New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-12-28
Arrival of an Arctic Expedition at St. Paul
RELICS OF THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.

RELICS OF THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.
The st. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer and Dem
ocrat Of the 18th, furnishes long and inter-
esting account Of the explorations and adven-
lures of party fitted out by the Hudson Bay
Company, in compliance with an order of the
British Government to have the country in the
region. of the outlet of Back river, latitude
about $50, thoroughly searched for the remains
Of the Franklin Expedition, and any records
that may have been deposited concerning it
This, it will be remembered, was indicated by
DR.. Rae as the vicinity in which the Esquimaux
had found relics of the unfortunate expedition,
and in which had persisted, it was supposed, the
last survivors.
The party consisted Of fourteen men, under
the command of Mr.. James G. Stewart and Mr.
James Anderson--sixteen in all. They reached
Fort Resolution--situated on an island in Slave
Lake, in about latitude 6lo--on the Both of
May, 1866. Here they were delayed by the
necessary preparations for their dangerous and
dreary journey. We quote from the Pioneer:
These completed the party started out
on the ed day Of June the head Of Great Fish River
or it is known on the map, Back river, in latitude
the the Arctic Ocean, Mr. Stewart represents
the navigation of this river as exceedingly dangerous
being obstructed by over one hundred difficult rapids
Over all These however, with nothing substantial
than birch bark they passed in safety and arrived
at its mouth on the Both Of July.
Here they met with EsGumaux, who corroborated the
reports Dr. Rae and directed them to Montreal Island
short distance from the mouth of Back river as the
spot where according to their instructions they
minute exploration From this time until the
9th August, the party industriousy engaged in
searches the island and the main land between 81
deg and SO deg north latitude We cannot recspituae
the pers escaped and pryatons endured by the brave
band while seeking to find traces of their countrymen
who had persisted those desolate shores Three times
they proyidentialy escaped being nipped Mr. Stew
art expresses it, crushed between moving mountains of
Ice At last Montreal Island where their explorations
commenced they found shoes known to be of Eng
lish make with the Of Dr. Stanley who was surgeon
of Sir John Frankins ship the Erebus cut in them by
knife. Afterwards they found the island boat be-
Terror, still distinctly visible piece Of this boat con-
tanning this name was brought along with him by Mr..
Stewart. B4
Among the Esqumaux were found iron kettles cor
responding in shape and size with those furnished the
Franklin expedition and bearing the mark of the British
Government Other articles known to have belonged to
the expedition obtained from the EsQumsux and
brought by the party for deposit with the British Gov
eminent. No bodies however, found traces Of
any. The report of the Esquimaux was, that man
died en- Montreal Island, and that the balance of the
party wandered the beach of the main land opposite
until worn out by fatigue and starvation, they, by
one laid themselves down and died too
The Esquimaux reported further that Indians far to
the north of them who had the ships of Fraukns
party and visited them, stated that they had both been
crushed between the icebergs Mr. Stewart took espe-
cla pains to ascertain whether the party had to
their death by fair foul But to every inquiry
the Esqumaux protested that they had died Of
ton.
Gathering together the relics found the party out
their the 9th of August last The return
route did not vary materially from that taken their
way north Mr.. Stewart has occupied the whole time
since in reaching cty--haying by the way of
the Red River country and having been absent in all
eft anil vast rdpyI
route to the Hudsons Bay headquarters at Lachine
Canada, to submit an account of his adventures.