The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-09-30
FROM THE POLAR REGIONS.
Return OF Lieut.. Schwatka's Expedite.
from the North.

Return OF Lieut.. Schwatka's Expedition
from the North.
A New Bedford, Mass, special announces the
arrival there of the members Of the expedition
headed by Lieut.. Fred. X. Schwatka, which
sailed from New York, June 10, 1878, for Hud-
sons Bay and King Williams Land for the pur-
pose of seeking further details upon the fate of
Sir John Franklin though the special object Of
the search is the recovery Of the records Of the
Franklin party, which, according to the Esqui-
maux testimony, were known to exist at
specified point, is not yet attained.
The explorers, it appears, have, nevertheless,
obtained many relics Of the Franklin party, in
Guiding the remains of Lieut.. Irving. They
have, moreover, carried out to the letter the in
tentions Of the promoters OF the expedition 10
Morrison, of New York, to make it geograph-
ical success. The members of the Franklin
search party were picked up by Capt. Baker, Of
the bark George and Mary, at Desert Island, in
August. They had returned to that point from
their sledge journey to King Williams Land,
March 4, of the present year.
The sledgc journey was the longest ever made
through the unexplored Arctic region, both as
to time and distance, the party having been
absent from their base of operations in Hudson
Bay eleven months. During that time they
travelled 8, 251 statute miles. Important rivers
and coasts were discovered, and serious errors
on former charts have been corrected.
The result of the expedition has shown that
it is feasible for white men to adapt themselves
to the climate and life of the Esquimaux M
prosecuting journey in the Polar regions, and
they are not necessarily restricted to any
particular season of the year, but can travel at
any time and in the same way which the natives
travel
The winter was one OF unusual rigor On
January 80, 1SS0, the thermometer sank to
II degrees Fahrenheit, or 103 degrees below
freezing point; and during sixteen days the
temperature was 100 degrees below freezing
point, and twenty-seven days it was below 60
degrees. Yetall this time the party travelled.
The party buried the bones Of the fallen men
who belonged to the crews of the Erbus and
Terror, and erected monument on the heroes.
The research established the facts that the
records of Franklin's expedition are lost beyond
recovery. The papers were found in a tin box
by the Natchillis Esquimaux, and were scat
tered to the winds or destroyed by the children.
The Appearance, one Of Franklin's ships,
drifted down the Victoria Straits, and WAS un-
willingly scuttled by the Objolik Esquimaux,
who found it during the spring of 1849 At that
| time one man was lying dead in the steerage,
and during the same year the natives saw four
A large quantity Of relics were gathered by the
party from each spot where the graves were
found. A few tokens were selected that may
serve TO identify those who perished there. A
piece OF each Of the boats found and destroyed
by the natives has been brought away; together
with the relics, in the shape Of the PROV Of one
Of their boats, the sledge upon which it was
| transported, and o part Of the drag rope upon
| which the poor fellows tugged until they fell
| down and died in their tracks.
In addition to these the party secured board
which may serve to identify the ship which com
pleted the northwestern passage. The party
| also brought the remains of Lieut. Irving,
third officer of the Terror, which was identified
by the prize medal in his opened grave. eAl b.
The party was threatened with starvation
after their return to Hudson Bay. Captain
| Garry, OF the schooner Esther, had left fol
home, carrying with him the much needed sup
| plies for the search expedition.