Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-29
MORNING LEADER.
PLAIN AND oRNAM ENTAIL PRINTING.
The Fate of Sir John FRANKLIN.
[Capt. MclintOck's NaratiUs Continued ]

Capt. NJ ClintOek's NarGtiUs COntiRusdl
The equipment was a very small brown
Holland tent, macintosh hoor-cloth, and felt
robes, together with bag Of double blanket
ings, and pair Of fur boots, TO sleep in, for
each man. They wore moccasins over the
pieces Of blanket in which the feet were wrap
ped up, and with the exception of q change
Of this foot-gesr, carried no spare clothes
The way was led by Capt. MClintock in
person; Petersen and Thompson followed
conducting their sledges; and in this manner
they tramped on fer eight or ten hours with
out halting, except when necessary to olsen
tangle the dog-harness. When they halted
for the night, the Captain and Thompson
usually sawed out the blocks of compact snow
and carried them to Petersen, who acted as
the master mason in building the snoW-hut.
Then the dogs had their supper, it being no
easy task TO insure the weaker ones their full
share in the general scramble; after this the
sledges were unpacked, the provisions and
sleeping gear carried into the hut and also
the boots, fur mittens and even the sledge
dog harness, to prevent the dogs from eating
them in the night. The door was then block
cd up with snow, the cooking lamp lighted,
foot-gear changed, diary written up, watches
wound, sleeping bags Eriggled into, pipes
lighted, and the merits Of the various dogs
discussed until supper was ready. The sup
per swallowed, the upper robe or coVerlet was
pulled over, and then to sleep; Next morn
ing came breakfast, a struggle to get into
frozen moccssins, after which the sledges were
packed, and another days march eommene-
ced.
On the first of March, they encamped in
the vicinity of the magnetic pole; Capt. M
ClintOck, began to fear that his journey would
be in vain; thus far, no traces of the Esqui-
maux had been met with; the provisions were
nearly exhausted six out of the fifteen dogs
were disabled; and only one more march was
possible. In this moment Of encouragement,
what was the surprise and joy of the party,
on looking back, to see four men walking after
them. The Captain and Petersen immedi-
ately buckled on their revolvers and ad-
vanced to meet them. The Esquimaux halted,
made fast their dogs, laid down their spears,
but betrayed no astonishment at the sight Of
the strangers.
They had been out upon zeal hunt on the
ice and were returning home; they fell in
readily with the proposal to join forces; and
under the pretence of barter, Capt. M Clintock
soon engaged them in conversation on the
object of his visit Inquiring with regard to
naval button, which he observed on one of
their dresses, he was told that it came from
some white people who starved upon an island
where there were salmon in river, and that
the iron of which their knives were made
came from the same place. One of the meR
said he had been TO the island to obtain wood
and iron, but none of them had seen the white
men. Another man had been to Repulse
Bay, and counted on his fingers seven in
diViduals of Rae's party whom he remembered
having seen. These Esquimaux had nothing
10 est. and no other clothing than their ordin-
srv double dresses of fur They would not
eat the biscuit or salt pork of the party, but
took a small quantity of bears blubber and
some water. They slept in a sitting posture,
with their heads leaning forward on their
breasts.
The next morning, after travelling about ten
miles further, they halted near Cape Victoria,
when q tempting display was made of the
knives, files, needles, scissors, beads, &c,
| which were offered to the Esquimaux in ex-
change for anything which belonged to the
starved white men. Although the weather
was stormy and bitterly cold, two of them
stripped off their outer coats Of reindeer skin,
and bartered them for knife each. On the
morrow, the entire village population arrived,
amounting to about forty-fve souls, from aged
people to infants in arms, and bartering COM
menced very briskly. First of all, the Cap
tain purchased all the relics Of the lost ex-
pedition, consisting of six silver spoons and
forks, O silver medal, belonging to Mr. d.
AFDonald, assistant surgeon, part Of gold
1ehain, several buttons, and knives made of
| the iron and wood of the wreck, also bows and
! arrows constructed of materials obtained from
| the same source. One of their sledges was
made of two stout pieces of wood, which might
have been boats keel. None of them had
| seen the whites; one man said he had seen
their bones upon the island where they died,
but some we're buried.
On the 4th of March, the next day, several
natives again visited the party. One Of them
told Petersen that ship with three masts has
been crushed by the ice out in the sea, to the
| west of King Williams Island, but that al
I've people landed safely. He had spear
g. tSst long, with staff which appeared tC
have been part of the gunwale of light boat
These ESquimaux we're all well clothed II
reindeer dresses, and looked clean. They ap'
Deared 10 have abundance of provisions, bu
scarcely a scrap of wood was seen among
them which had not come from the lost exped-
| tion. Most of their sledges were Wretchec
little affairs, consisting of two frozen rolls Of
| sdaI.skins, coated with ice, and attached Il
each other by bones, which served as cross
bars. The men were stout, hearty fellows
and the women arrant thieves, but all were
good-bumored and friendly. The women
we're decidedly plain; but not without GER
tain degree of gentleness and vivacity. They
had fine eyes and teeth as well as very small
hands, and the young girls had q fresh rosy
hue not often seen with olive complexlons.-
The mothers carry their infants on theli
backs within their large fur dresses, anc
where the babes can only be got at by pulling
! them out over tn shoulder.
The party returned to the ship on the l4tt
of March, having in the journey Of 70 days
travelled about ago geographical miles, anc
comnleted the discovery of the coast line o.
continental America, thereby adding abou
ION miles IN the charts The mean tempera
ture throughout the journey was ~ below
zero.
| On the ID of April, the travelling parties
took a new start consisting Of hve sledges
twelve men. and seventeen dogs, the latter o
ali s;zss and shapes. The load for each mai
to drag was fixed at 200 pounds, and for eaci
Jog 100 mounds. The provisions were chiefly
DeS5mican, eS mic biscuit, and tea, with small ad
dition of boiled pork, rum, and some tobacco
The men we're unframed to the work, th'
sIedgss heavily laden, and the march wa
consequently slow and fatiguing. The TEN
nsrstnre continued low, often nearly 80 below
Zero. and at times with cutting north winds
bri0bt sun. and intensely strong snow glare
The marty wore colored specetacles, but al
most All suffered much from infamed eyes
The faces of the men were blistered. thei
iins and hands cracked, and they were great,
dis6oured by the combined effects of brigh
snn and bitterly cold winds. No serious frost
- - - hnuavar- hut frostbitten face