Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-10-01
Arctic Discoveries.

TIE FRANKLIN RECORDS EXTRAORDINARILY LOST.
News was received at New Bedford on
Thursday, from the latest Franklin search
party, sent out over two years ago under
Lieut.. Frederick Schwatka, L. 5. A. The
party was picked up by Capt. Michael Baker,
of the barquc George and Mary, of New
Bedford, at Depot Island, August LIST, they
having returned To that point from their
scdgc Journey to King Williams Land on
the 4ih of March of the present year. The
scdge journey was the longest ever made
through the uncNplored Arctic region both
as to tine and distance, the party having
been absent from their base of operations in
Hudson Bay eleven months and four days.
During that time they travelled o,Sl9 geo
graphical or 3,2jl statute miles. 1t was the
only slcdse Journey ever made that covered
an entire Arctic winter. The expedition, con-
sistne of four white men and IL Esquimaux,
started from the base of operations with but
one months rations of civilized food. After
that the white men of the party began living
upon The fare of the EsIuimaux assistants.
The result has shown that it is feasible for
white men To adapt themselves TO the eli
mate and life Of the Esquimaux in the polar
regions.
During the Summer and Fall of 1879 they
made complete search of King Williams
Land and the adjacent mainland, travelling
over the route pursued by the crews of the
Ercbus and Terror upon their retreat toward
Backs River. and, while so engaged, the
Marty buried the bones of all those unfortun-
atcs remaining upon ground and erected
monuments to the memory of the fallen
heroes. Their research established the fact
that the records of Franklin's expedition are
LOST hcyond recovery. From the story OF the
natives il is believed that the officers and
crew of the Ercbus and Terror met terrible
rate. Did men and women of the Esqni-
maux tell a story of those who were doubt
less the last survivors of those vessels with
minutcness of detail which places their fate
beyond doubt of what had become of their
leader and the large number who constituted
the crews nothing could be discovered Only
n small party of officers, black about their
mouths, with no flesh upon their bones, were
seen dragging Il boat across the ice, and
nothing more was seen of them until their
skeletons wcr,. found under their boat, and in
Il tent, Il prey TO wild beasts and with evl-
drnccs that they had been driven to feed on
their weaker companions before yielding to
starvation ard cold.
THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.
Some Nachilli ESquimaux who had found
a sealed tin box about two feet long and one
foot sutlarc filled with books, ut point ON
mainland near Backs river, where the last OF
the survivors of Franklins party are suppos-
ed To have finally persisted, were interview
ed ly Lieutenant Schwatha. These natives
broke omen the box and threw out the pre-
cio,Is records. which were then either scat
tered Ia the wind of thirty Arctic winters or
DESTROYED by children who took them TO their
tents Tor playthings. The point was not
only searched by Lieutenant Schwatkas par
~ but hy nearly the entire Nachllli nation. in
spircd by Il promise OF great reward Tor the
discovery of any remnant of books or papers.
This search failed TO discover any of the
records. hut resulted in the finding OF
skeleton of Il sailor about five miles inland.
Its existence was previously unknown even
To- local tribes Every native who could I'M
part any information concerning the lost
crews was hunted up and interviewed.
Some of them had not seen n white man
since Captain Crozcr's party was there.
Much valuable information ms 10 the loss OF
the Franklin expedition was compiled. II Is
also made known that one of Franklin's ships
driitcd down the Victoria Straits, and was
umwittiuglv scultled by the Ookjoolik Esqul-
niauN, who found it near an island off Grant
Point during the Spring of 1919, and cut a
hole through its side, at the surface of the
ice. To- obtain entrance to the hold. AT that
time one man was lying dead in the stceragc.
During the same year the natives saw tracks
of white men in the Spring SHOWS On main
land
They brought the remains of Lieut. John
Irving third officer of the Terror, which
were identified by a prize medal found in his
opened crave The party endured many
hardshps and were once threatened