Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-08
From the st. Paul Pioneer and Democrat Dec L.
Arctic EXPLORERS,

bay company, ana leafleu iFoii iiih III
facts concerning exploration Of the Arctic re-
gion, lately made by party under the JOINT
command of himself and Mr.. James Anderson,
another employee Of that Company.
On the return of DIR. Rae. the celebrated over
land explorer of the Arctic region, in the Sum-
mer of 1854, bringing with him the report that
the Esquimaux of the extreme North latltude5
had III their possession relics of the Franklin
expedition, the British Government determined
to make one further effort to penetrate the mys-
terv which had so long enveloped 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 Brit
ish Government to follow up the clue thus unex
pectcdly obtained by the adventurous explorer,
to rescue if possible, the survivors of any Of the
party of whites who were reported by the Es-
quimaux to have been seen the outlet of
Backs River, in latitude about IS deg. North, or
at least to procure any records they might Lave
deposited, the Hudson's Bay Company was di-
rected to fit out party of tried men, accustom-
ed to the hardships of polar life to explore III.
region indicated by DIR. Rae.
Acting under this command of the home gov
eminent, the Governor ofthe Hudson's Bay Com
panv, on the 18th day of November, 1855, issued
instructions to Messrs. Stewart and Anderson,
to man and equip party for the purpose stated
Dr. Stewart, with party offourteen men, there
fore, started from his post the Court House, in
81 deg. north latitude, on the It'll day Of Febru-
airy, 1855, and proceeded to Fort Chipewyan, at
the head of Athabasca, in latitude SO deg. north,
at which point they arrived the 9Th day of
March 1t had been determined to make the
trip to the Arctic sea, by water, far as was
practicable, and the party, therefore, remained
at this point until the Goth of May, busily en-
gagged in constructing boats, and making other
preparations for their dreary journey. At that
date the party left for Fort Chipewyan, and
iourneyed by canee on Peace River, which con-
meets Lake Athabasca with Slave Lake, some
three hundred and fifty miles in northwesterly
direction, till, on the Both day of May, they ar
rived at Fort Resolution, which is situated on
an island III Slave Lake about latitude 81 deg,
north.
AT Fort Resolution the party were joined by
Mr.. Anderson, who, with Mr. Stewart. had been
appointed TO the command of the expedition
Here another delay made, for the purpose of
reorganization, and making the last preparations
before attempting to penetrate the interminable
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, Back River, in latitude about G5
deg. north. Thence they followed the course of
the stream to the Arctic Ocean. Mr. Stewart
represents the navigation OF this river as exceed
ingly dangerous-being INSTRUCTED by over one
hundred difficult rapids. Over all these, how
ever, with nothing nlore substantial than birch
bark canoes, they passed in safety, and arrived
at its mouth on the 3ath of July.
Here they met with Esquimaux, who corrobo
rated the reports of DR. Rae, and directed them
to Montreal Island, short distance from the
mouth of Black River as the spot where accor-
ding to their instructions, they were TO com
mence minute exploration. From this time I'M
til the 9th of August, the party were industri-
ously engaged in searches on the Island and on
the main land, between Is deg. and 81 deg. north
latitude. We cannot recapitulate the perils es-
capcs and privations endured by the brave band
while seeking to find traces Of their country
men who had persisted these desolote shores.
Three times they providentially escaped being
1 Enipped " as Mr.. Stewart expressed it, or crush
ed between mountains of ice At last Oh Montre-
al Island, where their explorations commenced,
! they found snow-sheos, known to be of English
make, with the name of Dr. Stanley. Who was
surgeon of Sir John F1anklins ship lie Erebus
cut in them by knife,
Afterwards they found Oh the same island
boat belonging to the Franklin expedition, with
the name Terror" still distinctly visible 4
.,ia Cffl
brought along with him by Mr. Stewart
Among the Esquimaux We're found iron kettles
corresponding III shape and size with those fur
nished the Franklin Expedition, and bearing
the mark of the British Government. Other ar
tcles known to have belonged 10 the expedition
We're obtained from the Esquimaux and brought
by the parry for deposit with the British Gov
eminent No bodies, however, We're found or
traces of any. The report of the Esquimaux
was, that one man died on Montreal Island, and
that the balance of the party wandered on the
beach of the main land opposite, until worn out
by fatigue and starvation, they enc 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 Franklins party, and visited them, stated that
they had 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
Esquimaux. protested that they had died of star
vation
Gathering together the relics found the party
set out on their return on the 9th day of August
last. The return route did not vary very ma
terialy from that taken on their v-av North =
Mr.. Stewart has occupied the whole time since
in reaching our city-having come by the way
of Red River country, and having been absent
In all about ten months. Mr. Stewart left ST.
Paul yesterday ca route to the Hudson's Bay
head quarters Lachine, Canada, to submit an
account of his adventure.
And so the mystery is solved. Brave Sir
John, whose fate has awakened the sympathi-
zing curiosity of the civilized world it is now
: l..