The New York herald., 1873-10-11
Trials, Troubles and TribulatOns of the
Pioneer Explorers.
The True Story of Franklin and
His Adventures.
Half Dozen Frozen to Death and All
Started on the Long Jour-
ney" Years Ago.
Recovery Of Sllverware and Other Relics Of
the Unfortunate Expediti0nists.

the Unfortunate Expeditionists.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Oct. 6, 1873
Il ts now half century or thereabouts since the
matter OF looking up the North Pole was first ag.
tateo, and 1t Is almost as long since Sir John
Franklin and his little band OF adventurers left
England in search Of that still undiscovered clime
The story Of Franklin's departure, the succeeding
anxiety throughout the civilized world over the
safety and success OF the pioneer explorer and his
followers, is as familiar and universal as the fact
that the rises in the east anu sets in the west.
1t has also passed into history that Franklin and
hs party failed In the purposes OF their expedition,
ana there is no doubt but every one OF them closed
their eyes and started on the long journey years
ago.
Lady Franklin t viii be remembered, hoped
against hope up to the last moment, and 1t was
only very few years ago that she reconced her.
self and shared in the popular belief that she
was really o widow. Nothing very de-
finite, however, has until now been heard
from these early explorers OF the frgid
zones. The multitude OF expeditions which
have gone out since in search Of Franklin and in
search OF the fountan-head Of the aurora borealis
have each and every one OF them been
miserable failures The earliest expedition
the one which Sir John Franklin him.
self organized and commanded-was the
most successful OF any If earnestness, persever-
Rnce and daring are to be taken into account.
Nothing ever came oft, as everybody knows, but
Shere was pluck and determination exhibited
which has not been equalled by any succeeding ex-
plorers.
IF THERE rs A NORTH POLE
Its whereabouts is still q connundrum, and after
the English and American governments "give 1t
up" perhaps some enterprising Yankee or some
enterprisng journal like the NEW YORK HERALD
Will engage in solving 1t Tor the benefit OF humanity
and general civilization. SO far as
RELIABLE INFORMATION FROM SIR JOHN FRANKLIN
s concerned it has been reserved for New Bed
ford whaling captain to discover and for the NEW
YORK HERALD to disseminate. On the 10th OF July,
1871, the whaling bark Glacier left this port on
whaling expedition In command Of Captain Edwin
A. Potter. Although young man and scarcely yet
IN the prime Of lie, Captain Potter has spent no
Jess than seven winters in the Arctic regions. This
last voyage, one which has furnished fresh tidngs
pf Franklin and his followers, has occupied about
twenty-six months, dating from the departure OF
bhe Glacier from New Bedford to her return.
WHAT THE ESQUIMAU NATIVES SAY ABOUT
FRANKLIN.
81 was there nearly two years this last time"
Captain Potter told the HERALD correspondent,
Nand during most OF the time was in the imme-
date vicinity OF where Franklin and his party
abandoned the vessels"
Elbow nearfn asked.
"Well, 200 miles, or, perhaps, not more than
much OF mile there as we do here,n the Capt ain
answered with q twinkle. Continuing, he said,
1--WE were at Repulse Bay but
FRANKLIN ABANDONED HIS VESSELS AT KING WILL
LIAM'S LAND,
and the natives came over rom King Williams to
she bay to trade with me- and told me all they
knew about Franklin and his men,
"How did they know you were at the bayf" I
aWhy, Captain Hall told them"
''rhen you met Captain Hall, did you-the same
one that went out In the Poarls ~
m We'll. I I mt
him through whole winter, and, besides all
GOT INTO NE ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS,
and never got cent, and OF course don't expect
to get anything now."
STpPIse Te me about and what the na
tives said about him." remarked, somewhat en-
Enthusiastically and impatently.
Alter rejecting for moment, and with the aid
Of few questions, Captain Potter went on with
The sToRY OF THE NATIVES.
zone party OF them" the Captain said, sscame
over from King Williams to the Bay to trade with
me. They were sadly in need Of pots, kettles and
to accommodate them. ! was surprised when
found the compensation they had to offer me was
into port in Gloucester. or anywhere III" in Ben as
Buffers district shouldn't have thought
30 much about 1t, but away out at the
was startled to see such articles offered in trade
The natives saw was surprised, and were EVIL
and they said
.'THEY BELONGED TO MR. FRANKLIN
sCould you understand their languages"I asked.
stOh, yes, pretty well. l have been with them q
great deal. and, BESIDES one or two OF them spoke
English well enough for you or any one to under
"Of course you traded with them ?" said in
quiringly.
now and Will show them to you." Saying which
the Cap tain went to drawer and drew out
THE VALUABLE RELICS
They consisted OF two large tablespoons, two
large four-tined forks, one common teaspoon and
an ordinary bar or sugar spoon, all OF ancient
pattern ana all showing unmlstakable signs OF ex-
traordinary wear and tear in some service or
other. The small teaspoon was OF German silver,
but the other spoons. as well as the forks, were
PURE METAL-SoLTD SILVER.
On one Of the large spoons and one OF the large
forks were the somewhat indistnct outlines Of
SIR JOHN FRANKLIN's CoAT-oF-ARMs,
consisting OF an upright Indian, with bow-and-
arrow in hand, the whole figure being almost
tne By ts s ses M
sign, is "W. R. S.,n the letters being pressed In
by ahydraulic or some other powerful force. The
and one Of the large forks bears the same mark.
The German silver spoon is neatly engraved with
roughly n scratched "R N" which Captain al Potter
believes to mean "Royal Navy" Besides these
relics OF SIR John Franklin In the Captain obtained IN
those OF the Polar bear, musk OK, wolverine and
other species.
tain, "that all these trophies are genuine ~
''GENUINE GENUINE WHAT DO YOU TAKE NE
sNo joking Captain" was my reply, and as the
Captain himself was In not happy mood. all that
was subsequently said was confined strictly to
ROUGH, STERN AND IMPORTANT FACTS.
"a very old man, said Captain Potter, "came
down from King Williams Land. He started with
the same party that traded with at the Bay.
HIS DOGS GAVE OUT
when within about hundred, perhaps two hun
dred, miles from the Bay, ana the old man and his
faithful canine companions united In copartner-
tory.n
"Yes; but what were the particulars9r asked,
professionally. lUa3I
THE RIAL STORY OF FRANKLIN.
captain Potter now began to assume serious
eir, ana IN so doing rehearsed few OF the incl
dents already told. He believed that the old man
VINO perisned between King williams and the bay
was not only On acquaintance OF Franklln but
. AN ACTUAL EYEWITNESS
OF the breaking up and Anal doatructto, ~ tno