The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-02-24

eC Shippers, OF Wnlcu give tne pattern, as
they may possibly be identified. The
lines were white, with a black margin !;
the spaces white. red and yellow.
They had originally been II inches
long, lined with calf skin with the hair
lef. on and the edges bound with red silk
ribbon. Besides these slippers there were
a pair of small shooting half boots. The
other skeleton was in somewhat more
perfect state, and was enveloped with
clothes and furs; it lay across the boat,
under the after thwart Close behind it
were found five watches; and there were
two double barreled guns-one barrel in
each loaded and Notwithstanding nuz-
zles upward against the boats side.
1t may be imagined with what deep in
terest these sad relics were scrutinized,
and how anxously every fragment Of
clothing was turned over in search of
pockets and pocket books, journals or even
names. Five or six small books were
found, all Of them scriptural or devotional
works except the Vicar of Wakefield =
One little book, Christian Melodies bore
an inscription on the title page from the
donor to q G. (Graham Gore y. A small
Bible contained numerous marginal notes,
aud whole pages underlined. Besides
these books, the covers Of New Testa-
ment and Prayer Book were found.
Amongst an amazing quantity Of cloth
ing, there were seven or eight pairs of
boots of various kinds-cloth, winter
boots, sea boots, heavy ankle boots, and
strong shoes. | noted that there were
silk handkerchiefs-blacS, white and fig
ured-towels, sponge and toothpicks and
hair combs macintosh guncover, marked
outside with paint A Il, and lined with
black cloth. Besides these articles, We
found twine, nails, saws, files, bristIes
wax ends, sailmakers' palms, powder, bul,
lets, shot, cartridges, wads, leather car
fridge case, knives clasp and dinner
ones-needle and thread cases, slow match,
several bayonet scabbards cut down into
knife sheaths, two rolls Of sheet lead, and,
in short, a quantity of articles Of one des
cription and another, truly astonishing in
variety, and such as, for the most pai., ,
moiern sledge travellers in these re rions
would consider a mere accumulation Of
dead weight, but slightly useful, aud very
likely to break down the strength of the
sledge crews.
The only provisions we could find were
tea and chocolate; Of the folmer very lit
tie remained, but there were nearly 40
pounds Of the latter. These articles alone
could never support life In such climate,
and we found neither bis uit nor meat of
roy kind. A portion of tobacco and an
empty pemmican tin, capable of contain
ing % lbs we; ght were discovered. The
tin was marked with an E; it had proba-
bly, belonged to the Erebus.
In the after part of the boat we diScov-
cred large spoons, | forks and 4 tea
spoons, all Of silver of the 26 pieces of
plate, eight bore Sir John Franklin's crest,
the remainder had the initials of 9 differ,
ent officers, with the exception Of single
fork which was not marked; Of these 8
officers, 5 belonged to the Erebus-Gore,
Lee, Fairholme, Couch and Gooksir-
Three others belonged to the Terror
Crozier, Uornbey and Thomas. | do not
know to whom the three articles with an
owl engraved upon belonged, nor who
was the owner of the unnamed fork, but
of The owners Of those we can identify, the
majority belonged to the Erebus. Ono OF
the watches bore the crest of Mr.. Couch
Of the Erebus, and as the oemmican tin
also came from that ship am inclined to
think that the boat did also; the authori
ties at Woolwich could tel to which ship
she was supplied and as one Of the pock
ct chronometers found in the boat was
marked "Parkinson & Frodsham $50,
and the other "Arnold 202O," it could al
50 be ascerained to which ship they hsC
been issued.
| was astonished to find that the slet
the next point of land for which we our
selves were travelling
The position of this abandoned boat il
fifty miles-as a sledge would travel
from Point Victory, and therefore sixty
five miles from the position Of the ships
also it is seventy miles from the Skeleton
of the steward and one hundred and tift,
miesl from Montreal Island it is moreo
yer, in the depth Of a wide bay, where, b,
crossing over ten or twelve miles very low
land, great saving of distance would b.
effected, the route by the coast line beinG
about forty miles.
A little reflection led me to satisfy IN.
own mind at least, that the boat was re
turning to the ships and in no other wa,
can | account for two men having bee
left in her, than by supposlng the part
were unable to drag the boat further, an
that these two men, no. being able t
keep peace with their shipments, wer
therefore left by then, supplied with sue
provisions as could e spared to last uut
the return of their comrads from the shi
with fresh stock of provisions.
Whether it was the intention Of the re
troceding party to wait the result Of anotf
er season in the shil or t. follow tn
track Of the main body to The Great Els
River, is now matter Of conjecture.
seems highly probable that they purpose
revisiting the boat, not only on account
the two men left in charge of il, but also
obtain the chocolate, the five watches an
many other articles which would otherwii
have been lef. in her.
The same reason which may be asst gre
for the return of this detachment from IL
main body, will also serve to account Fl
= their not having come back 10 their boa