New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-30
HALLS ARCTIC JOURNEY.
THE LAST OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN'S EXPE-
DTTION

SHOT.
Capt. c. +. Hall, the eminent Arctic explorer, who
returned to New-Bedford on Sunday last from five
years search for the remains Of Sir John Franklins
companions, has written interesting letter, which
appears below, to Mr.. Henry Grinnell, giving the
details of his cruise, together with the unmistakabe
evidences of the fate of Sir John and his party. Al
though the evidences found are conclusive to the
fate of the party Capt Hall is confident that if a
| large and we'll organized expedition should
spend one Summer on King Williams Land, where
records beyond doubt" are buried, the complete
history of the fate of Franklin's last expedition
would be found. These manuscripts are supposed to
be buried in vault little inland or eastward OF
Cape Victory the captain at one time being within
IS miles of there but stampede of the natives
accompanying him as an escort forced him to retrace
his steps. From the imperfect description given by
| the Esquimaux of the condition OF Croziers
party of los men. the Captain Is satisfied
| that they were suffering from the scurvy, as
nothing but sickness would have kept so experienced
an Arctic traveller as Crozier from the game which
was in abundance within 75 miles of where he and
his party perished The relics brought back number
about 49, and were as many could be conveniently
carried although there were hundreds of them in
possession of the natives. Those brought back were
obtained of tho natives through the with
| them) apowerfu agency of presents -
needle being considered fair equivalent for silver
fork spoon 1t is not at present the intention OF
Capt Hall to prosecute further the search for the
mains of Sir John Franklin. His great desire is to
reach the North Pole, and to accomplish this end an
effort will probably be made to obtain
| Government aid in fitting out and manning
an expedition TO start next Summer. The
| magnitude of tho undertaking almost precudes
the possibility Of obtaining aid from private indi-
lid md n III.
Already he is inpatient of civilized lfe and is begin
ming to rcvolye in las mind plans for such an expe-
diton. Capt. Hall returns in the best Of health.
The following is the letter:
REFUSE BAY, June 90, 1869.
| HENRY GRISSELI-Dear Sir This day have returned
from sledge Journey OF 90 days and from King Will
lams Land. 1t my purpose and every preparation
was made to make this journey last season but my
attention then having been called TO Melville Peninsula,
in the vicinity OF Fury and Hecla Straits, where native
report had IL that white lad been seen, directed
my expedition there by Of Amitoke Ooglit lsle IL
ook with the ardent hope and expectation OF rescung
alive Of Sir John Frankns last companions The
result OF this journey the finding Of tenting place
OF few white and q stone pillar they had erected
close by the bottom of Parry Bay which Is some %
miles south OF the western outlet OF Fury ana hecla
Straits aud the visiting OF several places where "no
men and their had been seen by natives o gook
and vicinity about tho years 1861 also gained
much from the natives OF igloo-k, North
Ooek Isle. aud thereabouts that confirmed the report
had in the Winter OF isG7s which have already
stated And still further proofs of this respor have been
also obtained on my late visit to King Williams Land.
My scdsc Journey to the Straits of Fury and Heca, and
thence down TO Parry Bay and back to Repuse Bay by
the already defined, consumed 90 days.
SKELETONS OF FRANKLIN CREWS.
The result OF my lslodgo journey TO King Williams
Land may he summed up thus None OF Sir John Frank
lin's companions ever reached or died on Montreal
Islau 4te in Ink that srozi nndh
party q. passed down the west coast OF
King Williams Land Nm the vicinity OF Cape Herschell
The party was dragging two sedges on the sea-ice
which nearly in its last stage Of dssoution-one
largo siedge laden with an awning-coy-
cred boat. and the other a small one, laden
with provisions and camp material Just before
Crozier and party arrived at Cape Hersche they were
by four families Of natives and both parties went
into camp each other. Two Esqumaux men. who
OF the native party gave me much sad but deeply
Interesting information Some OF 1t stirred my heart
with sadness ntermnged with rage, for 1t was con-
fesson that they with their companions did secretly and
hastily abandon CrozIer and his party 10 suffer and die
for need OF fresh provisions when IN truth 1t was in the
power OF the natives TO every man alive. The
next trace OF Crozier and his party IA to be
found ! the skeleton which McClintock discovered
little below, to the southwark and eastward OF Cape
Herschell; this was found by the natives The
next a camping place on the seashore OF King
williams Land, about three miles estward OF Pfeifer
River, where two died and received Christian
burial. Az this place fish bones found by the
natives which showed them that Crozer and his party
had caught species Of fish excellent for food
with which tue there abounds The next trace Of this
party some five or six miles eastward, ona long,
low point OF King Williams Land where one man died
aud was buried. Then about 8 8. f., two and half
miles further the next trace occurs, on Todfs
Islet, where tho remains OF five men
lle The next certain trace Of this party
is OIL the west side Of the inlet west OF Point Richardson
on some land that is island or part Of the main
land as the tide may be- Hero the awning covered
boat aud the remains OF about 80 or IS OF Croziers
party were found by the native Pooyetta OF whom Sir
John Ross has given description In the account OF his
voyage In the Victory 1894
In the Spring OF 1872 large tent found by of
the natives whom saw, the floor OF which was com
peteIy covered with the remains of white men Close by
were two graves This tent was little way inland from
the head OF Terror Bay
In the Spring Of 1861 when the snow was nearly all
gone an Esqumaux party conducted by native well
known throughout the Northern regions found two boats
with many skeletons and about them One OF these
boats had reviousy found by McCnock the other
was found lying from one-quarter to one-half mile dis
tant and must have been completely enombed in snow
at the MoClntocks parties were there or they most
assurediy would have it. In and about this boat
besides the many skeletons alluded to- were found many
relics, most OF them similar in character to those
McCntock has enumerated having been found In the
boat lie discovered. The native VINO conducted TINS
native party In Its search King Williams Land is tho
same individual who gave Dr. Rae the first information
about having died TO the westward OF where
he Dr Rae) then Pey Bay, in the Spring OF 1854
Ills name Is In.nook poozhejook, and he rs native OF
Neitchle very great traveller and very Intelligent
He U.s. in fact walking history OF the fate OF Sir John
Frankln's expedition This native met when within
ono days sledge journey of King Williams Land-of
Point Dryden-and after stopping few days among his
people no accompanied to the places visited on and