The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-03
THE ARCTIC MYSTERY.

Thanks to feminine courage which no
disaster could dismay, which arose above diff
culties as bird rises above the earth, which
neither dulled nor wearied even when strong
men grew faint and dubious, the great mystery
"a cleared. News of Sir John Franklin and his
So'e~-t.-----.
terrible shadow which has darkened for so
many years the imaginations of men is now re-
moved. Lady Franklin has done that which
Government declared impossible; woman's
restless and indomitablelo love proving once more,
in the face of all the world, mightier than the
greatest Boards and Cabinets. On Thursday.
London was startled with a teegraphic dis.
patch from Capt. McClintock, announcing his
safe return from the Arctic mission confded to
him by Lady Franklin, with news of the fate of
the Erebus and Terror, and with positive intel.
igence of Sir John Franklins death, and in.
ferential evidence that his crew must have
persisted, like himself, years ago. Capt McClin-
took addressed the following letter to the Secre-
tary of the Admiralty:
YACHT Fox, R. Y. s.
Sir beg you will inform the Lords Com
missioners of the Admiralty of the safe return
to this country of Lady Frankln's final search.
ing expedition, which have had the honor to
conduct. Their Lordships will rejoice to hear
that our endeayors to ascertain the fate of the
Franklin Expedition Y have met with CON-
plete success. At Point Victory, upon the
northwest coast of King Williams Island, a
record has been found, dated the 18th of April,
l848, and signed by Captains Crozier and Fitz.
james. BY it we are informed that her Maiesty's
ships Erebus and Terror were abandoned on
the 22d of April, l848, in the ice, five leagues
to the N. N. W., and that the survivors, in all
amounting to los souls, under the command of
Capt. Crozier, were proceeding to the Great
Fish river. Sir John Franklin had died on the
18th of June, l847. Many deeply-interesting
relics of our lost countrymen have been picked
up on the western. shore of King Williams
Island, and others obtained from the Esqui.
maux, by whom we were informed that (subse-
quent to their abandonment one ship was
crushed and sunk by the ice, and the other
forced on shore, where she has ever since re-
manned, afording them an almost inexhaustible
mine of wealth. Being unable to penetrate
beyond Bellot Straits, the Fox wintered in
Brentford Bay, and the search-including the
estuary of the Great Fish river, and the discov-
cry of 800 miles Of coast line, by which we have
united the explorations of the former searching
expeditions, to the north and west of our posi-.
ton, with those of James Ross, Dease, and
Simpson, and Ray, to the south--has been per.
formed by sledge journeys this spring, con-
Quoted by Lieut.. Hobson, r. N, Capt. Allen
Young, and myself As somewhat detailed
report of our proceedings will doubtless be in
teresting to their Lordships, it is herewith en-.
closed, together with chart of our discoveries
and explorations; and at the earliest opportu-
nifty / will present myself at the Admiralty to
afford further information, and lay before their
Lordships the record found at Point Victory.
II hoxro ho hpr Gc
f. L. MeCLINrocK, Capt r. NJ
This letter was accompanied by a long ex-
tract from the daily history of the yachts pro-
ceedings. The Fox effected her escape out of
the main pack in Davis's Straits in lat 63t NJ,
on the 25th Of April 1853, after winters ice
drift of ! ,l94 geographical miles. Nothing of
importance for the previous object Of the voy.
age though much valuable geographical
knowledge was acquired was gained from
the excursions undertaken during the summer.
The Fox wintered last year in Bellot Strait, in
q snug harbor. Vegetation was tolerably album
dant, and two Esquimaux hunters, Mr.. Peter
sen, and several sportsmep, were constantly on
the alert; yet the resources Of the country,
during eleven months and half, only yielded
eight reindeer, two bears, eighteen seaIs, and
few water fowl and ptarmigan.s The winter
was unusually cold and stormy. We mast now
quote Capt. McClintock's narrative: 80
Early spring journeys were commenced on
the 18th of February, 1889, by Capt. Young
and myself Capt Young carrying his depot
across to Prince of Wales Land, whilst went
southwark, towards the magnetic pole, in the
hope of communicating with the Esquimaux,
and obtaining such information as might lead
Us at once tolthe object Of our search was
accompanied BY Mr.. Petersen, our interpreter,
and Alexander Thompson, Quartermaster. We
had with rs two sledges drawn by dogs. On the
2sth Of February, when near Cape Victoria, we
had the good fortune to meet small party Of