The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1859-10-20
THURSDAY::::::::::::::::::::::::::OC 2
Sir John Franklin.

1T Is well known to our readers, that
in the year 1045, Sir John Franklin was
sent out by the British Government, to
search for the Northwest Passage to the
Pacific Ocean. He had under his COM
mand two ships, the Erebus and Terror,
and his officers and men numbered 13S
persons. The expedition not returning
within a reasonable time, fears were en-
tertained that it was lost, and several
other expeditions have at different times
been sent out to search for it. Two of
these, we believe, went out under the
auspices of the American Government :;
and all who have read the grahphic record
left by the lamented Elisha Kent Kane,
are familiar with the details of the suff-
erings which he and his men were called
upon to endure in the search All these
expeditions returning without any def
mite intelligence as to the fate of the
Erebus and Terror, the civilized world
have long since given Sir John and his men
up as irrevocably lost. Yet every one
is curious to learn something of the
sufferings of these gallant spirits, and of
the manner in which they perished. 1t
is, therefore, melancholy satisfaction to
all, to have, after the lapse of fourteen anx-
ious years, some reliable information as to
the fate of the ill-starred expedition.
Lady Franklin, (who it would seem
has entertained to the last. the belief that
her husband might be still living,) last
year sent out an expedition, under COM
mand of Captain McClintock, which has
recently returned to England, bringing
full particulars and many memorials of
the lost navigators. At point William,
on the northwest coast of King Will
ham's Island, record was found dated
April %, 1913, signed by Captains Crozer
and FitzjafRes- The record says the
Erebus and Terror We're abandoned three
days previously, in the ice, FIVE leagues to
the n. n. W., and that the survivors,
In all amounting to one hundred and
five, were proceeding to the Great Fish
river Sir John Franklin had died on
June Il, 1S47, and the total deaths to
that date had been nine officers and fifteen
men, Many deeply interesting relies of the
expedition were fonnd on the western shore
of King Williams Island, and others were
obtained from the Esquimaux, who stated
that after their abandonment. one of the
ships was crushed in the ice and the
other forced ashore Several skeletons
OF Frankfn's men, large quantities of
clothing, &e,, and a duplicate record CD
to the abandonment of the ship, were
discovered
These discoveries fully confirm the re-
ports that have been received. It will
be remembered that, in 1854. DIR. Rae
learned from the Esquimaux that a partv
OF about forty white men had been on
King Williams Island in 1850. and that
a few months later, they found their
bodies near the Great Fish River. These
men were doubtless the last remnant of
rranRllns party, who, after the close of
the record lately discovered, started
southwark, and gradually wasted away and
persisted
Minute and interesting details of the
discoveres of Captain McClintock have
been published. But the sympathy ex-
etted in behalf of Franklin and his
men, Will cause the civilized world to look
with eagerness for the publication of a
1uil narrative Of the expedition and its
incidents
Thanksgivfng-Day.