The Republican journal., 1869-10-07
Mr.. HALL AND ARCTIC vOYAGING.


days issue, i very interesting account of the
late expedition of Mr.. Hall, the intrepid
American explorer, into the extreme northern
regions of tb: American continent. Tho re-
cital Of his experience will attract the atten-
ton of all readers, and especially will a
mournful interest attach to the additional
evidence found of the sad fate of the brave
Englishmen who persisted with Sir John
Franklin
The mysterious, inaccessible, twilight re-
gions of the extreme north have always had
a strange fascination for ambitious and ad-
venturous spirits. The exercise Of the organ
of combatiyeness, Of overcoming obstacles,
and gloryng in achievement, has here found
an abundant field. And alas! many of the
best and bravcst have closed their eyes tor-
ever in the long and terrible arctic nights.
Since John and Sebastian Cabot landed on
the shores of Labrador, five years after the
discovery by Columbus, the English govern
ment has sought with great persistence the
discovery of a northwest passage from the
Atlantic to the Pacific ocean and the Indies
The object was Coz a long time a commercial
one only, as SPAIN then at the height of her
power and glory, monopolized the traffic
across the Atlantic and Indian oceans, and
warned off all intruders. 1t was the attempt
to establish q rival route to the rich trade of
China and India No less than thrty-seven
distinct expeditions have been fitted out by
the British government, up to the last and
disastrous one of Sir John Franklin in search
of a northwest passage, all the crews Of which
were stimulated by q reward of 100000 in
case of success. Much was contributed to
scientific knowledge, but nothing to CONNER
cial advantage. And when at length Mcclure
in 1858, entered the Arctic Sea from the Pa
cilic and passed into the Atlantic, with con-
tinuous open water, the discovery was of no
importance in Il commercial view. Although
Mcclure and his company made the passage,
it was not in their ship, which they were COM
PEELED to abandon-stll the open water pas
sage was established.
The great interest Of the civilized world in
the arctic regions for the last twenty years
has centered in the fate of Sir John Franklin
That distinguished explorer was an cnthusi-
asst on the subject of the northwest passage
To him it was a reality, and its discovery u
life-drcam He sailed in command of the
ships Erebus and Terror, May 10, 1915, on
what he believed would be a successful cxpe-
: dition. His vessels We're auxiliary steamers,
the crews numbered 1873 hardy men, and
were proyisioned for three years No pre-
caution or expense had been spared to ensure
success. In July following whaleship saw
the expedition in Batfin's Bay. From that
hour they passed out Of the knowledge of
civilized man, the ice of that frozen region
closed around them, and they were left to the
awful gloom Of the arctic night, and to death
When in 1913, no tidings had been raceiv-
ed from Franklin, alarm was felt and in the
spring of that year three different expeditions
of search We're filled out, and were followed
by others in successive, years. A lively in
terest was awakened in the United States.
Government furnished two ships, which were
fitted out chiefly at the expense of Henry
Grinnell, Esq, of New York. With this cX-
petition, as surgeon, went DR.. Kane, who
subsequently acquired so much distinction as
a commander. Although traces of the pro-
gress of Sir John Franklin were discovered
by these expeditions, nothing of the fate of
himself and crews was made certain. In
1854 DR.. Rae, an attachc of the Hudson's Bay
Company, learned from the Esquimaux that
four years previous q party of forty white
men had been seen on King Williams Island
and that few months later their bodies were
found not far to the northwest of Backs
Great Fish river. From relics Of the lost ex-
plorers brought home by DR.. Rae, the Esqui-
mauX story was established.
In 1857, Lady Franklin, having in vain pc
titioned the British government to make fur
Their search, purchased with her own funds u
steam yacht, of 1T tons, and sent her out in
command Of Capt. McClintock. 1t was this
expedition, by means of Il sledgc party, that
discovered the last records of Sir JOINTS ex-
Ipedition. Under pile of stones, on the
coast of King Williams Island, was found Il
tin case containing writing, stating that Sir
John Franklin and twenty-four others had
died previous to June, l84S, that the ship had
been abandoned, and the survivors were en-
deavoring to reach the British trading posts
overland This agreed with the Esqlimaux
account, as given to DIR. Rae, and was re-
garded as settling the fate of the expedition.
Around the cairn where the record was dis
covered were scattered great quantities of
clothing, ETC., which the crews of the wreck
ed ships had thrown aside in their retreat;
and there was found human skeleton which
was evidently that of one of the members of
the doomed band.
Fifty miles from Point Victory large boat
mounted on runners was also found This
boat and sledge weighed not less than four
teen hundred pounds, and the former was
doubtless fitted up with the intention of be-