The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-02
Finding Relics Of the Franklin
Expedition.

tne discovery OF lhc fhlc OF Slr John |
Franklin and his Companions, by Capt.
McClintock, Il. N, LII. d., published by
Ticknor d. Fields, we copy the following
account OF the manner in which the gal |
liant commander first obtained traces and |
relics Of the Franklin expedition -
On the first Of March we halted to en-.
camp at about the position of the mag
netic pole, for no earn remains TO mark
the spot. | had almost concluded that
my journey would prove TO be work of
! labor in vain, because hitherto no traces
OF Esquimaux had been met with, and, in
consequence Of the reduced state Of our
provisions and the wretchcd condition of
the poor dogs-six out of the fifteen being
useess--l could only advance one more
march.
But we had done nothing more than
look ohead ) wben We halted, and turned
round, great indeed was my surprise and
joy to see four men walking after U.S.
Petersen and Immediately buckled on
our revolvers and advanced to meet them
The natives halted, made fast their dogs,
laid down their spears and received us
without any evidence Of surprise. They
Nold us they had been out upon seal hunt
on the ice, and were returning home we
proposed to join them, and all were soon
Idn, motion again bu: another hour
bbught sunset. aud we learned HAT their
show village Of eight hus was still long
way off, so We hired them, at the rate OF
a needle for each Esqumaux, 10 build us
a hut, which they completed in an hour :;
it was 8 feet in diameter, 81 feet high,
and in it we all passed the night. Per
haps the records of architecture do not
furnish another instance Of a dwelling
house so cheaply constructed !
II We gave them to understand that we
} were anxious TO barter with them, and very
: cautiously approached the real object Of
our visit. A naval button upon one Of
, their dresses afforded the opportunity. 1t
came, they said, from some white people
who were starved upon an island where
, there are salmon { that is,in river J and
, that the iron of which :her knives were
0 made came from the same place. One OF
these men had been to the island to obtain
wood and iron, but none OF them had
T. seen the white men. Another man had
, been to "Ei-wil-lik" (RepuIse Bay,) and
counted 'on his fingers seven individuals
' OF Rae'S party whom he remembers hay
ing seen.
: These Esquimau1 had nothing to eat,
and no other clothing than their ordinary
double dresses of fur they would not
not eat our biscuit or snlt pork, but took
a small quantity of bears blubber and
81 IN 80
with their heads leaning forward on their
i breasts. Next morning we travelled
. about 10 miles further, by which time We
were close to Cape Victoria; beyond this
y | would not go, much as they wished &c
u lead us on ; we therefore landed, aud they
built US d comodious snow hut in half ar
> hour this done we displayed TO then
9 our articles for barter-knivcs, files, nee
II dies, scissors beads, etc, expressed ou
desire to trade with them, and promised
= to purchase everything which had be
" ionged to the starved white men, if they
J. would come to us on the morrow. Not
, withstanding that the weather was nov
! stormy and bitter y cold, two Of the ma
> tives stripped off their outer coats Of rein
81 deer skin and bartered them for a knif
Al
u each.
l. Despite the gale which howled outside
:, We spent comfortable nj ght in our roomy
s hut.
n Next morning the entire village popu
laIion arrived, amounting TO about forty
u five souls, from aged people to infants il
; arms. and bartering commenced very
u briskly. First Of all we purchased all th'
y relics OF the lost expedition, consisting o
10 six silver spoons and forks,a silver medal
g the properly of Mr.. A. M'Donald, assist
u ant surgeon, par: Of gold chain, severa
buttons, and knives made OF the iron ant
&c wood Of the wreck, also bows and arrow
constructed Of materials obtained from tb
:: = same source. Having secured these W,
10 purchased q few frozen salmon, some seals
blubber and venison, but could not pre-
8 vail upon them to part with more thai
10 one of their dogs. One Of their sledge
! was made of two stout pieces Of wood
:. which might have been boats keel.
. : All the old people recollected the "Vic
'e tory" An old man told me his nam
e was "Ooblooria." Irecollected that 81
u James Ross had employed a man Of ths
name as guide, and reminded him of it
he was, in fact, the same individual. an,
;. be inquired after Sir James by his Esqui
ca maux name of "Agglugga."
be inquired after the man who was fur
,r nished with wooden leg by the carpen
III ter of the "Victory;" no direct answer wn
y given, but his daughter was pointed ou
Of, to me. Petersen explained to me tina
a, they do not like Hlluding in any way
," the dead, and that, ss my question wa
"a not answered, it was certain the man wa
os no longer amongst the living.
p. None Of these people had seen III
ii. whites one man said he had seen thei
re bones upon the island where they died
IN but some were buried. Petersen ais
20 understood him to say that the boat wa
~ !" crushed by the ice. Almost all Of ther
n. ~ had part Of the plunder they say they wi
"a be here when we return, and will trad
in more with us also that We shall find ma
it. tives upon Montreal Island at the time {
or our arriving there
Vn Next morning. 4th March, sewers
a' natives came to us again. bought
h., h. spear 81 feet long from a man who tol
q, ~ Petersen distinctly that ship havin