Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-12-29
THE FATE OF SIN JOHN FRANKLIN.
Tho Death Of Sir John Franklin and his
Party Ascertain The Report of
DIR. Rae Confirmed.

VI
gion, lately made by party under the joint
command of himself and MIR. James Anderson,
another employee OF that company.
On the return of DR. Rae the celebrated over
land explorer Of tho Arctic region, 10 the sum.
mer of 1854, bringing with him the report that
the Esquimaux Of the extreme northern attitudes
had in their possession relics Of the Franklin
expedition, the British government determined
10 make one further effort to penetrate the mys-
terry which had 50 long developed the fate Of
that expedition, and which had been partially
solved by the information thus gained by Dr.
Rae.
In furtherance Of this desire Of the British
government 10 follow up the clue thus unexpcc-
tedly obtained by the adventurous explorar-to
rescue, Il possible, tbs survivors of any Of the
party Of whites who were reported by the Is
quimaux to have been seen near the outlet Of
Backs river, in latitude about Gs degrees north
or at least to procure any records they might
have deposited-lhe IIudson's Bay COMPANY
was directed to fit out party of tried men, ac-
cusiomed 10 the hardships Of polar life. to ex-
plore the region indicated by DR.. Rae.
Acting under this command of the home gov
Company, on the 18th day Of November 1854 3,
issued instructions to Messrs Stewart and An
derson to man and equip a party for the purpose
stated. Mr. Stewart, with party Of fourteen
men, therefore, started from his post, the Carl
ton House, in 81 degrees north latitude, on the
9TH day Of February, 1855, and proceeded TO
Fort Chipewyau, at the head of Lake Athabasca
in latitude 90 degrees north, at which point
they arrived on the 9th day of March,
1t had been determined to make the trip to
the Arctic sea by water, so far as was nractica-
BILE, and the party therefore remained at this
post until the 26th May busily engaged in con-
structing boats, and making other preparations
for their dreary journey. At that date the party
4eh Fort Chipewyan. aud journeyed by canoe
on the Peace river, which connects Lake Atha-
basca with Slave Lake, some three hundred and
fifty miles in norih-wcsierly direction, till, on
the Both of May, they arrived at Fort Resolo-
ton, which is situated on an island in Slave
Lake, about latitude 81 degrees nolth
At Fort Resolution the party was joined by
MIR, Anderson, who, with Mr. Stewart, had
been appointed to the command ofthe expedition,
Here another delay was made, for the purpose
lions before attempting to penetrate the inter-
minabIe frozen North. These arrangements
completed, the party started out on the 22d day
Of June, for the head of Great Fish river, or,
as it is known on the map, Black river, in aui-
tude about G7 degrees north. Thence they fol-
lowed the course of the stream to the > rclic
Ocean. Mr.. Stewart represents the navigation
of this river as exceedingly dangerous, being
obsiructed by over one hundred difficult rapids.
Over all these, however, with nothing more sub
stan,ial than birch-baik canoes, they passed in
safety, and arrived at its mouth on the 3Olh Of
9uly.
Here they met with Esquimaux, who corro-
borated the reports of DR.. Rae, and di recled
them to Montreal Island, short distance from
the month Of Black riyer,as the spot where, ac-
cording to their instructions, they were 10 com
mence minute exploration. From this time IN
I'll the 9th August, the party were Industrious
liz engaged in searches on the island. and on the