The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1880-10-07
Memorials of Sir John Franklin.

1t was on the l9tn Of May, 1915 that Sir John
Franklin and l}S men sailed from England in the
ships Erebus and Terror on his third voyage to
discover the long sought for north west passage
through the Arctic Ocean from the Atlantic to the
Pacific lis ships last seen in BatliAs Bay
two months after they sailed. AS Franklin was
not expected to return till 1871 it not till 1913
that his prolonged absence led to the sending out
of several expeditions in search of him but no
trace could be found. Other expeditions followed
IN the next ten years with similar result. In
1889 however, the mystery solved by The dis
covery OF record on the shores of the Arctic wa
ters making it certain that the ships of Franklin
were crushed early in 1871 and that Sir John and
his men died one by one in their vain efforts to
reach civilization
Several expeditions have been sent out since to
obtain further intelligence Of the Franklin party
and a New Bedford despatch to the New lork
Herald says of a recent one
The members Of the Franklin Search party
under Lieut. Frederick Schwatka, of the United
States Army, picked up by Capt. Michael
Baker of the bark George and Mary. of New Bed
ford, at Depot Island. on the st of August, they
having returned to that point from their sledge
Journey to King William Land on the 4th of
March of the present year The sledge journey
was the longest ever made through the uneXplored
Arctic regions, both as to time and distance, the
party having been absent eleven months and four
days and travelled Sl9 geographical, or 23 statute
miles. This the only sledge journey ever
made that covered an entire Arctic winter They
made complete search of King Williams and the
land adjacent to the mainland, travelling the
same route pursued by the crews of the Erebus and
Terror upon their retreat toward Blacks River,
and while so engaged buried the bones Of all
the untortunates remaining above ground and
erected Il monument to their memory. Their
research established the fact that the records
of frankIlns expedition are lost beyond recovery.
A large quantity Of relics Of Franklins expedition
was gathered from each spot where the graves
were found few tokens were selected which
may serve to identify those who perished there.
They have also brought the remains of Lieut. John
Irving, third officer of the Terror, which were
identified by prize medal found in his open
grave. The party endured many hardshlps and
were once threatened with starvation. No mate
rial sickness occurred during their absence and
severe frost bites were experienced by any Of the
party
While ploughing on the farm of Christopher
Moses of Phpsburg, place noted for Indian i'm
plements, sort Of stone pestle peculiarly carved
was unearthed and was supposed to have been used
for grinding corn. 1t exactly corresponds with the
peculiar holes cut from the solid rock on Moses
Audersons farm.
Mr.. Charles Fogler of Union, has Durham and
Buffalo calf, six months old on the 10th Of Sep
tember, which weighed on the 20th 595 pounds
In five weeks this animal gained 100 pounds in
weight, and in 20 days he gained 70 pounds