The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-12-27
THE DAILY DISPATCH.


L LII JHAlI Il ! slyISTA O0.
Thursday Morning, December ~, 1855.
THE FATE or sTR JOHN FRANKIIN.
We learn from the ST. Paul. Minncsosa, papers
of the 18th, that Mr.. James Green Stewart, an Eng
lishman and q chief trader of the Hudson Bay Com.
pany, with four or hve half breeds, arrived there
on the day before direct from the Arctic Ocean
bringing accounts Of the fate Of Sir John Frank.
lin and his crew. Mr. s. was one Of . party who
went out on the Goth Of May, 1854, under instruc.
tons from the British Government to search for the
missing Arctic navigator and his crew n :
The Times publishes an account gathered from
a conversation with one of the guides who accom-
panied, from which we take the following:,
Mr.. Stuart three Indians and fourteen Rod R,var
men OF the North, loft Selkirk early in the sprine
with three canoes; passed through running stream
into lake from thence into White Fish River:
was one month on this river, sleeping ON the shore
entered tho sea, on which they were compelled 10
remain nine days; reached what LIS called Montreal
Island, where they fell in with some EsouiIna,,r
who informed them where the crew of the Terror
Zone Of Franklns shipso met their untimely fate;
gathered up the remains Of boat having the name
of Sir John Franklin on 1t, hammer. Kettles.
part of blue flag, and other articles belonging to
the unfortunate vessel. r "a - . :
Was informed by the Esquimaux that they fthe
Esqumaux reached the spot just in time to see the
last man die OF hunger who was leaning against
some object when discovered. He was too far rome
to be saved. The wolves were very thick there
and no traces of the bones of the men could be
seen. supposed to have been eaten by the wolves
The Esqumaux state that 1t is four years ago since
the crew perished The party left the sea on the
9Th Of August, at which time the ice was accumula
ting very fast. Among the party was a half breed.
celebrated runner, who ran the race with Jack
son, the American Deer, and other American run.
ners. . ssg- 7..5.., = ~
The Pioneer contains the result of long conver.
sation with Mr. s., from which we take the follow.
ing: ~
'nipped," as Mr.. Stewart expressed it, or crushed
between moving mountains of ice. At last, on
Montreal Island. where their explorations com
menced, they found snow shoes known to he of
English make with the name of DR. Stanley who
was the 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
distinctly visible. A piece of this boat containing
this name was brought along with him by Mr..
Stewart. -
Among the Esquimaux were found iron kettles
corresponding in shape and size with those fur
nshed the Franklin expedition, and bearing the
mark of the British government. Other articles
known to have belonged to the expedition, were
obtained from the Esquimaux, and brought by the
party for deposit with the British government. No
The report of the Esquinaux was, that one man
died on Montreal Island and that the balance of the
party wandered on the beach of the main land op.
posite, until, worn out by fatigue and starvation
they one by one, laid themselves down and died
too.
The Esquimaux reported further that Indians
far to the north of them, who had seen the ships
of Franklin's party, and visited them stated that
they had both been crushed between the icebergs
Mr. Stewart took especial pains to ascertain
whether the party had come to their death by fair
means or foul But to every inquiry, the Esqui
maux protested that they had died of starvation.
Gathering together the relies found, the party
set out on their return on the 9th day of August
last. The return route did not vary materially
from that taken On their way north.
And so, at last, the mystery is solved. Brave Sir
! curiosity of the civilized world, it is now known
sleeps his last sleep" by the shores of the frozen
seas through whose icy islands hehad vainly sought
to pass. -Four winters back, as the Esquimaux
said, the noble party, after escaping from the ships
which could no longer float on those dangerous
seas, found release from suffering in death-tiied
manfuy, too, as they had lived; bravely, like true
Engiishmen. This much we may believe, for con-
solation that they met their fate became spirits
adventurous and noble. No traces were found by
the Esqumax to indicate that, even in their last
tremity, they had forgotten their manhood, and
preyed on one another. ,..-.--s.
The last party of generous hearts who sought
to carry succor to the lost ones or bring consolation
to the living, are returned, and the Arctic wastes
soitudes indeed. And, in view of the suffering
endured and the noble lives sacrificed in fruitess eff
forts to widen the bounds of human knowledge, we
believe it to be the prayer ofmen that SO they may
remain forever ---.----. - .y.ts-a
The Free Press, says: Their bones lie buried
in the sand, within an extent of twelve miles,
This is the fifth winter since they perished, and
the drifting sands of that barren region, being in
lat 68 deg. north have piled in successive layers
on the bones of these noble and Inflated men.
Mr.. Stewart describes the region as dreary in
the extreme-not blade of grass a stick of
timber met the eye. No game of any kind could
be found
This Esquimaux, from whom their information
was obtained by signs, pressed their fingers into
their cheeks, and, placing their hands on their
stomachs, endeavored to indicate the manner of
their horrible death. They were charged with
killing them, but merely answered with their
signs -..-.-.-.- ---r. -,--
1t was avery expeditions trip, it being only thir-
teen months since the party left the Red River set