New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-10
RELICS OF FRA NKLINS MEN.
WHAT LIEUTENANT scHwATKA FOUND.


WHAT LIEUTENANT SCHWATKA FOUND.
THE COLLECTION AT TIN ROOMS or TIF GEoGRAPh-
ICAL SOCIETY IN TwENTY-NINTn-sT.
In the rooms of the American Geographical So
ciety IN Twenty-ninth-st are collected the last
relics of the men who accompanied Sir John Frank
I'm in his Arctic search. Lieutenant Schwatka
has carefully preserved the very smallest objects
IN any way connected with that Inflated expedition,
and they are now being carefully labelled. prepare
tory 10 being placed private exhibition before
they are sent to England. Some of these articles
were picked up by Lieutenant Schwatka and his
companions themselves; Others were obtained 10y
barter from the Esquimaux; and the searchers
were directed To places where they found Others
by the tales of the Esqulmaux whom they met
For generation these mcmentoes have been living
in the sand or snow or have been in the possession
of the Esquimaux and their battered slightly APP
nearance can hardly fail to add something to the
pathetic interest that enveops them.
Some of the earliest discoveries were made at lrv-
ing Bay and the first article found there was rusty
pickaxe bearing the broad arrow of England still
distinctly visible wooden block, part of the
tackle of a snip or boat. some copper
pipes canvass belt. pewter pail, and
some pieces of suspcnder buckles were also
found at Irving Bay Near Lieutenant Irying's
crave the explorers picked mp rusty Tin box.
prize medal, the object glass of telescope. some
brass buttons. pieces of cloth and small shoe
buckles The most melancholy interest attaches to
a large handkerchief from Lieutenant IrvIng's
grave which jud ging from its POSITION proba-
bly, placed under his head when he was laid to rest
by bis weary and discouraged companions.
This is very large. apparently Of silk. with
a dark bac' ground, on which are fIncifnl
designs apparently once of brilliant red. When
unfolded the handkerchief is seen to be tattered
and incrusted in spots with heavy mould.
MANY wooden articles wonderfully well pre-
served have been brought back. They are part of
a boat found by the natives at Wi!mot Bay, the
nrow of a boat from Erebus Bay. the blade OF
oar picked up at Washington Bay, and
some snow-shoes made by the natives
from wood belonging to the wrecked ships
and boats Then there are an old boot aud Shoe
gaming open so widely at the seams that their APP
pcarance woud be ludicrous did one forget their
history.
From Cape Felix have been brought the top Of a
tin can, marked "Edw ards Preserved Potatoes"
and bearing the English coat of arms /; the ton of
glass can, marked Powell BRISTOL: par of scis-
sors, some buttons. a piece of a porcelain tea
cup, some shot, piece OF anthracite
coal and forlorn old harbrnNh.
At the boat-place IN Erebu- Bay a razor found.
The broken blade, half eaten up by rust, sill swings
on It's pivots although the handle is broken and
ch pped to the last point of dIlapIdaion. There are
also two combs or rather the remains of two combs,
and some fisn lines The top Of boat mast with the
small IRON block and ring still i'm place, and piece
% a measuring stick have been brought back from
Starvation Cove Some wiIe-gauze once used in
snow goggles came from a grave east o. the Peiler
River. sled rope and buckle were found at
Wall Bay were discovered some bullets, tho slaves
Of a cask and axe. Tie latter was found
through the directions of some Esquimaux.
From the same place lin can marked -.
Cowen. iroumonger, Woolwich' some tin cups,
canteens and boxes. The bowl OF a spoon in this
collection was gwen TO Lieutenant Schwatka by an
mutt a large roll of lead was probably carried by
the survivors OF Franklin to aid IN repairing their
boat The uses of a mGuldy strip OF leather are not
clearly indicated. Some heavy blue cloth half
decayed. was taken in par. from graves Among
severa pieces OF iron belonging to various impe-
ments are some sharply notched spear-heads.
The copper that FrankIin's men either took from
the ships for repairing purposes when they started
southwark or else abandoned with other articles IN
the ships has been turned variety of uses chiefly
if not entirely, by the Esqumaux. In addition to
the copper plates there arc some rude fish hooks
fashioned ont Of "copper" with bone and lead shkcrs
The coup appears agaIu IN some curious knives.
Ihe heavy handles, OF whale or walrus bone.
from SIX 90 eight inches IN length. in some
cases the handles have been cracked and wound
with small STRIPS of hide. One KNIFE has a blade
ONLY two or three inches III length. while in another
the blade Is crescenshapcd, Ike the domestic chop
ping knife. and the handle Is OF dnitW0Od. The
most curious among thes knives Is n dagger made
entirely of bone The handle Is slightly nOched and
the long narrow blade is cOncayc on one side
Among these knives appears an instrument of bone
ana non resembling somewhat ttree-prOnged hsh-
spea~. The iron and copper III these Instruments
undoubtedly or giBally came from the Efobus and
Terror but they made generally, If not m
| every case 10y the Esqumaux. The same is true of
| some heavy hammers and one or two little axes of
| copper.
Among the other relics of Franklin's men are the
shaft OF "A spear some little iron wheels and bits of
tackle. -Four large blubber stoves, stll III "a fair
state of preservation have been brought back from
In the basement Of the building occupied by the
| Geographical Society Lieutenant Schwatka has
| placed the runners of sled used by
| ward. They are heavy pieces Of hard
IN thickness and fifteen feet IN length. This com
| Schwatka has discovered. Lieutenant lryings
| bones are, of course. carefully packed away.
On October % Lieutenant Schwatka will deliyer
| an address upon his expedition before the American
Geographical Society.