Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-12-06
SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.
seaman From Hudson Bay Receivers AR
ticies Hearing Evidence of Having Belonged
10 the Brave Explorer.

seaman From Hudson Bay Receivers AR
ticies hearing Evidence of Having Belonged
70 the Brave Explorer.
Thos. A. Barry, second mate of
the bark A. Houghton, which was
cast away on the 18th of June, upon
the coast of Hudson Bay, few
miles southwest of Cape Fullerton,
has brought to this city some inter-
eating relics OF the Franklin Expedi-
ton, which he obtained from ma
tive tribe near whose homes the last
OF the brave explorers arc said to
have persisted Barry appears to be
an honest sailor. and the relics he
has in his possession confirm the
correctness of his story as told to a
World reporter:
Just year agc, while the bark was
laid up at Marble islands we'll known
sta On at Rankin's Bag, they were
visited by large body of Esquim-
aux from Naehille settlement, near
Cape Inglefeld, who told of the
mounds which marked the graves OF
the white men who had come among
them many years before. Two old
men of the tribe remem bered dis
tinctly the appearance of the strang
ers, but none of the other natives
could speak except in regard to the
mounds, and the relics which were
still in their possession.
The old Esquimaux told Barry
that long time ago large party of
white men had come to their settle
ment and lived for a long time
among them. The old men told
how cold the winter was which fol-
lowed the arrival Of the whites. No
game Of any kind was to be had,
and the settlement was reduced be-
fore long to the last extremity of
restitution. The natives crouched
in their huts without fire or food,
except some miserable sealskins,
pieces of which they chewed.
The white men were unable to en-
dure the mseries of winter. The
natives were Injured to hunger and
cold, but many of the tribe persisted.
One after the other the remnant of
English expedition died, until all
the men had persisted in the huts of
the Esqnimaux settlement. The
Esquimaux wrapped the bodies Of
the dead in skins and buried them
near the settlement under little heaps
of stones.
Before all the expedition had died,
a cara was erected among the huts,
and the books and papers belong
ing to the explorers were carefully
placed within. Other valuables
were also stored in the cairn, which
the natives told Barry had been left
untouched They looked on the de-
post as sacreI. and feared to break
into the mound Or disturb the relics.
Thew bad number Of articles in
their sattl ment, however belonging
To the expedition, made of silver,
copper and iron, and many pieces of
wood which had been used to con-
struct the boats or sledges. Some
of these articles they brought with
them TO the ship, and Barry was
able to procure three large silver
spoons, which was Enthusiastically the
property of the Franklin expedition.
One of the spoons be has now in his
possession the other two were CIV
en- to the American Consul at st.
Johns, New Foundland. The spoon
now belonging to Barry is heavy
silver table spoon, engraved with
the Franklin crest, a fish's head sur
rounded by a wreath.
The natives were willing to
guide the crew of the whaler to their
settlement but, as the journey was
nearly 1000 miles, and the crew
were whalemen and not professed
explorers, the offer was not accept
ed.
1t is proposed by Morrison and
Brown, shipping agents at No. 100
South Street, to make an attempt
to recover the relics of the Franklin
expedition next spring. Mr.. Nor
rison was the agent that fitted out
the Polaris. He estimates the cost
of fitting out vessel for cruise of
eighteen months at SIS, 900, and if
this sum can be raised ho will en-"
endeavor to provide what is neces.
sary.
1t is understood that the British
Government offers standing re.
ward of $4,000 for the recovery Of
the books and other records Of the
expedition, and if this offer is still
open, Messrs. Morrison e. Brown
are prepared to dafray the cost the
of expedition, " hich will probably be
under the charge of Mr.. Barry. He
proposes to enter Hudson Bay and
land at Repulse Bay, on it's western
coast. From thence the journey to
Inglefeld, about 500 miles, can be
made with sleds and dogs, which
can be procured a. the point of land
ing. Travelling at the rate of forty
miles per day, the settlement of
HachilIi can be reached in about two
weeks. Here Barry expects to find
the EARN untouched, and to bring
back the relics of Franklin's MEM
orable expedition Neio York World.
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Queer Refuge ofan Escaped Prisoner
Liichfeld, Conn, Enquirer.
nf1i aaf N (1horIas