Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-11-03
Ktemning OF Sir John Franklin.
Lester OF DIR. Rae. sc.


We fnd in the Eastern papers the letter
Of DR.. Rae 10 Sir Geo Simson, dated at
York Factory. Aug. 4, 1854, from which
We copy rs much rs is essential to place all
the evidence before the public. Yok Fac
tory, from whence he writes, is situated at
the mouth OF Hayes river in Hudson Bay,
in about SO deg. north latitude, and %
deg west longitude. After relating some
Of the events Of his journey, up to the time
OF bis discovery Of the remains OF Sir John
Franklin, he proceeds as Golows:
On the 3lst March my spring journey
commenced. but in consequence Of gales Of
winds. deep and soft snow, and foggy wealth
er. We made but very little progress. We
did not enter Pelly Bay until the l7th.-
AZ this place we met with Esqumsux, one
OF whom, on being asked if he ever saw
white people, replied in the negative, but
said that large party--at least forty per
sons--had perished from want Of food,
soms 10 or IL days journey to the west
ward. The substance of the information
obtained, at various times aud from various
sources. was as follows:
In the spring, four winters past--spring
Of ls5o--a party Of white men, amounting
To about forty, were seen travelling south.
ward over the ice. and dragging boat with
them. BY some Esquimaux who were killing
seals on the north shore Of King Williams
Land. which is large island named Ke.ik'
tar, BY the Esquimsux. None OF the par
" could speak the native language intelli-
Ribly, but, by signs, the natives were made
e. x.p1opseard tho;r ah;,, china bad
been crushed by the ice. and that the
"whites" we're now going to where they
expected 10 End deer to shoot From the
appearance Of the men, all Of whom, except
one officer--chef--lo thin, they were
then supposed to be getting short Of pro-
visions. and they purchased small seal
from the natives.
Alta later date, the same season, but
previous TO the disruption Of the ice, the
bodies Of about thirty white per:ons, were
discover ed on the continent. and FIVE on an
island near it, about long days journey
say S5 or 40 miles-to the N. w. Of large
stream, which can be NJ other than Backs
Great Fish River-named by the Esqui.
maux, Out .koo- hi-ca .lik--as its description,
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 had been buried
probably those of the first victims Of fam
ine-some were in tent or tents, Others
under boa: that had been turned over to
form shelter. and several lay scattered
about in different directions. OF those
found on the island, one was supposed to
have been an officer, as he had a telescope
strapped over bis shoulder, and his double
barrelled gun lay underneath him.
From the mutilated state Of many of the
cerpses and the contents Of the kettles, il
10 evident that our miserable countrymen
had been driven to the last resource-can
nibslism-as means of prolongng 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, having been left
on the ice close to the beach. There must
have been number Of watches, telescopes
compasses, guns, Several double -barrelled,)
dc, all of which appear to have been brok
en- up. as | saw pieces of these different ar
ticles with the Esquimaux, and, together
with some silver spoons and forks, purchased
as many as could obtain. A list Of the
most important Of these | inclose, with g
rough pen and ink sketch Of the crests and
initials on the forks and spoons. The ar.
ticles themselves shall be handed over &c
the Secretary of the Hon. H. B & Co, or
my arrival in London.
None OF the Esquimaux with whom
conversed had seen the "whites," 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.
ENCLOSED IN DIR. RAE'S LETTER
No. Head of (apparently) a walrus OIL
sea-horse, with dragons wings.
No "a griffin, With wings, forked tongue
and tall
No. ga grifin's head. with wings.
No. "A dove with an olive branch in its
bill. surrounded by scroll, with
the motto, "Spero meora."
No. 5--A fsh's head, with (apparenty)
coral branches on either side.
List Of articles purchased of the Esquimaux
said TO have been found to the west. OF
rather N. w. of Backs river, at the place
where the party Of inen starved to death
In the spring Of 1880.
silver table fork, Crest No. !
. do do do :" 2
do do spoon, 8
! do do. motto Spero Meliora," 4
do do fork. {" 4
do dessert do :" S
do table spoon. s
do tea do /" 6
/ do table fork, with initials at. D. s. c.
do do do do "a. Med"
do do do do &c. A. NJ"
do do do do ~. F."
do dessert spoon, do -. F. B."
small silver plate engraved "Sir John
Franklin, K. q. B."
A star with motto, "Nec Aspera Terrent;' p
on one side. and on the reverse &c. R
MDC0CXVD