The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-10-26
How Sir John franklin aud his
Men might have been Saved.

Men might have been saved.
The Liverpool Post says that about thirty
expeditions have been sent out in search OF
Sir John Franklin. The Post takes the
ground that these expeditions were not sent
in the proper directions, and that paper says:
"But supposing that the crews were not
murdered, and that they proceeded as they
intended towsrds the Great Fish River, their
lives might probably have been saved, had
the authorities at home taken the necessary
steps to that end, for in letter from Dr.
King TO the Lords OF the Admiralty, dated
February, ls4S, the following passage oc-
ours In order to save the party from the
ordeal OF a fourth winter, when starvation
must be their lot, propose to undertake the
boldest journey that has ever been attempted
in the northern region of America, one which
is justifiable only by the circumstances. l
propose 10 attempt to reach the western lano
Of North Somerset, or the eastern portion OF
Victoria Land, as may be deemed advisable
by the close of the approaching summer TO
acco mpish in fact in one summer that which
has moi been done under two. / rest my
hope of success in the performance of this
herculesn task upon the fact that possess
an intimate knowledge Of the country and
the people through which | shall have to
pass. To the western land of North Som.
erset, where Sir John Franklin is likely to
be found, the Great Fish River ia the direct
and only route and although the approach
to it is through country too poor and too
difficult of access to admit Of the transport OF
provisions, it may be made the medium OF
communication between the lost expedition
and the civilized world, and guides be thus
placed at their disposal to convey them to
the hunting grounds of the Indians. With.
cut such guides 1t is impossible that they can
reach these hunting grounds. 1t was by the
Great Fish River that | reached the Polar
Sea, while acting as second officer in search
of Sir John Ross. feel it my duty, there
fore, as one Of two officers so peculiarly cir.
cumstonced at the present moment, to place
my views on record as on earnest of my sim
cerity.' Sir w. Parry and Sir John Ross,
however, reported against the offer of DR..
King. Sir John wrote
If, then, we suppose the crews Of the
ships ehould be compelled, either this au.
tumn or next spring to abandon their vessels
at or near this point, they would most assur.
edIy endeavor, in their boats to reach Ian.
caster Sound but cannot perceive any po.
stion in which they could be placed from
which they would make for the Great Fish
River, or at which any party descending that
river would be likely to overtake them !; and
even if it did, of whit advantage would it be
to them = DR.. King, however, again ad-
dresses the Admiralty, stating-'It would be
the huppiest moment of my life (and my de-
light at being selected from a long list OF
volunteers tor the relief of Sir John Ross
was very greaD if their lordshps would al
low me to 60 by my old route, the Great Fish
River, 10 attempt to save human life a Sec
ond time on the shores Of the Polar Sea-
What did in search of Sir John Ross is the
best earnest of what could do in search of
Sir John franklin Any place but the
right would appea. to have been visited, and
the right place was indicated by DR.. King.
The circumstance is deeply to be regretted,
but is only another instance of the evil pow.
er Of officialism. The Admiralty of the day
was greatly 10 blame for not having taken
the advice of q gentleman who had given
practical proof already that he was great
authority on the question then under discus.
sion. Sir John Ross and his crew had been
saved by DIR. King proceeding overland by
the Fish River, and there was no reasonable
cause to doubt that Sir John franklin might,
at least have been expeditiously communi.
Gated with by persons proceeding overland
to the Polar Sea-"
Capt. Ross made an expedition to the Arc
tic seas in 1929, and was not heard OF for
years. Capt. Back, in 1898, was sent out
in search of Ross, and Dr.. King, above spo-
ken of, was surgeon, and second in command
to Capt. Back. They came over to New
York by packet, thence to Montreal, thence
by canoes up the Ottowa River, thence
northwest overland to lake Winnipeg,
thence to Great Slave Lake, thence north to
Aylmer Lake, thence to Great Fish River or
Back River Cleveland Herald.