Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-10-18
Fate of Sir John Franklin.


Fate of Sir John Franklin.
The English papers contain the Report of Capt.
McClintock giving an account OF the safe return
of Lady Franklin's Final Searching Expedition,
and of the result of their eyploratons--by which
they ascertained tbs fate of Sir John Franklin,
the loss of his vessels, and the dispersion and
destruction OF their crews We make an extract :
"Recrossing the Strait to King Williams Is
land, we continued the examination OF Its sontn'
ern shore without success until the 9th OF May,
when about Ten miles eastward of Cape Hers
chell bleached skeleton was found, around
which lay fragments of European clothing
Upon carefully removing the snow small pock-
ct book was found, containing few letters
These, although much decayed, may yet be de-
ciphered. Judging from the remains OF bis dress,
this unfortunate young man was steward or
officers servant, and his position exactly verified
the Esuuimaux's assertion, that the men dropped
as they walked along. a
On reaching Cape Herschell next day we
examined Simpsons Cairn, or rather what re-
mains of it, which is only four feet high, and the
central stones have been removed, as if by men
seeking something within it. My impression at
the time, is. that records were deposited there
by the retreating crews, and subsequently re-
moved by the natives.
After parting from me at Cape Victoria, oD
the 2Sth of April, Lieutenant Hobson made for
Cape Felix. At short distance westward oft,
he found large cairn and close to it three small
tents, with blankets, old clothes, and other rel
les of a shooting or magnetic station; but al
though the cairn was dug under, and trench
dug all around it at distance of 10 feet, no re-
cord was discovered. A piece of blank paper
folded up was found in the cairn, and two bro
ken botles which may, perhaps, have contained
records, lay beside it among some stones when
had fallen from off the top. The most inter-
esting of the articles discovered here, including
a boats ensign, were brought away by MIR. Hob.
son. About two niles further to the southwest
a small oairn was found, but neither records nor
relics obtained. About three miles north OF FONT
Victory a second small cairn was examined, but
only a broken pickaxe and empty canister found.
On the 9th of May Lieut.. Hobson pitched his
tent beside large cairn on Point Victory. Lying
among some loose stones which had fallen from the
cairn, was found small tin case containing q
record, the substance of which is briefly as fol
lows This cairn was built by the Franklin
expedition, upon the assumed site of Sir james
Ross's pillar, which had not been found. The
Erebus and Terror spent their first winter at
Beechy Island, after having ascended Wellington
Channel to lat. n deg, N, and returned by the
west side of Oornwallis Island. On the 18th OF
September, 1S46, they were beset in lat. 70 %
n, and long. SO 90 w. Sir John Franklin died
on the tn of June, 1647 On the 22d of A
pril. 184S the ships were abandoned five leagues
to the N. N. w. of Point Victory, and the sur
yiyors, 1O5 in number, landed here under the
command of Captain Orozier." This paper was
dated April 25, 1848, and upon the following
day they intended to start for the Great Fish
river The total loss by deaths in the expedi-
,ion up to this date was nine officers and fifteen
men.
A vast quantity of clothing and stores of all
sorts Law strewed about, as if here every article
was thrown away which could possibly be dis
pensed with; pckaxes, shoves, boats, cooking
utensils, ironwork, rope, blocks, canvass, dip
circle. sextant engraved "Frederic Hornby, K.
NJ" small medicine chest, oars, &c.
a few miles southwark, across Back Bay,
second record was found, having been deposited
by Lieutenant Gore and NJ. de Veux, in May,
Is47. 1t afforded no additional information.
Lieutenant Hobson continued his search until
within few days march of Cape Herschel,
without finding any trace OF the wrecks or OF
natives. he left full information of his impor
taut discoveries for me; therefore, when return
ing northward by the west shore OF King William
Island, l had the advantage of knowing what
had already been found.
Soon after leaving Cape Herschell the traces
of natives became less numerous and less recent
and after rounding the west point OF the island
they ceased altogether Tbis shore is extremely
low and almost utterly destitute of vegetation
Numerous banks of shingle and low islets lie OF
it, and beyond these Victoria Strait is covered
hla GaI ina
When in lat SO deg. 90 n, and long, 50 deg.
a7 W.. we came to large boat, discovered by
Lieutenant Hobson few days previously, as his
notice informed me. 1t appears that this boat
had been intended for the ascent of the Fish
river, but was abandoned apparently upon re-
turn Journey to the ships the sedge upon which
she was mounted being pointed in that direction.
She measured % feet in length by 7 1-2 feet
wide, was most carefully fitted and made as light
possible, but the sledge was of solid oak and al.
most as heavy as the boat
A large quantity of clothing was found within
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 dis
turbed, probably by animals, was found in the
bow. Five pocket watches, quantity of silver
spoons and forks, and a few religious books were
also found, but no journals, pocket-books, or e.
ven 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 in each was
loaded and cooked; there was ammunition in
abundance, elso 80 or 40 lbs. of chocolate, some
tea and tobacco. Fuel was not wanting; drift
tree lay within one hundred yards of the boat.
Many interesting relics were brought away by
Lieutenant Hobson, aud some few by myself
On the 5th of June / reached Point Victory
without having found anything further. The
clothing, &c., was again examined for documents,
note books, &C., without success; record pla-
ced in the cairn, and another buried 10 feet due
north of it.
Nothing worthy ofremark occurred upon my
return journey to the ship, which we reached on
the 10th of June, five days after Lieutenant Hob
SOD.
The shore of King Williams Island, between
its north and west extremes, Capes Felix and
Crozier has not been visited by the Esquimaux
since the abandonment of the Erebus and Terror,
as the cairns and articles lying strewed about,
which are in their eyes of priceless value, remain
untouched"
CoNuNDRUMs.-Wh is gun like an importu-
nate beggar2 Ans.-Because it never goes of
empty.
When is -four most apt to rise2 Ans.-When
it is in the hands of the baker.
When is it most likely to go down2 Ans.-
| When it is in the hands of the consumer.
Why should o printer never be hungry q
Ans-Bacause he can, at any time, turn his type
into pie.
Why is an editor like a tailor2 Ans.-Be-
cause he has dealings with many goose. And
often for his sheers has use.
Why is physician like q shoemaker2 Ans.
Because he practices the (healing) heeling arts.