as MANY as could be OBJ
tanned he purchased. A list Of the most
important relics found, with drawings of
others, would be forward to london.
Sir JOHN FRANKLIN EXPEDITION con-
sisted Of f3S men. TIE place where their,
remains are reported to have been found
is in about latitude 6, and longitude 80.
ives. from Greenwich. 1t is nearly seven
degrees Of latitude south Of Wellington
channel, where the last traces Of franklin
were found four years ago in the graves of
several Of his men buried in 1856, It
was through this channel that Sir John
was supposed 10 hare forced Els way NORTH
into Polar Sea. Nearly all the various
expeditions which went out in 1913 were
too far west having followed the Msckeh-
zie riyer from the same Lake which the
Back river starts from running cast. Cap
tain Austin, who Investigated the region
of Lancaster Soundin 1876, concluded that
the missing epediiion had not ssen TO the
southwark and westward OF Wellington
channel. Yet at this time. Frankllns par
ty were suffering the pangs OF starvation
some seven degrees south Of Lancaster
Sound. having probably been carried down
Prince Regents Inlet pas! Lancaster Sound
by the ice. 1t is estimated that four mill
ions Of dollars have been expended in fit
ting out various searching expeditions in
England and the United States. Mr.. John
Rae, who has made.the recent discovery
OF the remains Of the iost voyagers. was en-
gagged for three successive years in explor-