The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-10-12
From the Pennsylvania.
Sir John Franklin-Tidings by the Steamer

The mystery which hung so long over the
fate of Sir John franklin has at last been
solved, thanks 10 the devotion and perse-
steamer Fox, which she fitted out, has re
turned to England. Her Commander, Cap.
taipSA e Glina &Siugs with him dupl.
cate recotd, stdhtaining the particulars of
The ill,starred expedition, down to the aban.
ment oil the famous vessels, the Erebus and
Terror, in April, is4s, by their officers and
crew, and the departure of The party, lO5
in number, to the Great Fish river. Sir John
Franklin's expedition, consisting of the En-
ebus and Terror, with 1873 officers and men,
sailed from Sheerness: May the 26lh, 1s45.
On the 26th of June, ls45, the expedition
was seen in Baffin's Bay. June the llth,
is47, Sir John franklin died, and on The
22d of April, is4s, the Erebus and Terror
were deserted in Victoria Straits, thirly.three
of the officers and men having died up to
that time.
If the story related by the Esquimaux to
Dr. Rae can be considered reliable, some of
the survivors OF the party were alive two
years afterwards, in Spring, 1850. DR.. Rae
stated in his commune alton TO the Admiral.
" u.sA sa@s Esqujpaux on the North Shore
Of King Williams Land, which is large
island, had met, in the spring of 1850, forty
white men travelling southwark over the ice,
and dragging boat with them. The men
then were in destitute and pitiable condi
lion, and later in the season the bodies of
some tEirty.fve were discovered on the
continent and an adjacent island, and DR.
Rae brought home memorials from the spot
which fully identified the party with the ex-
pedi,ion.
The history OF the expedition sent in
search of Sir John franklin will ever remain
one of absorbing interest In ls4s, no news
having been received of Franklin, the En-
glish Government fitted out three vessals 10
proceed TO the Arctic seas in search OF the
missing explorer. In ls49, after prolrac-
led and dangerous but useless search, the
last vessel OF the expedition returned. Du-
ring the-rcns-reriod, land party under
Sir John Richardson, and another sea expe-
dition under the veteran Arctic explorer Sir
James Ross, were equally unsuccessful
The British Government then offered mu
nificent sum, amounting 10 one hundred
thousand dollars, TO any private expedition
that should afford efficient aid 10 Sir John
franklin. In 1850 no less than eight expe-
dlions were fitted out, Sir James Ross again
taking the command OF one of them. Lady
franklin also, in that year, fitted out the
expedition in the vessel that bore her name,
| and also assisted largely in despalching
another expedition in the schooner Prince
Albert. Mr.. Henry GrinnelI's expedition
also started in the same year, and there
were eleven different vessels at the same
time searching the Arctic seas for tidings OF
the lost. The result of all these numerous
expeditions were comparatively small
The gsePes of Aree men belonging TO the
Erebus and Terror were discovered, but no
documents that gave any traces as to the
Whereabouts of the missing men. In 1853
|
preceded by Sir Edward Belcher, with five
ships. Although this latter expedition did
not find anything OF Sir John Franklin, they
succeeded in rescuing Captain Mcclure,
who, with his ships company, had been
bound up by ice for three years.
Rear Admiral Sir John Franklin was a
native of Spilsby, in Lincolnshire Sprung
from line of freeholders, or "Franklins, d
his father inherited small family estate,
which was so deeply mortgaged that it was
found necessary TO sell it; but by his sue
cess in commercial pursuits, he was enabled
10 MAINTAIN and educate family of twelve
children, of whom only one died in infancy
He had four sons, who all distinguished
themselves, unaided by patronage or con-
| nections.
John, the youngest, was destined for the
church OF his father, but while at school he
employed once holiday in walking with a
companion to the sea, which he had never
before seen. His imagination was so pow.
eriully impressed on this occasion by the
grandeur of the ocean scenery that it deter.
mined him to become a sailor.
in 1900 he entered as a midshipman on
the Polyphemus. On the I'd of April, 1901
he assisted at the battle of Copenhagen. At
the grand battle of Trafalgar he acted as a
signal midshipman on board the ever-mem-
orable Bellerophon. At the battle of New
Orleans he was also present, and was woun-
| ded on this occasion. In 1918 he made his
first exploring expedition as commander of
] the Tent, the object of which was 10 attempt
| the passage TO India by the Polar Sea, in
which he failed. In 1919 he commanded
an expedition TO the coasts of America,
east OF the Copper river, and furnished val
liable geographical information. In 1925
he undertook al overland expedition 10 the
Arctic seas. from which he returned by way
of New York 10 England in 1927. In the
following year he married Jane Griffin, the
present Lady Franklin, his second wife
In 1880 he was, during The Greek war, in
the Mediterranean, and IN 1886 he became
Governor of Van Dieman's Land In Is45
he entered upon the fatal Arctic expedition.
He was aged sixly-one years and three
months when he died, on the ilth of June,
lS47.