Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-01-04
From the ST. Paul, (Minnesota) Democrn', Dec. H.
HIGHLY INTERESTING FROM THE
ARCTIC REGIONS.
RESULT OFANOTHER SEARCH FOR
THE BONES or SIR JOHN
FRA NKLIN.

RESULT TOFANOTHER SEARCH FOR
THE BONES or SIR JOHN
FRANKLIN.
Further Trace. Of tho Lost Savigotors.
We enjoyed the pleasure, yesterday, The
llth inst, Of heightened conversation with
Mr.. Jas Green Stuart, Chief Trader Of the
lludson's Bay Campany, erd learned from
him interesting facts concerning an e1piora-
ton of the Arctic region lately made by
party under tho Joint command of himself
and Mr.. james Anderson, another employee
Of that Company.
On the return OF Dr.. Rae, the celebrated
overland explorer OF the Arctic region, in the
Summer CT 1854. bringing with him the re-
port that the Esquimaux CT the extreme
Northern latitudes. had in their possession
relics Of the Franklin Expedition, the Brit
ish Government resolved to make one further
effort to penetrate the mystery which had go
long erveuncd the fate of that Expedition,
ana which had been partially solved 10y the
information thus gained by DR.. Rae. In fur
therunce of this desire Of the British Gov
ernment to follow up the clue thus une1pect-
edly obtained hy the adventurous explorer,
to rescue, if possible, the survivors Of any
OF the party Of whites who we're reported 10y
tho Esquiinaux to have been seen near the
outlet Of Backs River, in latitude about Is
North, or at least to procure any records they
might have deposited the Eludson's Bay Com
pany was directed TO fit out a party Of tried
men, accustomed to the hardships Of Polar
life, t2 explore tho region indicated by Dr.
Rae.
Acting under this command Of the l!cne
Government, the Governor Of the Hudson Bay
Company on the 18th day of November,
1854, issued instructions 20 Nessrs Stewart
and Anderson TO man and equip party for
the purpose stated. Mr.. Stewart, with a
party Of fourteen men, therefore, started from
his post, the Carlton House, in 54 . North
latitude, on the 1th day cf February, lsj5,
and proceeded to Fort Chippcwyan, a: she
head Of Lake Athabasca, in latitude IS
North. at which point they arrived on the
5th day OF March. 1t had been determined
to make the trip 20 the Arctic Sea By water,
20 far as was practicable, and .he party,
therefore remained at this point until the
26th of May, busily engaged in constructing
boats, and making other preparations for
their dreary journey At that date the par
ty left ,rt ChippewYan, and iourneyed by
canoe on the Peace River, which connects
Lake Athahasca with Slave Lake, some three
hundred and fifty miles ina northwesterly di-
rection, till, on the 30th day of May, they
arrived at Fort Resolution, which is situated
on an island In Slave Lake, about latitude
81 : North
At Fort Resolution the party was joined
by Mr. Anderson, who, with Mr.. Stewart,
had been appointed to the command of the
Expedition Here another delay was made,
for the purpose of reorganization, and max
ing the last preparations, before attempting
to penetrate the intcrminable frozen North,
These arrangements completed, the party
started out on the 22I day Of June. for the
head of Great Fish River, or as it is known
on the map. Back River, in latitude about
"a North. Thence they followed the course
of the stream to the Arctic Ocean Mr..
Stewart represents the navigation Of this riv-
er as extremely dangerous-being ob,tructed
by over one hundred difficult rapids. Over
all these, however, with nothing more sub
stantial than birch-bark canoes, they passed
in safety, and arrived at its mouth on the
3Uth OF July.
Here they met with Esquimaux, who cor
roburated the reports OF DR.. Rae, and di-
rected them to Montreal Island, short dis
tance from the mouth Of Back River, as the
spot where, according to their instructions
they were to commence minute exploration.
From this time until the 9th Of August, the
party were induetriously engaged in searches
on the island, and on the main land between
G1 and Is North latitude. We cannot
recapitulate the peril. escaped, and privL-
tions endured, by the brave band while seek
ing to find traces of their countrymen who
had persisted on those dess0lats shores. Three
times they providentlaly escaped being
nipped, as Mr.. Stewart expressed it, or
crushed between moving mountains of ice
At last, on Montreal Island where their ex-
plorauvns commenced, they found snow
shoes, known to be Of English make, with
the 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
a boat belonging to the Franklin Expedition
with the name Terror still distinctly visible
piece of this boat, containing the name
was brought along with him by Mr.. Stewart
Among the Esquinaux were found iron ket-
ties corresponding in shape --and size with
those furnished the Franklin Expedition, and
bearing the mark of the British Government
| Otherarticles, known to have belonged to the
Expedition, were obtained from the Esqui
inaux, and brought by the party for depositc
with the British Government. No bodies
however, were found, nor traces OF any. The
report ot the EsqulmauX was, that one man
died GU Montreal Island, and that the bal
| ance OF the party wandered on the beach o
the main land opposite, until, worn out by
fatigue and starvation, they, ono by one, laiG
themselves down and diod too.
Tho EsquimauX reported further that In
diaus far to the north of them, who had seer
the ships of Frsnkln's party and visited them
stated that they had both been crushed be
tween the icebergs Mr.. Stewart took espe
cial pains to ascertain whether the party hat
come to their death by fair means OF foul
but to every inquiry, the Esquimaux protest
Ell that they had died Of starvation.
| Gathering together the relics found, I'll,
/ party set out on their return on the 9th day
| of August last. The return route did mo-
vary materially Y from that taken on their way
north. Mr.. Stewart has occupied the Who'll,
time since in reaching our cty--having COM
/ by the way of the Red River country, and hav
ing been absent in all about ten months. Mr.
Stewart left st. Paul yesterday, en- route t,
the lludSon's Bay head quarters at Lachine
/ Canada, to submit an account Of his adven
lures.
And SO, at last, the mystery is solved
/ Brave Sir John, whose fate has awakened tn,
/ sympathlzng curiosity Of the civilized world
it is now known, "sleeps his last sleep b,
/ the shores of the frozen seas through who's,
! icy islands he hae yaiuly sought to pass. Foul
! winters back, rs the ksqulmaux sand, the no
bic party, after e.capins from the ships whicI
could no longer d)at ON those dangerous seas
found release from suffering in death. Die,
manfully, too, as they had lived bravely, lik
true Lnglishmen; this much we may believe
for consolation, that they met their fate a
became adventurous spirits and noble. n
traces were found by the Esquimaux to indi
cate, that even in their last extremity, the
had forgotten their manhood, and preyed o
one another.
The last party of generous hearts, wh
sought TO carry succOr to the lost ones, O
bring consolation TO the living, are returned
and the Arctic wastes are solitudes indeed
And in view of the suffering endured, and tn
noble lives sacrificed in iruitless efforts I
widen the bounds Of human knowledge, W
believe it to be the prayer Of all men, that S
they may remain for ever,