The true Democrat., 1854-12-27
The Fate of Sir John Franklin.
To the Elitor of tue London Times

SIR-The question has frequently been asked of me, How can account for so few of the unfortunate party forming the expedition under Sir John Franklin being seen by the Esquimauq and for all these being found dead at or near one spot"'
 It Is my duty, as we'll as my desire, to give every information on this distressing subject not only to the relatives and friends of the lost men, but also to the public at large, and the best medium of doing so is through the columns of your far and wide" spread journal, should you consider the following remarks worthy of a place therein.
 As l have not the blue-book on the subject of Arctic discovery by me, may make some error in my statementS but, as far as my mem- ory serves me, the last news we had from Sir John Franklin, in 1845, was that he had pro- ! visions for three, or somewhat more than three years, which he could make last for four- Again, the captain of a whaler, whose name forget, says that |" the crews of the Erebus and Terror, when in Batfin's Bay, on their passage westward, were killing and salting down great numbers of waterfowl, as a resource in case of necessity
 The information obtained by me from the Esqumaux (by mode of questioning which they understood, and in which they were induc ed to explain the different places where they had passed the winter seasons since the year lo43,) was, consider perfectly conclusive as to the spring of 1850, being the period of the melancholy catastropheto to which refer. This will make the time elapsed since Sir J ohn Frank lin was last tseen in Baftin's Bay until the spring of 1850, very nearly five years.
 Supposlng that the provisions carried from England by the expedition did last four years, by the end of which have no doubt the crews of the vessels would be much reduced in num- bers, and those that survived greatly debili- tated,) the party would be wholly thrown on the greasy, rancid, sated water fowl, which believe most persons will agree with me in thinking, would increase the fatality and scur- ", if it already existed, or cause that dread disease, if it had not previously made its ap- pearance.
 This. may account rationally for so few white men having been seen by the natives.
 Again, "as to all the dead being found at or near the same place."
 Nothing is more natural or more easily ac- counted for by person of experience in the Arctic seas, and whose mind is properly con- structed.
 Let us for moment picture to ourselves a party uf gallant men, reduced by want, and, perhaps disease, to great extremity, pushing their way to the mouth of large river, such as the Back, the ice on which they expected would break up in short time, and permit them to 1 embark in their boat. Having arrived near such river, the strength of some had failed, so that they could not travel, even when unat- tached to the sledge, and the others were una ble to drag them. What step would brave men take in such difficulty? My reply would be, cling together: stop, and let the stronger endea- vor to kill game for the support of themselves and the weaker, until the ice broke up, then embark, turn by turn, in the boat, and thus travel with much greater ease and speed than 1 when on foot. ,.a a To show that this opinion is not mere fancy or fiction on my part, may mention that my first feeling on hearing the mournful tidings was one of regret that had not been with the suffering party-a feeling difficult to analyze, but which must have arisen instantaneously and without reflection, from an idea that my greater experience of Arctic travelling and hunting might have been useful in extremity and dan- ger. a5GH state this as not anything praiseworthy or commendable on my part, but to explain what think would be the sentiments of any man having the ordinary amount of courage and love for his fellow man. 14t
 Another point to which l would for moment advert is the tragic event connected with the last days of our countrymen.
 The Esquimaux whom saw ata Pelly Bay preceded me to Repulse Bay, and, when re. turned, were living in the most friendly terms with three men left in charge of our property there. None of these men understood a word of the Esquimaux language, yet l was inform ed by them, before 1 had communicated any o my news that they believed party of white men had died of starvation far to the westward