Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-08
SIR John ERANKLIN,s EAIE.
Return of an Artic Voyager With I
formation of importance.

Return of an Artic Voyager With In
formation of importance.
London Times.
Capt. Adams, of the Dundee whaler
Attic, who has just returned from the
Davis straits fishing, furnishes some
interesting information in regard to
his voyage in thepolar seas. He states
that in the course Of his search for
whales he went up Wellington channel
as far as the water has even been pen
etrated by any expedition, and his
further progress was only checked by
encountering the heavy ice Of the polar
barrier. This occurred in August last.
No whales were seen in that quarter,
and the Attic steamed up Barrows
straits till the polar barrier was en-
countered second time. A course
was then taken down Peel sound to
within few miles of where the Eiebus
and Terror were lost. Beaeby island
was visited, and there Capt. Adams
saw the monument erected to Sir John
Franklin and five of his Drew. He
found the house erected in the vicinity
in a wretched condition, and the pro-
visions left by former explorers not at
all serviceable. Accompanied by a
few of his men he made some search
in the locality, and just as the party
were coming away they were confronted
by a polar bear, which Capt. Adams
shot within few yards of the graves.
The skin of the bear he intends to pre-
sent to some of the relatives of Sir
John Franklin. No whales were seen
in this direction, and accordingly the
Arctic proceeded up toward the gulf
of Boothia- An attempt was made to
reach this sea earlier In the year, but
no advance was possible, owing to the
heavy ice. At the end of August, how
ever, the ice was in totally different
condition and the Arctic got up as fan
as Cape Nordensjold, on the west side
of Boothia. Here several whales were
got. Before coming away the captain
tried to get to the other side. A heavy
fog was experienced, and when it clear.
ed away the ship was found within
fifteen miles of Fury and Hecla straits
and in very shallow water. In this
district the captain got on board a very
intelligent Esquimau, from whom he
obtained good deal of interesting and
valuable information. The native
stated that when he was young mar
in his fathers hut three men came ovel
the land toward Repulse bay, and that
one of them was great captain. Wher
he died the other two were in sore dis
tress and cried very much, stating thai
he was the "aniguk," or great captain
These two lived some little time in hi.
fathers hut, and he showed Capt
Adams the spot ON chart where they
were buried. The Esquimau, continu
ing his narrative, said that seventeen
persons started from two vessels which
: had been lost far to the westward, but
that only three were able to survive
the journey to his fathers hut.
From all information furnished by
the Esquimau, Capt. Adams has nc
doubt that the vessels referred to were
those of the Franklin expedition, anC
that the great captain mentioned wa.
: Lieut.. Crozier. Assuming that wha
the Esquimau stated was correct, i
is beyond doubt that the members o.
the Franklin expedition were attempt
ing to reach Hudson bay territory
Judging from the present age of tn,
native, Capt. Adams is of opinion thet
his allusion to having seen the mel
when he was young man, must refel
to period some thirty-fve years ago
1t was Capt. Adams intention to brin!
home the native, but circumstances oc
CURED which prevented this resolution
being carried out, but he is in a posi-
ton to furnish information of a yer,
detailed nature and calculated to throw
considerable light on the movement.
and ultimate fate of the members Of
the Franklin expedition. Capt. Ad
ans also brings home a few paper.
found in the vicinity of Fury ant
Hecla straights and these have beer
forwarded to the admiralty.
While in those high ATTITUDES Capt
Adams had the greatest possible
difficulty in navigating his yes
sci. He was without charts
and his compasses were practically o.
: no use and did not indicate the course
steered. He was only able to guide
his ship through these waters by thu
use of the lead and the keeping of
sharp lookout, and when the fogs
which were exceedingly prevalent
cleared away, he always took the op
portunity of ascertaining the position
of his ship by the sun. Capt. Adam,
has given frequent proof of his devo
ton to-Arctic discovery, and it will b,
remembered that some years ago Capt
Markham, of the royal navy, who ha(
command of Sir George Mares expedi
ton, accompanied him to the seas. II,
was also fortunate in being able t.
render assistance to the member of thu
unfortunate American expedition under
Capt. Hall, and brought to DUNDEE
some twenty-five members Of it.