The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-01-04

and when the railroads were heavily blocked
up with snow, train of cars left Lancaster a.
bout SIX O'Clock in the evening, for Philadelphia,
bat when they had gone about four miles they
stuck fast in the snow, but subsequently, became
diseugaged and commenced backing toward
town, when they came in collision with anoth-
rr train, which had subsequently left Lancaster,
iniuring the husband of plaintiff, in consequence
OF which he died.
From the st. Paul (Min.) Pioneer Dec. 13.
Return Of tile Inst Porty Of .arctic Erpfo-
rers-The Death Of Sir JOHN Fraaklin and
his Party .9scertqiaed.
We enjoyed the pleasure yesterday, the 18th
instant, OF a heightened conversation with MIR.
James Green Stewart, a Chief Trader of the
Hudson's Bay Company. and learned from BIN
interesting facts concerning an exploration oil
the Arctic region, lately made by party under
the Joint command OF himself and Mr. James
Anderson, another employee of that Compa-
ny.
On the return of DR.. 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 Northern Iati-
udes, had in their possession relics of the Frank
lin expedition, the British government d~ter-
mined 10 make one further effort TO penetrate
The mystery which had so long enveloped the
fate OF that expedition, and which had been par
tally solved by the information thus gained ny
DR.. Rae. In iurtherance OF this desire OF the
British government to follow up the clue thus
unexpectedly obtained by the adventurous ex-
plorer,- rescue, if possible, the survivors of
any Of the party OF whites VINO Were reported
by the ESqplinauX 10 have been seen near the
outlet OF Backs rver in latitude about 68 deg.
north, or at least TO procure any records they
might have deposited, the Hudson'S Bay Com
pany was directed to fit out a party oftried men,
accustomed TO the hardships of polar life, to
explore the region Indicated by DR.. Rae.
Acting under this command, Of the home
government, the Governor ofthe HudSon's Bay,
Company, on the 18th day of November, 1854,
issued Instructions 10 Messrs. Stewart and An
derson 10 man and equip party for The purpose
stated. Mr.. Stewart, with party of fourteen
men, therefore, started from bis post, the Carl
ton House, in 81 deg. North latitude, on the 7th
day of February, 1898, and proceeded to Fort
Chipewyan, at The head of Lake Athabasca, in
latitude 5S deg North, at which point they ar
rived on the 9th day of March. 1t had been
determined to make the trip TO the Arctic sea
by watrfs$o far as was practicable, and the par
~, thPrFioTP, remained at this post until the
26th OF May, husily engaged in constructing
boats, and making other preparations for their
dreary Journey. AT that date the party left
Fort Chpewyan, and jou:neyed by canoe on
the Peace river, which CONNECTS Lake Athahas-
ca with Slave Lake, some three hundred and
fifty milrs in northwesterly direction, Till, Oh
the Both day OF May, they arrived at Fort Res
outioD, which is situated on an island in Slave
Lake, about lat. 81 deg. North.
At Fort Resolution the party was joined by
Mr.. Anderson, who, with Mr.. Stewart had
been appointed to the command of the exped-
tion. Here another delay was made, for the
purpose of reorganization, and making the last
preparations, before attempting to penetrate the
intrrmnabe frozen North. These arrange
mpniS completed, the party started out on the
22d day ofJune, for the head Of Grea Fish riv-
er, as il is known on the map, Back river, in
latitude about 64 deg. North Thence they fol-
lowed the course of the stream to the Arctic
ocean. Mr.. Stewart represents the navigation
OF this river as exceedingly dangerous being
ob>tructed by over one hundred difficult rapids.
Over all these, however, with nothing more
substantial than birch bark canoes, they passed
in safety, and arrived at lis mouth on the 30th
OF July.
Here they net with Esquimaux, who corrob-
GRATED the reports of Dir. Rae, and directed them
to Montreal Island, short distance from the
mouth Of Back river, as the spot where, accord
ing to their instructions. they were to commence
minute exploration. From this time until the
9th August, the party were induStrIQusiy en-
gagged in searches on the Island, and on the
main land, between 81 deg. and 60 der. North
latitude. We cannot Iecapitulate the periS
escaped, and privations endured, by the brave
band, while seeking to find traces of their coun-
trymen who had persisted on those desolate
shores. Three times they provdrntlally es-
capped being ''nipped," as Mr.. Stewart express
ed it, or crushed between moving mountains of
ice. AT last on Montreal Island, where their
explorations commenced, they found snow
shoes, known to br of English make, with the
name of Dr. Stanley, who was surgeon of Sir
John Franklin'S ship, the Erebus, cut in them
by a knife. Afterwards they found on the
same island boat belonging to the Franklin ex-
pedition, with the name 'sTerror" still-dStinct-
ly visible. A piece Of this boat containing this
name was brought along with him by Mr..
Stewart Amcng the Esquimaux were found
iron kettles corresponding in shape and size with
those furnished the Franklin expedition, and
bearing the mark of the British Government.
Other articles known to have belonged to the
expedition, were obtained from The Esquimaux,
and brought by The party for deposit with the
British Government. No bodies, however, were
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 wan
dered on the beach of the main land opposite,
until. worn out By fatigue and starvation, they,
one by one, laid themselves down and died