The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-09-04 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

NORTHERN PASSAGE.-LAMENTABLE SUICIDE OF ONE  OF THE DISCOVF.RERS  ST. LOUIS, JULY 24.—1 t will be seen by reference to the British papers, that the North Passage so long sought after by adventurous navigators, has at length been discovered by two young men belonging to the Hudson Bay Company. It is not our intention to enter into a detailed report of the memorable voyage, but merely to mention the melancholy fate of one of the discoverers.  It appears that on their return to fork Factory—the principal depot of the Hudson's Bay Company—that they both set out for England, eager to grasp the rich reward which the British government never fails to lavish upon all her citizens who contribute any thing towards extending her wide spread domains—or to perpetuating her well earned fame. On the arrival of the two young men at Lake Winnepick, they disagreed about the route which should be pursued, and there separated. Mr. Simpson, accompanied by Mr. Bird, Mr. Legros, and twenty or thirty of the colonists, struck across for St. Peters, intending to push on to New York via of the Lakes, and from thence sail for Liverpool.—Mr. Dace, his compeer, with another party, set out for the Canadas. About the 20th June, Mr. Simpson and his party had reached Turtle river, where they encamped for the night. He had, from the beginning of the journey, exhibited symptoms of mental hallucination, caused as the party supposed, by the dread of being outstripped by his competitor in their long race for London. On, the evening above mentioned, he had continued to push on until a late hour at night, and even then his feverish state of excitement deprived him of nourishment or rest.  When they stopped, and while in the act of camping, Mr. Simpson turned suddenly round, and shot Mr. Bird through the heart ; and before the astounded party could fly from the presence of the madman, he discharged the other barrel, and mortally wounded Mr. Legros. It appears the party had separated ; and when he committed the murder on his companions there were only two more present, one of them a son of Legros, who immediately fled a short distance. The dying father earnestly implored Simpson to permit his son to return and embrace him before he should die—which he agreed to, and beckoned them back, saying there was nothing to fear. On their return, Simpson accused Legros of conspiring with Bird, and asked him whether it was not their intention to assassinate him that night? The dying man said it was, but on being interrogated a second time, he denied having any intention or design of such a deed, and shortly after be expired. Simpson then ordered the two men to bridle their horses, and prepare to return with him to the settlement, but no sooner were they mounted, than they dashed off in quest of the main body, and overtook them about 18 suites a-head.  They all returned in the morning, and when they had reached within 200 yards of the camp, they got ksiimpse of Simpson at the door of his tent, and immediately afterwards heard a report of a gun ; supposing that be was determined to carry out the work of destruction which he had began, they attempted to intimidate him by firing three volleys in the direction of the camp, and then approached it cautiously. When they came up, they found their commander weltering in his blood, and on closer examination found that he had literally blown his head to pieces ! " Far in the wild, unknown to public view," were the the three bodies committed to the same grave by their companions, who then pursued their route with feelings more easily conceived than described. . _ __ _ _  The party arrived at St. Peters about the Ist of July, in possession of the important papers, and other property belonging to the ill-fated Simpson. These particulars we learn from Mr. Wm. A. Aitkin, a trader from Lake Superior. Mr. Aitkin further states that the whole matter is involved in mystery, which time only can clear up. The unfortunate Simpson was a native of Scotland, and a nephew of the present Governor of the H. B. Co. He was about 28 years of age, possessed of fine talents, an amiable disposition, and the universal esteem of those who knew him.