Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-25
DIR. RAE UPON DIR. KANEANDsIR John
FRANKLIN

During the seventh days exercises of the
oelenuhc Convention DR.. John Rae, the dis
coyerer OF the most authentic relics Of Sir John
Franklin's party, addressed the meeting He
exhibited the few Of the relics he had retained
watch cases. chains, a spoon marked with Sir
j. crest, and others-and recounted the man.
ner OF their discovery. He had been EMPLOYED
for four years by the British Government ON
expeditions in search Of some trace of the lost
navigator, and had despaired of success before
undertaking his last voyage, the main object of
which was, to him, TO attain additional geo.
graphical knowledge of that region. But he
fell In with Esquimaux who gave him informa-
ton OF the party, and procured for him many
undOubted relics, all Of which are now in DOS
session of the British government excepting
those he carried with him. He SAID he had not
the least hope that any of Franklin's party vet
suryive-nO more than of those who perished in
the steamer Arctic; because in the locality
where they were known to be, it is almost i'm
possible 10 find food Of any kind and even ex-
perienced hunters could not have survived.
Dr. Rae believes that, after wintering the
first year at Beechy Island, Sir John franklin
attempted to carry out his plan by crossing
Peale's Sound, and reaching Behring's Straits
His party was seen coming down Peales Sound
at place near King Williams Land DR.. Rae
thinks they must have perished from hunger
and scurvy. He mentioned that about that
time the English government found that large
quantity of the preserved meat used on long
voyages was putrid, and it is possible that the
provisions carried by franklin may have been
in similar condition. He accounts for the
disappearance of the bodies by the supposition
that they must have been carried away by the
melting Of the ice, and that possibly the final
remains were devOured by wild animals. He
stated that Captain McClintock, who is now en-
gagged on an expedition under the auspices of
Lady Franklin, will endeavor to recover the
tan nr13 of n ID
hope that this attempt will be successful, as he
learned from the Esquimaux that they had
found number OF books with the other relics.
but that their children had DESTROYED them
Dr. Rae was fortunate enough TO find, in the
possession OF woman. two leaves, all that re-
mained-Of a Bible, which showed that thew
really had among them some books of the party
lie also obtained piece Of wood on which was
carved the name Of Mr.. Stanley, Sir John
Franklin's surgeon, which piece Of wood he
carried to London, where 1t was identified by
the manufacturer. a..-..'.
DR.. Rae places implicit confidence In the
statements Of these Esquimaux, his expert
ence among them having given him no reason
to doubt their reliability. He attaches no val
ue to the surmises Of those who imagine the
party may have been murdered, because he has
found all the Esquimaux east Of the Mcken
zie river TO be every way well disposed to the
whites, and because his own party, which was
much smaller, was never harmed. =.
He gave some extremely interesting Iparticu-
lars OF the manner and characteristics of the
Esquimaux.
Among other matters, DIR. Rae stated his be-
lief that DR.. Kane had made one unfortunate
mistake-that Of using tents instead Of building
sno" houses, like the inhabitants. The latter,
ne said, are Infinitely more comfortable, and,
moreover the use of tents make it neces sary for
each man OF aparty TO carry five times as much
baggage as would be necessary with the other
arrangement 'H.