The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-10-11
THE SIR JOHN FRANKLIN EXPEDITION

DISCOVERY OF THE RELICS OF THE LOST
VOYAGERS.
The London Times of September 23d received b,
the Canada contains full account of the explora
tions and discoveries made by the steamer Fox
from which we make some extracts. The following
is Capt McCintock's narratives
1t will be remembered that the Fox effected hel
escape out OF the main pack in Davis Straits in
LAT. 6512 deg. N. on the 25th of April ls5S after
winters ice drift of ,l04 geographical miles.
Ihe small settlement of Holsteinborg was reached
on the 2Sth and such very scanty supplies obtained
as the place afforded.
On the Sth OF May our voyage was recommended
Godhaven and Upernivik visited, Melville Bay en-
tered early in June, and crossed to Cape York by
the 26th; here some natives were communicated
with they Immediately recognised Mr.. Petersen,
our interpreter, formerly known to them in the
Grinnell expedition under DR.. Kane. In reply to
our inquiry for the Esquimaux dog driver Hans,
lett behind from the Advance in 1858, they told us
he was residing at Whale Sound Had he been
there would most gladly have embarked him, as
his longing to return to South Greenland continues
unabated.
On the 18th of July communicated with the Cape
Warrender natives, near Cape Horsburgh; they
had not seen any ships since the visit of the Pho
nix in 1854, nor have any wrecks drifted upon
their shores.
1t was not until the 9th of July that we reached
Ponds Inlet, owing to a most unusual prevalence
of ice in the northern portion of Baffin's Bay and
which rendered our progress since leaving Hol
stelnborg one of increasing struggle. Without
steam power we could have done nothing. Here
only one old woman and boy were found bu
they served to pilot up the inlet for twentyfv,
miles, when we arrived at their village. Fol
about week we were in constant and most inte
resting communication with these friendly people
Briefly, the information obtained from them was
that nothing whatever respecting the Franklin ex
peditlon had come to their knowledge, nor had any
wrecks within the last twenty thirty years
reached their shores.
Leaving Ponds Inlet on the 9th of August w,
reached Beechy Island on the 18th, and landed 8
handsome marble tablet, sent on board for this pur
pose by Lady Franklin, bearing an appropriate in
scripton to the memory of our lost countrvmen in
the Erebus and Terror
The provisions and stores seemed in perfect order
but small boat was much damaged from having
been turned over and rolled along the beach by 8
storm. The roof of the house received some neces
sary repairs. Having embarked some Goals ant
stores we stood in need of, and touched at Capt
Hotham on the 10th, sailed down Peel Strait foI
rs miles on the 18th, but finding the remainder O
this channel covered with unbroken ice I deter
mined to make for Bellot Strait on the 10Th Au
gust, examined into supplies remaining at Port
Leopold, and left there a whaleboat which W.
brought away from Cape Hotham for the purpose
so as to aid us in retreat should we be Obliged
eventually to abandon the Fox. The steam launcl
had been forced higher up on the beach, and some
what damaged by the ice. Prince Regents Inlet
was unusually Tree from Ice, DuG very little
seen during our run down to Brentford Bay, which
we reached on the Goth of August.
Bellot Strait, which communicates with the west
ern sea, averages one mile in width by seventeen OIL
eighteen miles IN length At this time it filled
with drift ice but as the season advanced became
perfectly clear; its shores are in many places faced
with lofty granite Cliffs and some Of the adjacent
hills rise to 600 feet; the tides are very strong
running six or seven knots at the springs On tn,
9th of September passed through Belot Strai
without obstruction, and secured the ship to fxet
ice across its western outlet. From here, until tn
9th, when | deemed it necessary to retreat int
winter quarters, we constantly watched the move
ments of the ice in the western sea or channel 7,
mid-channel it was broken up and drifting about
gradually the proportion of water increased, unit
at length the ice which interviewed was reduced t.
three or four miles in width. But this was firmI
held fast by numerous isets, and wthstood the vic
leuce of the autumn gales. 1t was tantalizing be
yond description thus to watch from day to day tn
free water which we could not reach, and whicl
washed the rocky shore a few miles to the south
ward of us.
Our wintering position was at the east entranc
of Bellot Strait, in snug harbor, which hav
named Port Kennedy, after my predecessor il
these waters, the commander of one of Lad Frank
Inns former searching expeditions. Although vege
tation was tolerably abundant, and our two Esqui
maux hunters Mr.. Petersen, and several sportsme1
constantly on the alert, yet the resources of tn
country during the eleven and half months on
yielded eight reindeer, two bears, eighteen seal
and few water fowl and ptarmigan.
The winter unusually cold and stormy Ar
rangements were completed during the winter fo
carrying out our intended plan of search | felt
to be my duty personally, to visit Marshal Island
and in doing proposed to complete the circuit o
| King Williams Island
To Lieutenant Hobson | allotted the search of tn
western shore of Boothia to the magnetic poll
and from Gateshead Island westward to Wynniatt
| furthest. Capt. Allen Young, our sailing maste
was to trace the shore of Prince of Wales Lane
frn,, T pc f,rk
| anime the coast from Bellot Strait northward
| Sir James Ross furthest
Early spring journeys were commenced on tn
18th of February, 1859, by Captain Young and nv
self Captain Young carrying his depot across t
Prince of Wales Land, while went southward t.
wards the magnetic pole, in the hope of commun
eating with the Esquimaux and obtaining such il
formation as might lead us at to the object
our search.
l was accompanied by Mr.. Petersen, our intel
prefer, and Alex. Thompson, quartermaster-
We had with two sledges drawn by dogs. 0
the 28th of February, when near Cape Victoria, W
had the good fortune to meet a small party of nj
tives, and subsequently visited by about fort,
| five individuals.
For four days we remained in communication
with them, obtaining many relics, and the informs
| tion that several years ago ship was crushed
| the"ice off the north shore, of King Williams I
land but that all her people landed safely, an
| went away to the Great Fish River, where the
| died. This tribe was well supplied with wood, oil
| tained they said from a boat left by the whit
| men the Great River.
We reached our vessel after TWENTY-FIVE days' al
sence, in good health, but somewhat reduced b
| sharp marching, and the unusually severe weathe
to which we had been exposed. For several day
| after starting the mercury continued frozen.
J On the I'd of April, the spring journeys wei
| commenced. Captain McCIntock took charge
one party and Lieutenant Hobson of another
Before separating we saw two Esquimaux fam
lies living out upon the ice in snow huts from the
we learned that second ship had been off Kin
Williams Island, and that she drifted ashore in IL
| fall of the same year. From this ship they had Of
tanned vast deal of wood and iron.
| now gave Lieut.. Hobson directions to search ft
the wreck and to follow up any traces he migl
find upon King Williams Island.
| Accompanied by my own party and Mr.. Pete
| sen, | marched along the east shore of King Wi
| liam's Island, occasionally passing deserted sno
| huts, but without meeting natives till the Sth {
| May, when off Cape Norton we arrived at a suo
| village containing about thirty inhabitants. The
gathered about without the slightest appearanc
of fear shyness, although none had ever seen lii
ing white people before. They most willin
| to communicate all their knowledge and barter a
| their goods, but would have stolen everything ha
| they not been very closely watched. Many moi
| relics of our countrymen were obtained; cou
not carry away all we might have purchases
| They pointed to the inlet we had crossed the da
before, and told us that one days march up it, an
thence four days overland, brought them to tf
| wreck.
None of these people had been there since 1851 &
at which time they said but little remained, the
countrvmen having carried away almost ever
thing.
| Most of our information was received from an i
| tegent old woman; she said it was in the fall
the year that the ship forced ashore many
the white men dropped by the way as they wei
towards the Great River; but this was only know
to them in the winter following, when their bodi
were discovered.
Point Ogle, Montreal Island and Barrow Islar
were searched without finding anything excel
few scraps of copper and iron in an Esquimau
hiding place.
Re-crossing the Strait to King Williams Islam
we continued the examination of its southern sho
without success until the oath of May, when abo
ten miles eastward of Cape Herscheil a bleach
skeleton was found, around which lay fragments
European clothing. Upon carefully removing Il
snow small pocketbook was found, containing
few letters. These, although much decayed, mi
yet be deciphered. Judging from the remains
his dress, this unfortunate young man was stewa
or officers servant and his position exactly verif
the Esqumaux's assertion, that they dropped
they walked along.
On reaching Cape Herschell next day, he exa
ined Simpsons Cairn, or rather what remains of
which is only four feet high and the central ston
have been removed, as if by men seeking SON
thing within it. My impression at the time, al
which still retain, is, that records were deposit
there by the retreating crews and subsequent
removed by the natives.
After parting from me at Cape Victoria on t
28th of April, Lieutenant Hobson made for Ca
Felix. At a short distance westward of it he fou
a very large cairn, and close to it three sms
tents, with blankets, old clothes, and other rel
of shooting or magnetic station; but althoug
the cairn was dug under, and trench dug q
round it at distance of 10 feet, record was di
covered. The most interesting OF the articles q
covered here including a boats ensign, we
brought away by Mr.. Hobson About two mil