The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-12-10
THE FRANKLIN RELICS-AFFECTIN
MEMORIALS,

MEMORIALS.
The articles brought by Capt. McCllntock
in the Fox, have been placed in the United
States Museum for public exhibition. The
London Aews Of the l1th says:
"ln the first case is the ensign of one OF
the ships, reduced almost to shreds, but still
preserving its colors, and reminding the
spectators of the many cherries days upon
which it must have Hultered sadly, but still
proudly, from tho mast Of the ice oouno
vessel. In corner Of the same case IS also
a thin tin cylinder, stained and time-worn.
The casual spectator would hardly notice It.,
bat It stands first in importance OF all that
has been recovered for il contains the record
Of thu death of Sir John FranklIn-tnat
happv death which saved our brave veteran
all the subsequent horrors Of the journey to
the Fish River. Further on are the rude
spear heads into, which the Esqumau1 had
fashioned the iron they obtained from the
wreck and lockwood two-foot rule,
whtened with exposure, but with the hg'
ures on it as bright as the first day. This
was of course the property Of the carpenter,
who it would appear, even when starting
on his dread journey, had not forgotten the
implement of his trade. In the same case
is relic which will arrest the eye of many
passer by. |, is the remains of silk
neck tie, including the bow as carefully and
eaborntAIy tied rs if the poor wearer had
been making a wedding toilette. This,
which was taken from the naked bones OF a
CHASTITY skeleton which was discovered some
miles distant from the main track of the
poor pilgrims, is supposed to have belonged
TO the ships steward, as this class of men
are generally neat in their dress, and sailor
would have adopted much moro simple
arrangement.
"There are also various articles Of plate,
the greater portion Of which IS marked with
Sir John FrankIin's device, and two pocket
chronometers in excellent preservation. A
small watch, makers name "A. Myers, Lon
dom probably belonged to some young mate
or midshipman, and7a worm-eaten roll OF
paper upon which the single word Majesty
remains, was possibly the much priced war
rant of some stout boatswain or quarter
muster. There is little amethyst seal 10
perfect preservation, and goggles and sno"
wells to protect the eyes from the dazzling
Wilderness of the polar snow. Two double
barreledguns covered with rust are placed Tar
in on the table They still contain the charges
which were placed in them by the hands
which have long since lost their cunning.
They are labeled loaded in large letters.
but still we should not be surprised to hear
some day of an accident, by the morbid Gu
rlosity Of some foolish visitor. The books
recovered are very few; they would, OF
course, succumb early to the rigors of expos
ure, but there is still we'll preserved small
edition of the Vicar of Wakefield some
religious poetry and a French Testament, il
the tiv-leaf of which is written in delicate
female hand, From your attached (the ap-
pe!Iation is obliteratei) NJ. p The oper
medicine chest contains all its bottles and
preparations very little injured, and little
cooking machine has the fuel arranged, the
sticks thrust through the bars ready for
ignition, and Iucifrr matches at the side, as
it might have been prepared over night for
the morning cooking. 1t would be impos-
slbe to eXnggerate the interest and lmpor-
lance of all these simple memorials they
tell tale that will find its wav to every
heart. and many and painfui, no doubt, will
be the scenes TO which they must give rise,
when surviving fri"nis behold in them the
property of those whom they mourned in
blank uncertainty. Lady Franklin has, We
understood, already paid the collection fire.
qucnt visit, and a gentleman residing in the
neighborhood Of London has identified in one
Of the scientific Instruments the property Of
his long lost SON.