Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-10-15
DISCO VERY or THE REMAINS or SIR
JOUN FRANKLIN

BY recent arrival from Europe we learn that
the British steam yacht For has returned from
its Attic explorations, fully successful in ascer-
tanning the fate of the Franklin Expedtion--an
enterprise several times attempted both by Eng
lishmen and Americans and which has cost the
lives of man! gallant men. This browning
success is but just reward for the heroic faith,
courage, and perseverance Of the cstimable la
dy whose name is as illustrous as that Of her
deceased husband.
From the narrative of Capt MClintoch, ex-
tracts from which are given below, it appears
that Sir John Franklin died on the 18th of June,
1877; that on the 9th of the following April
the ships EreLHs and Terror were abandoned;
that the surviving crews-l05 men in all
started on their march southwark over the ice;
and that all persisted miserably, man after man,
along the frozen waste, marked by skeletons,
clothing arms and food, lying as they dropped.
The following extracts are taken from the mar
ratve alluded to above, and they give all that
relates Immediately to the fate of Franklin and
his crew:
Early spring journeys were commenced on
the 18th of Feb, 1859, by Capt Young and
myself, Capt. Young carrying his depot across
to Prince Of Wales Land while went south
ward, towards the magnetic pole, in the hope
OF communicating with the Esquimaux, and OBJ
tanning such information as might lead us at
once to the object of our search.
was accompanied by Mr.. Petersen, our in
tcrpreter, the same who accompanied DR.. Kane, ]
| and Alpx ThOmnson auartarmastpr No had
with us two sledges, drawn by dogs. On the
2Sth of February, when near Cape Victoria, we
had the good fortune to meet a small party of
natives, and were subsequently, visited by about
| i5 individuals
For four days we remained in communication
with them, obtaining many relics, and the in
formation that several years ago ship was
crushed by the ice OFF the north shore, off King
Williams Island, but that all her people landed
safely, and went away to the Great Fish River,
vhc;e they died. This tribe was well supplied
with " God, obtained, they said, from boat left
by the white men On the Great River.
On the I'd of April our long -projec' cd Spring
journeys were commenced; Lieut.. Hobson ac-
companied me as far as Cape Victoria, each Of
us had a sedge drawn by four men, and an aux
Hilary sledge drawn by six dogs. This was all
the force we could muster.
Before separating We saw two Esquimaux
families living out upon the ice in snow huts
from them we learned That ship had been seer
off King Williams Island, and that she drifted
ashore on the Fall of the same year. From
this ship they had obtained a vast deal of woot
and iron.
now gave Lieut.. IIobson directions to search
for the wreck, and to follow up any traces ht
might find upon King Williams Island.
Accompanied by my own party and Mr.. Pc
tersen, | marched along the east shore Of King
Williams Island, occasionally passing deserted
snow huts, but without meeting natives till tn,
Sth of May, when off Cape Norton we arrive,
at a snow village containing about thirty inhab
itants They gathered about us without tn,
slightest appearance of fear or shyness, although
none had ever seen living white people before
They were most willing to communicate all thei
knowledge and barter all their goods, but woul,
have stolen everything had they not been yer,