Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-10-21

:" sui ''"' " NShOu ~ bilo lCo Oh Nne 0Ofln
shore Of King Williams Island, but that
all her people landed safely, and went away
to the Great Fish River, where they died.
This tribe was well supplied with wood
obtained, they said, from boat left BY the
white men on the Great River.
We reached our vessl after 25 DAYS alb
sence in good health, butsomewhat reduced
by sharp marching and the unusually severe
weather to which we had been exposed
For several days after starting, the mercury
continued frozen.
On the I'd of April our long projected
Spring journeys were commenced; Lieut..
Hobson accompanied me as far as Cape
Victoria; each Of us had sledge drawn
by four men, and an auxiliary sledge drawn
by six dogs. This was all the force we
could muster.
Before separating We saw two Esquim-
aux families living out upon the ice in
snow huts; from them we learned that a
second ship had been seen off King viii
liam Island, and that she drifted ashore in
the fall of the same year. From this ship
they had obtained vast deal of wood and
iron.
| now gave Lieut.. Hobson directions TO
search for the wreck, and follow up any
traces he might find upon King William
Island.
Accompanied by my own party and Mr..
Petersen, marched along the cast shore Of
King William Island, occasionally passing
deserted snow huts, but without meeting
natives till the sth of May, when off Cape
Norton we arrived at snow village contain
ing about 80 inhabitants. They gathered
about us without the slightest appearance
of fear or shyness, although none had ever
seen living white people before. They
were most willing to communicate all their
knowledge, and barter all their goods, but
would have stolen everything had they not
been very closely watched. Many more
relics of our countrymen were Obtained
we could not carry away all we might have
purchased. They pointed to the inlet we
had crossed the day before, and told us
that one days march up it, and from thence
four days overland brought them to the
wreck
None of these people had been there
since 1878, at which time they said but
little remained, their countrymen having
carried away almost everything.
Most Of our information was received
from an intelligent old woman. She said
it was in the Fall of the year that the ship
was forced ashore. Many of the white
men dropped by the way, as they went TO-
ward the Great River; but this was only
known to them in the Winter following
when their bodies were discovered. They
all assured us that we would find native.
upon the south shore, at the Great River
and some few at the wreck; but unfortu
nately this was not the case. Only one
family was met with off Point Booth, and
none at Montreal Island, or any place sub
sequently visited.
Point Ogle, Montreal Island, and Barrow
Island, were searched without finding any
thing except few scraps of copper and
iron in an Esquimaux hiding place.
Reerossing the Strait to King William
Island, we continued the examination of lis
southernshore without success until the oath
of May, when about ten miles eastward Of
Cape Herschel bleached skeleton was
found near which lay fragments of European
clothing. Upon carefully removing the
snow small pocket-book was found con-
tanning few letters; these, although much
decayed, may yet be deciphered. Judging
from the remains of his dress this unfortn
nate young man was steward or officer,
servant, and his position exactly verified .hc
Esquimaux's assertion that they dropped
as they walked along.
| On reaching Cape Herschel next day
we examined Simpsons Cairn, or rather
what remains of it, which is only four feet
high, and the central stones have been re
moved, as if by men seeking something
within 1t. My impression at the time, anC
which still retain, is that records were de
posted there by the rctreating crews, an,
subsequently removed by the natives.
After parting from mo at Cape Vietori,
on the 2sth April, Lieut. Hobson made fo
Cape Felix at short distance westward o
it he found very large cairn, and close tc
! 1t three small tents with blankets, ole
clothes, and other relics of a shooting o.
magnetic station; but although the carr
was dug under, and trench dug all rounC
it at distance of ten feet, no record wa
discovered. A piece of blank paper fold
ed up was found in the cairn, and two bro
ken bottles, which may perhaps have con
tained records, lay beside it, among som,
stones which had fallen from off the top
The most interesting of the articles discov
cred here, including boats ensign wer,
brought away by Mr.. Hobson, About tw,
miles further to the southwest, small cairl
was found, but neither records nor relic
obtained. About three miles north O
Point Victory, second small cairn was ex
amined, but only broken pickaxe and emp
1 ty canister found.
On 9th May, Lieut. Hobson pitched hi
tent beside large cairn upon Point Victc
ry. Lying among some loose stones whic
had fallen from the top Of this cairn wa
found small tin case, containing record
the substance Of which is briefly as follows
This cairn was built by the franklin Expo
dition upon the assumed site Of James Ros
pillar, which bad not been found. Th
Erebus and Terror spent their first wintC
at Beechy Island, after having ascende
. Wellington Channel 10 lat. 70 N, and r
! turned by the west side of Cornwall
/, Island. On the 18th of September, 1874
In