National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-09-24
IRON THE 1RCTIC.


Lieutenant Schw,tiSa's Franklin search Ex-
petition Returns From It's Labors.
NEW BEDFORD, MASS, Sept 22.-The mem
bers Of the Franklin search party, under the
command Of Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka,
U. S. A., were picked up by Captain Michael
Baker of the bark George ana Mary of New
Bedford, at Depot island, on the 1st Of August,
they having returned to that point from their
sledgo journey to King William land on the
ith Of March of the present year. The sledge
journey was the longest ever made through
the uncxpIored arctic region, both as to time
aud distance, the party having been absent
from their base of operations in Hudson bay
eleven months aud four days. During that
timo they Travelled 2Sl0 geographical, or 3,2jl
statute miles. IL was the only slcdgo journey
over made that covered an entire arctic winter.
a SEVERE WINTER.
Tho winter was pronounced by the Esqui.
maux as one of unusual rigor. This fact was
attcstcd by the freezing Of Rowcs Welcome
throughout its entire extent from shore TO
shore, oven below tho latitude of Whale point.
The expedition, however, successfully with
stood the greatest amount of cold ever cncoun-
tered by white men in tho field. On January
3, 1850, the thermometer sank to 10 Fahren-
hcit, or 1899 below freezing poiu', aud during
tho entire day it did not rise above 60. Dur
ing sixteen days the average temperature was
lOO' below tho freezing point, and during
twrnty'sovem days 1t WAS below 6Oo. All this
time the party travelled; in fact, they never
halted u single day on account of the cold
HUNTING FOR RELICS.
During the summer and fall of 1879 they
made complete search of King William
land and adjacent mainland, travelling over
the route pursued by tho crews of the Erebus
and Terror upon their retreat toward Backs
river, aud while so engaged the party buried
the bones of all those unlortunates remaining
above ground and erected monuments to tho
memory OF the fallen heroes. Their research
established the mournlul fact that tho records
of Frauklin's expedition are lost beyond re-
covcry.
IMPORTANT GNFoRMAT.,-.
Tho Natchili E,quimau' who a found
sealed tin box about - I.' al Co.,.
foot square, filled ''' in
the mainland No 'r
of tho surYiy
posed TO "a.
viewed b.
lives lrn.
precious .
tered to t'
destroyed d.
their tents D
known the fac ..
drifted down the . o.. ..ai'I .... l.
Willingly sCutteG by the 90 90
maux who found it near nm island Of
point during the spring Of 1919. At thai .I.c
Que man WAS lying dead in the steerage, and
during the same year the natives saw tracks
of four white men in the spring SHOWS on the
mainland.
LIVING LIKE THE NATIVES.
Tho expedition started from tho base of
operations in'IIudson bay with but one months
rations of civilized" food upon Il slcdges
thus voluntarily submittu. to Il q. gndence
upon the game Of the country tn, which
they passed. The white men of {, D. W be-
gan living upon the same fare auu .yuiorm-
ing to the mode Of life strictly in accordance
with that of their EsqulmauX assistants. The
result has shown that it is feasiLa for white
men to adapt themselves to the climate aud
life Of the Esquimaux in prosecuting journeys
in polar regions, aud that they are not nects.
sarily restricted to any particular season of
the year for that purpose, but can travel at
any time and in the same way IN which tho
natives travel. A large quantity Of relics has
been gathered by the party, not TO crafty
morbid curiosity, but to illus rate the last
chapter of the history OF Sir John Funklin's
expedition,
They have also brought the remains of an
officer, Lieut., .art John Irving, third officer
OF tho Terror which were identified by
prize medal found ia his opened grave. No
material sickness occurred during the absence
of the expedition In the field and no severe
frost bites were experienced by any Of the
party,