The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-27

LAST NEWS OF Sir JoHN FRASKLIN.-The
return of chief trader Stewart from the Polar
regions may probably be considered as the close
of the last of the expeditions sent in search Of
Sir John Franklin. Though the bones of the
intrepid explorers have never been found, and
no positive proof of their death has yet been
brought to light, all reasonable men will con-
cur in attaching faith to the testimony of the
Esoumaux, corroborated as it is by the discov-
cry OF the remains of their boats aud their
personal gear. Montreal Island and the wild
shores Of Backs Great Fish river will he iden-
tilted on future maps as the place where Sir
John Franklin's last days were spent; and The
skill Of the future historian of Polar discovery
win be called into requisition to depict with
proper yividness the dying struggles Of the
Vanished band-of that "strong man." espe-
cially, whose "head was bowed upon his
knees,n and who was the last to succumb.
Assuming this theory to be beyond question,
i is plain, as was stated when DR.. Rae return-
ed, that Sir John and his men persisted in an
attempt to reach Fort Churchll on foot and
in canoes The chances are that of all the
expeditions that were sent eat in search of
hin, the one fitted ont by Lady franklin was
the nearest his track. That one, consisting
Of the Prince Albert, Captain Kennedy,
spent the winter Of 1s50-'5l in Bat
ty Boy, Prince Regents Inlet. Tue
commander and HE lieutenant, the late
Mr.. Beilot, of the French navy, were convinced
that some trace of Sir John might be dis
covered by thorough exploration of North
Somerset. They set off accordingly on foot,
with party of picked men, and walked rouud
the promontory, crossing it in the neighbor
hood OF Cresswell Bay, and visiting Capes
Pressure and Clarence, and Leopold Island on
the north. They found nothing. Yet II Sir
Johns vessels were destroyed, as is coDjec-
tured in 1913, he must have travelled south
ward along the coast of this very North So
merset, perhaps only the season before. If
Captain Kennedy had pursued his journey fur
ther southwark the chances are that be might
have discovered some traces of Sir John, ii
not the remains of his party.
We cannot tell where the Erebus and Terror
we're destroyed. 1t ia not even certain that
they were destroyed: but common copjectura
assumes that they we're crushed in the ice, and
travellers suggest that the spot where the ca
tastIophe took place must have been either
Victoria Straits, or some of the openings in the
northern cLast of Burrows Strait, into which
Franklns adventurous spirit led him to rove
If this were the case, the survivors OF the
wreck must have travelled nearly six hundred
miles as the crow flies, equal to twelve hun.
a. IN hap thair
visions or their strength are said to have
failed them. TIE journey they had still to make
ia order to reach Fort Churchill, Hudson's
Bay. was not over four buudred miles in a
straight line. IL is possible that scurVy may
have attached the whole party and weakened
them Ia such 80 extent as to render it iupossi
HE Ter them to continue their journey IL is
possible that their provisions may have rdn
snort through some unforeseen aud irrep.rabld
aecdept but it IS but fair to say tnas both
these by po,beses involve Inconsistencies with
what il Known of Sir John Frankln's charac-
ter Discussion, however, Is trite on such a
point let il pass.
II is lot little singular that the return Of
Mr.. Stewart With corroborative evidence OF pr
nat : account suouiu NC si,puiIoutOus Win the
salvage of one of SIR Edward Belcher's aban.
dor,d ships The Resolntc was abandoncd ia
Wellington Channel not far perhaps from
the spot where the Erebus and Terror were
lost-and vas carried away by the drift
through the whole length Of Barrow's strait,
and down Bofdn's Boy to the very mouth Of the
bay, where she was found by our successful
couu,ryman. She needed so little repairs, and
was so little injured by the ice, that there was
no difficulty in bringing her into port. 1t is
greatly to be feared that the salvation Of this |
ship viii t,nd il not to stimulate Arctic navi- |
gniior, at least 10 counieract the legitimate
lesson taught NY the fate Of Sir John Franklin, !