Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-14
The Fate OF Franklin--the Mystery
ReyenIcd--Returno OF the v atch Fox.
CAPT. M'CLINTcCK's REPORT.

The telegraph briefly advised us that Capt.
MCCuNroCK, ofthe British Navy. had return
ed from the Arctic regions with tidings of
the fate of the lost navigator. Sir JOHN
FRANKIIN From his letter 10 the Admiralty
we make extracts. In his letter he says:
Their Lcrdships will rejoice to hear that
our endeavors to ascertain the fate of the
Franklin Expedition" have met with com
plcte success.
At Point Victory, upon the northwest
| coast of King Williams Island, a record has
been found, dated the 25th of April, 1913,
| and signed by Captains CroZer and FitZ-
| James. By il we were informed that her
Majesty's ships Erebus and Terror were aban-
| dun,d on the 22d April, 1913, in the ice, five
leagues to the n. n. w. and that the survi-
vors-in all amounting to los souls,
under the command of Capt. CroZier--were
proce, ding to the Great Fish River. Sir
John Franklin had died ON the llth of June,
| IS47.
Many deeply interesting relics of our lnst
countrymen have been picked up upon the
western shore of King Williams Island, aud
Others obtained from the E.quimaux. by whom
whom We informed that subsequent To their
abandonment one ship was crushed and sunk
by the ice and the other forced shore
where she has ever since been, atfording them
affording them an almost inexhaustable mine
OF wealth.
The report furnishes account Of his ex-
plorations which were unsuccessful until in
trlIigence respecting the fate of Sir JOHN
FRANKLIN and his men was met with on King
Williams Island. From this pointh is MARIA
tive is thus detailed: r
Early spring journeys were commenced on
the 18th Of Feb. 1859. by Capt. Young and
myself, Capt. Young carrying his depot
across 10 Prince OF Wales Land. while went
southwark, towards the magnetic pole. in .he
hope OF communicating with the ESquimaux,
aud obtaining such information az might lead
US at once To the object Of our scarch.
was accompanied by Mr.. Petersen, our
Interpreter. and AK. Thompson, quarter
master We had with us Two sledges, drawn
by dogs On the 2Sth OF Fvbruarg, when
near Cape Victoria, we had the good fortune
to meet small party of the natives. and
were subsequently, visited by about IS indi-
vitlals.
For four days we remained in communiea-
tion with them. obtaining many r,liets. and
the iuiol nation that several years ago ship
was crushed 10y the ice of the north shore, of
King Williams lsland, bat that all her peo-
pie landed safely and wen. away TO the
Great Fish River, where they died. This
tribe Mas well supplied with wood obtained,
they said, from boat letl by The white men
on tbs Great River.
We reached our vessel after 25 dsys' alb
senee, ia good health. bat somewhat reduced
by sharp marching aud the unusually scv-re
weather to which We had been exposed. For
several days afler starting, the mercury con-
thu fruzen. g.. y.
On the % of April our long-proiected
spring journeys were commenced Let. Hob
ron accompanied me as far as Cape Victoria.
each of IA bad sledge drawn by four men,
aud an auxiliary .sledge drawn by ak dogs.
This was all the force We could muster.
Before separating we saw two Esquimaux
families living on. upon the Ice la SNOW huIs:
from them Ne harmed that fec0nd ship had
been seen Of King Williams Island, aud that
she dried Ashore on the fali u the same
year. From this ship they lad obtained a
vast deal Of wood and iron. ~
Iensw gave Lieut.. Iiahson direction 10
search Tor The wrek, aud 20 follow up any