The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-09

strongest young Esquimaux, / set out,
carrying only two small pieces of walrus
hide | was urged to make the trip in
three days. The thermometer marked 43
below zero. That day we travelled hard,
but the ice was so rough and the storm so
great that at night we were but twenty
miles from the village. The second day
the storm was undated, and the dogs
were so weak for want of food that
we had to help them over steep
places. The third day was better
but before night the dogs had given out
until only three were left. We travelled
nifty miles and had eaten nothing for five
days. The EsQuimaux had been hiber-
mating and gave out. while |, who had
walked three thousand miles, knew no
fatigue. AT night having one EsquimauX
with the sledge, started with the othcr
and the dogs straight out to sea My
companion could not keep up but wished
to SLEEP. urged him on, and at 8 a. M.
we came upon the sledge tracks of the
natives of Marble Isle At 4:30 | OBJ
tanned the first sight of civilization had
witnessed in nearly two years. 1t was the
grave yard Of Marble Isle station, aud |
tell you it was a cheerful sight to a man
who had been away from civilization so
long, who had been so near death on the
frozen fields Here we found a
whaler under command of Capt
NJ. A. Baker, and to his kind
help is due the comforts which were from
that time afforded to our party. He sent
back an abundance of food and assisted
US in every way in his power The hot
air OF the cabin of the ship had sickcn>
ing effect upon me after my long out of
door habits and | hurried back to my
camp as soon as possible for my party.
Thus ended our journey in search OF
Sir John Franklin. and in closing | vii
give a resume Of the most salient points
1t was the longest stage rides ever made
by white men, lasting eleven months and
twenty days, and travcrsing 3,951 miles
1t was the first sledge journey conducted
In the heart of winter and it was Il very
severe winter ut that. Not only the low
est temperature was encountered but also
the most protracted. For sixteen days
the thermometer was 100 degrees below
the freezing point; for twentyseven days II
was under 60 degrees below zero We
were the first white men who lived the
same as the natives and depended on
hunting during a considerable over land
| journey, and we were the first of tn,
many parties sent ont in search Of SiI
John Franklin to 60 over the grount
traversed by HIM and to settle finally tn,
fate of his expedition. | do not hesitate
to state that not a single man of Sir join
Frank!ins party exists.
With the aid of Rev. J H. Wright,
stereopticon about thirty views were thcr
thrown on the canvas, showing the most
prominent scenes of the journey They
were made with a lead pencil by Lieut.
Schwatka, with the thermometer rangin.
from fifty to sixty degrees below zero
He explained each view as it appeared
They were interesting pictures OF arcti
life and disappeared only too soon for
close study of their portraits of the differ
ent scenes alluded to in the lecture.
The lecture was applauded by all an,
highly spoken of Cor its many exccllencles
Those who attended were well repaid ant
those who missed it know not their loss