The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-12-27

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Pioneer and Democrat, report of the dis
coveries ofan exploring party sent out by the
British Government, to obtain additional in
formation, if possible, of the fate of Sir John
Franklin,s party, to that brought back by DR.
Rea The party was under the charge of
James Green Steward, chief trader of the
Hudson Bay Company, and Mr.. James Ander-
son, another employee of the company. The
party started from the Carlton House, in 81
deg north latitu lie, on the 9TH of February
1865, and proceeded to Fort Chpewyau, at
the head of Lake Athabasea, in latitude 80
deg. where they arrived on the 9Th Of March,
Here they remained until the 18th Of May
making boats and preparing to go to the Arctic
Sea by water, when they resumed their Jour
ney down tue Peace river, and on the Both Of
May, arrived at Fort Resolution which is sit
uated on an island in Slave Lake, about lati-
tude j deg. north. lIs~Lie-
At Fort Resolution the party was Joined BY
Mr. Anderson, who, with Mr.. Stewart, had
been appointed to command of expedition
Here another delay was made, for the purpose
ofreorganization, ard making the Lost pes
perations, before attempting to penetrate the
interminaDle frozen North. These arrange
ments completed, the party started out on the
22d Of June for the head of Great Fish river
or as it is known on the map, Black river, in
latitude about-66 dogs. north. Thence they
followed the stream to the Arctic ocean. Mr.
Stewart represents the navigation of this riv-
er as exceedingly dangerous ng obstruct-
ed by over 100 difficult rapids. Over all these,
however, with nothing more substantial than
bn ch bark canoes, they passed in safety, and
arrived at its mouth on the Both of July.
Here they met with Esquimaux, who cor
roborated the reports of Dr. Rae, and directed
them to- Montreal Island, short distance
rom the mouth of Black river, as the spot
where, according to their Instructions, the Z
were to commence minute exploration. From
this time until the 9th Of August, the party
were industriously engaged in searches on the
island and on the man land, between 81 dogs.
and 50 dogs north latitude. We cannot re-
capitulate tle perils escaped, and priyations en-
dured ,byt ne brave band VIII lie seeking to find
traces of Their countrymen who had persisted
on those desoiate shores. Three times they
provldentially escaped being ''nipped" as Mr..
Stewart expressed it, or crushed between NOV
ins mountains of ice.
At last on Montreal Island, where their
explorations commenced, they found snow
shoes, known to be of English make, with tn
name of DR.. Stanley; who was surgeon of Sir
John Franklin's ship, the Erebus, cut in them
by knife. Afterwards they found on the
same island boat belonging to the Franklin
expedition, with the name Terror still dis
tinctly visible. A piece of this boat contain
ing this name was brought along with him by
Mr. Stewart. Among the Esquimaux were
found ion kettles corresponding in shape and
size with those furnished the franklin. expedi-
ton, and tearing the mark of the British gov
ernment. Other articles known to have be-
longed to the expedition, were obtained from
the Esquimaux, and brought by the party for
deposit with the British Government. No
bodies however were found or traces of any.
The report of the Esquimaux was, that one
man died on Montreal Island, and that the
balance of the party wandered on the beach Of
the main land opposite, until, worn out by
fatigue and starvation, they, one by one, laid
themselves down and died. 1
The Esquimagx reported further that In
dams far to the north of them who had seen
the ships Of Frankln's party and visited them
stated that they had both been crushed be-
tween the icebergs. Mr.. Stewart took espe-
cial pains to aseestain whether the party had
come to their death by fair means or foul. But
to every inquiry, the Esquimaux protested
that they had died of starvation.
The party began their return journey on
the 9th of August and reached st. Paul on the
18th inst, which place Mr.. Stewart left on the
18th for the Hudson Bay headquarters at Lu-
cheve, Canada, to make his report.
The Pioneer says ''no traces were found by
the Esquimaux to indicate that even in their
last extremity they had forgotten their man
hood, and preyed on one another