The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-18
Survivors of Franklin's Companions
From the Edinburgh Witness.

From the Edinburgh Witness.
Captain Snow, who commanded the
Prince Albert, in 1850, lectured last week
at the Literary Institute, Wandsworth. He
was strongly of the opinion that some of the
party were still living, probably in captivity
among the Esquimaux. He supported this
opinion by citing several instances of Eng
lishmen living with barbarous tribes for
many years; also by the fact elected through
Capt. McClintock's interpreter-th when
the Esquimaux met with strangers that can
be of no use to them, they give them food,
and desire them to go away but il the men
were mechanics, and useful, as many OF the
Franklin party were, the natives retain them
and will not let them go. He also thought
that further efforts should be made to dis.
cover them.
The Medical Times says: The information
recently brought home as to the fate Of Sir
John Franklin, shows very remarkably the
fault committed by Government in neg lect-
ing to follow the advice of well known
member of our PROFESSIONALS. King. 1t
is now known that Frankin's ships were
wrecked close to an isand-King Williams
Island-lying off the western land of North
Somerset and traces of the expedition have
been found on the southern shore of this
island, at Pot Ogle. on the continent Of
America, and at Montreal Island, in the
estuary of the Great Fish River. Now, in
February, lS45, Dr.. King proposed to Lord
Grey, then Colonial Secretary, to go by the
Great Fish river to the western land of
North Somerset to aid the Franklin Expe-
ditcn in its survey. Two years afterwards
when anxiety was felt for the fate of the ex-
pedition, DR.. King made his second offer to
Lord Grey to 60 by the sameroute in search
of and to assist the expedition in its difficult
ty. The letter making this offer, was dated
June 10, lS47, and, curiously enough, it is
now shown that Franklin died on the 18th
of June, one day after this letter was writ
ten, near the very spot which he proposed
to examine.
After FranlSlin's death, it appears from
the records found by Captain McClintock,
los survivors were on the road to the Great
Fish River, in April, l84S, so that had DR..
Kings proposals of l045 and lS47 been
accepted, he must have met the party and
rescued them. Year after year, DIR. King
reiterated his warnings and offers, and in
1856 memorialized the Admiralty, to ar
range combined effort by sea and land,
again directed to the precise spot where the
remains of the expedition have been found.
Had his offers been accepted, not only would
our gallant countrymen have been rescued,
but no necessity would have arisen for the
expeditions of Ross, Richardson, Collinson,
Austin, Penny, Belcher Or Keliett at Gov
eminent expense of two millions nor for
the private expedition under Ross, Kennedy
and McCIintock, or the American efforts of
De Haven and Kane.
We do not mention this in any spirit of
vain regret, but to point out that summer
land search up the Great Fish river would
be devoid of danger, would be inexpensive,
and might be successful in rescuing some of
the los survivors, all of whom can scarcely
have persisted in country where there is
plenty of game.