The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-13
THE ARCTIC REGIONS
Particulars Of the Proposed Expedition
to the Polar Sea.
A SUGGESTIVE SILVER SPOON.
What Shipping Merchant Says About
the Franklin Relics.

Since the melancholy loss OF Sir John Fraaklin aud
his intrepid companions everything relulng to the
region Of icebergs and snow which the brave ex-
plorers persisted has been iraught with peculiar
interest to intelligent minds throughout the world.
The many laudable efforts made to recover
the records OF the lost exploring party
and to reach that goal which navlgators and
other scientists have long and eagerly desired
to see attained have always been responded TO
with a heart throb of universal sympathy such as,
perhaps, never in the history OF mankind has been
eciled by any other humane scientific undertake
ing. The offer Of gallant young officer Of the United
States army TO lead expedition in
search OF additional relics OF SIR John
Franklin and his party. published IN the HERALD OF
yesterday, has reawakened public interest in the
matter The proposed search formed topic OF DIS
cussion at the various literary clubs in the city, and
was also vigorously discussed by old Arctic
Ocean travellers, including whalemen and
shipping merchants, aown town. During
the afternoon HERALD representative, ind
ing himself in South street dropped In at No. 100,
the Office OF Mcssrs. Morrison l. Brown, Shipping
merchants, through whose fundamentally the latest
authentic informato regarding the late OF the brave
English Baronet ana HIS companies. has already
stirred the British Lords Of tho Admiralty 10 some
thing ike action Ia the premises The writer having
found Mr. John Morrison quite willing 10 talk on The
subject indicated, the following interview took
place.
s.Can you not let the HERALD have some additional
Information IN regard 10 the proposed expedition TO
the Arctic repions"
certainly will tell you the whole story, from be-
ginning 70 end. When the brig Henry Trowordse
sailed from here last October on whaling voyage
invited several represen ,atives OF the daily pa
AknarA
of her down TO Sandy Hook, whittier she
was towec l invited the newspaper men
because the Trowbroge tho first whaling vessel evor
fitted out in the city OF New York. Some have been
sent from the Hudson, other whasrs have hal ed
a about out ns ns
VINO accompanied Us 10 The Hook was Mr..
Thomas X, Barry, who had recently ar
snipwrecked while serving second officer on the
whaling bark a. Aoughlon He mad previously made
several voyages to the Arctic regons, ana could
speak the Esquimau language huentiy."
TIM FRANKLIN RELICS.
ln what manner did he come into possession Of tho
relics spoken otY''
.l'm coming to that now. During his stay at Hud-
sons Bay, IN 1877, Mr. Barry met some Lsqumaux
coming from the Natcniiia country, having Win them
several SILVER spoons one OIL wnicn bore the Great VI
the late John Franklin He lost no timo in secur-
ing these artIclea Tho same party Of Esquimaux IN
formed hm thai whore these spoons camo from there
plenty more, together with books and papers;
country distance OF 800 or 400 miles, for the purpose
Of glvag him the sverware, books and they said.
everything belonging 20 the white men,"
ssNa He didn't attach much importance TO this
discovery, tor the simple reason that 10 1872 when
he (Mr. Barry second officer OF tho bark Glacier,
there we're also Esquimaux coming from the same
tribe those alluded 10. bringing with them
naily belouging to Sir john Frankiin's party,
aud giving she same Information 80 Cap
barry Barn regard 70 the eooss Sna Other Se
longing the white On tho return Of the Gacier
70 Now Bedford, the late Mr. Henry GrinDei, having
proceeded 10 that port and called on Captain Potter
and his officers In relation thereto Alter having
careiuiiy examined the relics, Mr.. Grnneli pro-
nounced them genuine, and US having, be-
longed TO Sir John Franklin's party. shorty
alter this Mrs. Gnnaell 10 England and
called upon Lady franklin TO whom Sue impaired the
Intelligence Vi tns discovery The result was that
Lady Franklin then offered reward OF CO 900 tor the
recovery oil the books aud papers belonging 70 the
exploring party, on the condition that The articles
mentioned should De produced before the expiration
.what do you suppose was Lady Frankn's object
IN limiting the time Tor the production OF the srli-
cles?"
s.My opinion Is that in offering the reward which
only payaple up 10 the close Of 1915, aud not
making the onor known ia THIS country, she intenaed
10 give her own couutrymen an opportunity 10 re-
cover the relics and obtain the reward, as we'll 70
question OF sir Johns tate that OF his
has become quite nat onal AFFAIR In England. Shortly
after offering the reward, however, Lady Franklin
uieu, aud al about the same time the death vi Mr.
Henry Grinnel occurred, that tue whole thing Tell
10 the ground Mr. Barry, knowing that the deaths
Of Lady Franklin and Mr.. Grinneil had c,used tho
proposed renewal OF the search TO be
one else appearing 10 take any interest IN II,
tented himself with buying spoon as q curiosity
to take with him ON his return TINS CITY he
maze mo present OF the spoon, at the same time
teling me what he had learned from Tue Esqumaux
In regard TO IT, !"
"woud you mind returning TO tho Trowbridge,
while on her way 10 Sandy Hook?''
.CcrtainIy not. While We were going down init
mated 10 the reporters tnat Mr. Barry might be ablo
to give them some interesting information IN regard
to tue Arctic regions ~ thought that hs discovery
among the Esquimaux Was iuu corrobera-
ton vi The previous report brought by tue
Glacier In 1872. The Information gwen by MIR.
Barry the occasion was pubilsned next day In
the morning papers; but II was inaccurate IN many
respects, especially regarding localities and INSTANCES
mentioned by Barry. Tue article. however, seems 10
have Caused a good deal Of excitement, more par
tcularly IN England. and IN answer to IL Dr.
John Rae, Arctic explorer wrote a letter
10 the hKRALD which he stated that the
Esqumaux from whom Barry bad obtained his
erected by himself Cairns held IN vene-
ration Ny tue Esquimaux, who can once distinguish
those quit by wbite men iron those butt by another
OF their people When the Esqu nau In his
travels comes one oil these cairns he WILL
rule only take from what 10 necessary to supply
his immediate wants. covering up carefully all that
no leaves oehnd. As books anu papers no uso
10 them they are generally lett untouched. For that
reason Rae thought that tne cirn which the Esqui-
maux had told Barry about the he had hun
sell built tnirty-scven years ago.
"Weil Is there any good reason for believing that
he Is mislakeuf'
IL think there Is. Rae had hold out inducements
TO the Esqu,maux to oring MIN any books or other
relics belonging TO the white men winch any OF heir
people might have iound; but tncy shrugged their
shoulders and told HIM they had seen no sucn
things. Al tho same time they looked tear
iuiiy at the tempting array OF Knives and
Other articles dear TO the heart OF an
Esqunau, winch Rae had display cd us induccm e nts
Tor them 10 bring In the Relics Now, II these Esqui-
maux were OF tue same triDe those whom AIR. Bar.
ry saw, why didn't Dr. Rae OBTAIN the spoons from
them Furthermore, the Esqumaux alluded TO said 10
DR.. Rae that they haa any men since
they saw large party many years before, aud tnat
these had dleu OF starvation.
MAY inquire the reason why you appear to take
such an interest IN the matterrn
~ once TOLD Professor J. +. Noursc, OF the United
States Naval Obsei vutory, that u alone the
great honor that would attach to the discov erers
OF the relics at winch | aimed, but that 4
also viewed II In busineske way; that
| is, l wanted TO know II any stpndiug
ward were offered the discoverers or II t3e English
government would compensate US IN case uis-