The New York herald., 1879-03-02
POLAR EXPLORATION.
The Eothen Franklin Search
Party.
A Lecture by Chaplain Bryan, Of the
Hall Expedition.
THE JEAN NETTES FLAG.
WAsHISGroS. March /, 1879.

WAsHISGroS, March /, 1879.
Mr.. r. W. d. Bryan. who held the position Of
chaplain. astronomer and historian of Captain Halls
Polar expedition, lectured Lincoln Hall tonight
the subject Of Arctic Research illustrating his
subject with series of stereoptc views. The pro-
ceeds Will be devoted furthering the work Of
searching for DR.. Franklns relics undertaken by
Lieutenant scbwatka. The lecturer traced the
history of attempted Polar exploration back 10
the thirteenth century. But it was not until the
beginning Of the present century that England
by several important expeditions, especially those
of Parry, Franklin and the officers of the Hudson
Bay Company, explored the northern shores Of
America and narrowed the problem of the north
west passage to the question whether channel
running north and south connected Barrow Strait
with the waters that washed the continent Sir
John Franklin left England in ls45 with two vessels
and nearly one hundred and fifty men to settle the
question which had for three centuries occupied the
attention of explorers. Three years passed and no
tidings received from him. The gov
ernment became aroused and expedition fol.
lowed expedition in search OF the lost explorers.
The search became an object of universal interest.
During the next twelve years more than forty-seven
expeditions by land and penetrated the icy
For the greed of gain which animated former expe-
ditons was substituted the noble and philanthropic
purpose or saving lie. Russia ana france Jolneu
Expeditions from the United States under De Haven
and Kane, known the Grinnell expeditions partici-
pated in the search. The lecturer diverted for
ment to expose what he pronounced the absurdity Of
an open Polar sea. and stated that the Polaris dis
covered land where DR.. Hayes has stated he saw tho
rolling of the open Polar sea.
In 1850 Mcclure discovered the Northwest Passage.
which he unable to navigate on account Of the
ice. He. however. actually passed through the
Northwest Passage by abandoning his vessel on tho
western and traversing about forty miles Of
of ice to another the eastern side In speak
ing of the i'll results of the Franklin search parties
the lecturer showed that they had pursued their in
searched to the south and west Of Barrow Strait
of the Franklin men would have been rescued Nino
years AFTER when the English government declared
them dead. DR.. Rae found numberless relics of the
lost exporers-silver spoons, pieces OF clothing in
struments. &c The Esquimaux had also very direct
information establishing tDeir death Then Lady
Franklin sent out McClntock. who found relics and
three skeletons of the crew. with boat and great
number OF articles. He also found at Victory Point .
record the fac-simile of which was shown on the
With McClintocks return i'll 1859 all efforts
on the part of England ceased, but America continued
| it in the person of one man, who. fired with q
noble enthusiasm, devoted his life to Arctic explora-
tions left name second to none in the roll of Polar
! heroes and died at last a martyr to the cause he
loved. The speaker referred to Charles Francis Hail.
with whom he had been associated in the voyage OF
the i'll fated Polaris and he paid glowing tribute
! to the unselfsh devotion and noble enthusiasm OF
Hall. who beginning i'll 1850 in searching for Frank
|
| In speaking of the objects OF the present voyage
of the Eothen. the lecturer said that
science, and their observations during three years
would fill large volumes and be OF the greatest
journals Of both officers and men would
| OF necessity in that time have assumed bulky
| proportions. These heavy books could not be
transported. and the conclusion was reached that
they had been buried where they could be recovered
Captain Hall found number OF relics OF the Frank.
lin party and learned that of their ships had
| sunk OF King Williams Land and the other had
drifted toward the south. But he failed to fnd the
| records which. however, ne believed could be OBJ.
tanned II sufficient time and labor were devoted to
the search. Satisfied that all of Frankns men had
persisted, Captain Halls attention diverted by
what he considered the more important objects to be
attained in trying to penetrate to the North Pole In
revived by the information brought to this
country by q mate of whaling vessel.
named Barry. He obtained from the natives very
| full accounts of 4 party Of white men, led by a
large man with stripes on his shoulders They were
| going to the south and had buried many books and
1 papers under heaps of stones. The natives traded
| OFT to him a number of silver spoons and other
articles. which were identhed as belonging, to
| York. was very much interested in Barrys
story. took the spoons to England aud
prevented from taking any action by,a serious i'll.
| ness, which proved fatal. Soon after MIR. Grinnel
unproductve. In 1877 Barry again returned from .
whaling voyage, and stated that while at Marble Island
he was told by some OF the natives that in their
country there were buried by white men many books
such he writing in, referring to the log of the
ship The natives pointed out the place "A chart.
They also gave Barry silver spoon with Frankins
crest. This information was regarded of such val
liable nature that Chief Justice DAILY the president OF
the American Geographical Society, and others
versant in Arctic matters. deemed it of the highest
importance that search party be organized at
The difficulty OF securing the requisite funds for the
equipment of such expedition was overcome by
Mr. Morrison, of New York. who offered to send out
the Eothen "A whaling voyage and place on board
sc rch party. This offer accepted with enthu-
siasm aud with the hearty cooperation OF friends IN
New York and other localities the vessel was
equipped and supplied for eighteen months
Lieutenant Schwatka an enthusiastic brave and
talented officer in the United States army placed
III command, and with three companions and Esqu
mau Joe they started from New York in the Eothen
ON June 49, 1878 The little search party will be lett
on the land follow up the information in regard
the Franklin records while the ship Is engaged IN
whaling. The lecturer then concluded by saying
that IL the design to send out supplies in the
spring and Mr. Morrison had arranged this leo
ture to help defray the expense Contributions in
money in canned meats In dried fruits, in pickles.
hard bread condensed milk and -four were requested.
Acknowledgements Of which would be made i'll the
NEW YORK HERALD. one of whose ubiquitous corrc-
spondents was with Lieutenant Schwatka.
The American flag. formerly the property % Mr..
graphical Society. which had been saved from tho
wreck of the United States steamship Peacock. aud
had been with WilScs in the Antarctic seas with De
Haven 1850, with Kane in 1888, with Hayes ia
1sr0, with Hall in l7Gi. and again the Poaris in
1871 exhibited, and the hope expressed that tho
gallant dc Long would carry it on the Jeannctte to
the very Pole itself.
POSTAL COMMISSIONS.