Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-02
Arctic Research.

The Heralds New Bedford despatch says
the members of the Franklin search party
under command of Lieutenant Sclmalka,
were picked up by Capt. Baker of the bark
George and Mary, of New Bedford, at Depot
Island, on the first of August, they having re-
turned to that point from their sledge jour
ney to King Williams Land on the 4th of
March of the present year.
The sledge journey was the longest ever
made through the UNEMPLOYED arctic region,
the party having been absent from the base
of supplies in Hudson Bay eleven months
and four days, and travelled 3,25l miles. 1t
is the only sledge journey ever made that
covered the entire winter expedition and sue
cessfiilly withstood the greatest cold ever en-
countered by white men.
On January Sd the thermometer sank to l03
degrees below the freezing point. During
the summer and fall of 1879 they made a
complete search of King Williams Land and
the adjacent mainland, travelling over the
route pursued by the Erebus and Terror up
on their retreat towards Backs river, and
buried the bones of all their unfortunates re-
naming above ground, and erected monu-
ments. Their research established the fact
that the records of Franklin's expedition are
lost beyond recovery.
The Natchilie, the Esquimaux, who had
found sealed tin box filled with books.
where the last survivors of Franklin's party
are supposed to have finally persisted, were
interviewed. These natives broke open the
box and threw out the precious records.
which were then either scattered or DESTROYED
by children. 1t was also made known that
one of Frankln's ships dritted down Victoria
straits, and was unwittingly scuttled by
Oakajoolik, the Esquimaux who found it near
the Island of Olrant point during the spring
of 1919. At that time one man was dead in the
steerage. During the same year the natives
saw the tracks of four white men in the spring
SHOWS on the main land.
The expedition started from the base of
operations with but one months rations of
''civilized' food The white men of the party
began living upon the fare of the Esquimaux
assistants. The result has shown that it Is
feasible for white men to adapt themselves to
the climate and life of the Esquimaux in pros
ecuting journeys in the polar regions.
A large quantity of relics have been gath
cred to illustrate the last chapter in the his
tory of Franklin's expedition. They have
also brought the remains of Lieut.. John Irv-
ing, the third officer of the Terror, which
were identified by prize medal found on his
opened grave.
were threatened with starvation on their re-
turn to Hudson Bay, where an ample supply
of provisions had been left with Capt. Barry.
of the schooner Eothen, but Barry, for an
unexplained cause, had left for home carry
ing with him the much-needed supplies.
From the natives it is believed that the off
GERS and crew of the Erebus and Terror met
a terrible fate. Old men and women of the
Esquimaux tell story of those who were
doubtless the last survivors of those vessels
with minuteness of detail which place their
fate beyond doubt. OF what had become of
tNeir leader and the large number who con-
stituted the crews nothing could be discov-
cred. Only a small party of officers, black
about their mouths, with no flesh on their
bones, were seen dragging boat across the
ice, and nothing more was seen of them until
their skeletons were found under their boat.
and in tent, prey to wild beasts, and with
evidences that they had been driven to feed
on their weaker companions before yielding
To starvation and cold.