The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-10-29

brought away by Mr.. Hobson. About two
miles further to the southwest small cairn
was found, but neither records nor relics
obtained. About three miles north Of Point
Victory, a second small cairn was examined
but only broken pick axe and empty can
lister found.
On the 9th of May, Lieutenant Hobsou
pitched his tent beside large cairn upon
Mount Victory. Lying among some loose
stones which had fallen from the top Of this
cairn, was found a small tin case containing
record, the substance of which is briefly
rs follows: This cairn was built by the
Franklin expedition, upon the assumed site
of Sir James Ross pillar, which had not
been found. The Erebus and Terror spent
their first winter at Beechy Island, after
having ascended Wellington Channel to lat.
y deg. N, and returned by the West side
of Corvallis Island. On the 18th of Sep
tember, 1916, tt ey were beset in lat. o0:05
n, and long. 9S:23 W. Sir John Franklin
died on the llth of June, ls47. On the
22d of April, lS4S, the ships were abandon
ed five leagues to the N. N. W. of Point
Victory, and the survivors, los in number,
landad here under the command of Captain
Crozier. This paper was dated April 25th,
ls4S, and upon the following day they in
tended to start for the Great Fish River
The total loss by deaths in the expedition
up to this date was nine officers and fifteen
men. A vast quantity Of clothing and
stores of all sorts lay strewed about, as if
every article was thrown away which could
possibly be dispensed with: pickaxes, SHOW
els, boats, cooking utensils, lronwork, rope,
blocks, canvas, a dip circle, q sextant en-
graved ''Frederick Hornby, r. Ma small
me !icine chest, oars, &c.
A few miles southwark, across Back Bay,
second record was found, having been
deposited by Lieut.. Gore and NJ. des Vaux
in May, lS47. 1t afforded no additional
information.
Lieut.. Hobson continued his search until
within few days. march of Cape Herschell
without finding any trace of the wreck or
of natives. lie left full information of his
important discovery for me; therefore, when
returning northward by the west shore of
King Williams Island, had the advantage
of knowing what had already been found.
Soon after leaving Cape Hers chell, the
traces of natives became less numerous and
less recent, and after rounding the west
point of the Island, they ceased altogether.
This shore is extremely low, and almost
utterly destitute of vegetation. Numerous
banks of shingle and low islets lie off it, and
beyond these, Victoria Strait is covered with
heavy and impenetrable packed ice.
When in lat. 60:09 N. and lon. 1927 W.,
We came to a large boat discovered by Lit.
IIobson few days previously, as his notice
informed me. 1t ppears that this boat had
been intended for the ascent of the Fish
River, but was abandoned apparently upon
a return journey to the ships, the sledge
upon which she was mounted being pointed
in that direction. She measured % feet in
length, by J feet wide, was most carefully
fitted, and made as light as possible, but the
s'edgc was of solid oak, and almost as heavy
as the boat.
A large quantity of clothing was found
with her; also two human skeletons. One
of these lay in the after part of the boat,
under pile of clothing; the other, which
was much more disturbed, probably by ami
mails, was found in the bow. Five pocket
watches, quantity Of silver spoons and
forks, and IA few religious books were also
found, but no journals, pocket-books, or
even names upon any articles of clothing.
Two double barrelled guns stood upright
. against the boats side, precisely as they
had been placed eleven years before. One
barrel Of each was loaded and cooked: there
was ammunition in abundance, also thirty
or forty pounds of chocolate, some tea and
tobacco. Fuel was not wanting: drift
tree lay within one hundred yards Of the
boat.
Many very interesting relics were brought
away BY Lieut.. Hobson, and some few by
myself. On the fifth Of June, reached
Point Victory without having fonnd any
thing further. The clothing, &C., was
again examined for documents, notebooks,
&C., without success, IA record placed in the
cairn, and another buried ten feet due
north of it.
Nothing worthy of remark occur. ed upon
my return journey to the ship, which was
reached on the 18th of June, five DAYS after
Lieut.. Hobson.
The shore of King Williams Island, be-
tween its north and west extremes. Capes
Felix and Crozier, has not been visited by
Esquimaux since the abandonment of the
Erebus and Terror. as the cairns and arti-
cles lying strewed about, which are in their
eyes of priceless value, remain untouched.
If the wreck still remains visible. it is
probable she lies upon some of the Off living
islets to the southwark, between Capes
Crozier and Herschell.
On June 2Sth, Captain Young and his
party returned, having completed their por-
ton Of the search, by which the nsularity of
Prince of Wales Land was determined, and
the coast line intervening between the ex
trcme points reached by Lieut's Osborne
and browne, discovered: alse between Bel
lot Straits and Sir James Ross furthest in
lS49, at Four River Bay.
Fearing that his provisions might not last
out the requisite period, Captain Young
sent back four of his men. and for forty
days journeyed on through fogs and gales
with but one man and the dogs, building a
snow hut each night; but few men could
stand so long continuance of labor and
prlvation, and its effect upon Captain Young
was painfully evident.
Lieutenant Hobson was unable to stand
without assistance, upon his return on
board; he was not in good health when he
commenced his long journey, and the sud-
den severe exposure brought on o serious
attack of scurvy, yet he most nobly COM
plcted his work; and such facts will more
clearly eyince the unfiinching spirit with
which the object of our voyage has been
pursued in these detached duties than any
praise of mine.
We were now, at length, all on board
| again. As there were some cases Of scurvv,
all our treasured resources of Burton ale,
lemon juice, and fresh animal food were
put into requisition, so that in compare
lively short time all were restored to sound
health.
During our sojourn in Port Kennedy, we
were twice called upon to follow shipmate
to the grave. Mr.. George Brands, engineer
died of apoplexy on the 9th of November,
1858. He had been out deer shooting sew
eral hours that day, and appeared in excel
lent health.
On the l4th Of June, 1859, Thomas Black
well, ships steward, died of scurvy. This
man had served in two of the former search
ing expeditions. The Summer proved a
warm one we we're able 20 start upon our
homeward voyage on the 9th of August,
and although the loss of the engine driver
in 1857, and Of the engineer in 1858, left
US with only two stokers, yet, with their
assistance, was able to control the engines
and steam the ship up to Fury Point.
For six days we lay there closely beset,
when change of wind removing the ice