The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-01-24
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Tho Fate of Sir John Franklin.

The St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer and
Democrat Of December IL, has the follow
ing highly interesting narrative Of further
discoveries regarding the fate of Sir John
Franklin and party:
We enjoycd the pleasure yesterday, the
llth inst, Of Il heightened conversation
with James Green Stewart, Chief Trader
OF the IIu'!son's Bay Company, and learned
some interesting facts concerning Al exllora-
ton Of the Arctic region, lately made 10y
party under the joint command Of himself
and Mr. James Anderson, another employee
Of that company.
On the return Of Dr. Rea, the celebrated
overland explorer Of the Arctic region, in
the summer Of 1854, bringing with him
the report that the EsquimauS Of the ex-
treme northern latitude had in their posses
sion relics Of the Franklin expedition, the
British government determined to make
one further efnrt to penetrate the mystery
which has so long envclopeI the fate Of
that expedition, and which had been par
TALLY solved hy the information thus gained
by DR.. Rcn.
In futtherancc Of this desire OF the Brit
iol' government to follow up the clue thus
unexpectedly obtained by the adventurous
explorer-to rescue if possible the Survivors
OF any Of tile party Of whites who were re-
lor;ed by the Esqui,naux to have been
seen near the outlet Of Backs river, in lati.
tnde about 6s degrees north, or at least to
procure any records they might have de-
posted, the IIuLson's Bay Company was
directed to fit out company of tried
men, accustomed to the hardship of a
polar life, to explore the region indicated
by DR.. Res.
Acting under this command Of the home
government, the Governor Of the Hudson's
bay Company, on the 18Th day of Novem-
Der, 1854, issued instructions to Messrs.
Stewart and Anderson to man and eouip a
party for the purpose stated. Mr.. Stewart,
with party Of fourteen men, therefore,
started from his post, the Carlton House,
in "a degrees north latitude. on the I'll,
'lay Of February, 1855. and proceeded to
Fort Chipewyan, at the head Of Lake Alha-
basca, i'll latitude So degrees north at which
point they arrived on the 5tl, day Of
March.
1t had been determined to make the trip
to the Arctic sea by water, so far rs was
practicable, and the party therefore remain.
ed at this post until the 26lh May. busiIy
engaged in constructing the boats and max.
ing other preparations for their dreary jour:
ney. AT that date the party left Fort
Cn'pe~yan, and journeyed by canoe on
the Peace river, which connects Lake Atba.
basca with Slave Lake, some three hundred
and hfty miles in a northwesterly direction
till; on the aoth Of May, they arrived a,
Fort Resolution. which is situated on ar
island in Slave Lake, about latitude 81 de-
grees north.
AZ Fort Resolution the party was joined
by MIR. 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 Interpretations before attemptiel
to, penetrate the interminable frozen Nortb
These arrangements completed, the party
started out on the 22d day of June for til,
head of Great Fish river, or, as it is knowr
on the map, Back river, in latitude abou
sixty-four degrees north. Thence they fol
lowed the course Of the stream to tb'
Arctic ocean; Mr.. Stewart represents tlI'
navigation of this river as exceedingly dan
geroas, being obstructe1 by over one hun
dred difficult rapids. Over all these, how
ever, with nothing more substantial thar
birch-bark canoes, they passed in safely
and arrived st its mouth on the s0th o
July.
Here they met with Equimaux, who
corroborated the reports of Dr.. Rae, ant
directed them to Montreal Island, a sl,or
distance fro,p the mouth of Back river, a.