IS SIR JOHN FRANKLIN ALIVE?

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 770, 31 August 1853, Page 4

IS SIR JOHN FRANKLIN ALIVE?

(From the Boston Journal.) Before putting forward any views of our own upon the interesting and oft repealed inquiry. Is Sir John Franklin yet alive? we will give the opinions of several of (hose who have been actively engaged in Ihe search for him, and whose experience and personal knowledge of the difficullies and dangers of Arctic navigation enable them to form the most enlightened judgment. It will be seen Dial they differ very materially in their opinions as to Franklin's course and present position and safety : but al! agree, however, in one particular —that the search for him or his wreck should not yet be abandoned, and some are firmly of Die opinion that never before were Die prospects of success so cheering as a I present. Sir John Ross, who commanded Die screw steamer Felix, in a recent unsuccessful attempt to discover Iraces of Die missing ships, gave il as his opinion before a commillee appointed by the Admiralty, thai he did not think it probable that Franklin or any portion of his crew, couid slill be alive. He did not think it possible for British born persons to withstand the (fleet of six consecutive Arclic winters, even if they had food enough. Captain Ross's opinion should have weight from his arduous experience in these Northern seas, and from his personal knowledge of everything relating to Die suslcntation of life in extreme cold climates. Il will be recollected that Captain Ross and his crewwere once four long years incarcerated in these icy regions. Captain Stewart, who commanded one of the sledge parlies up Wellington Channel, gave it as his opinion, before the same commillee, that Franklin probably had gone by Wellington and Queen's Channel, and not Southwest by Cape Walker. He did not think it possible for any one, wilhoul any other means of subsistence, lo support himself from Die natural resources of Die country, but supposed something might be gained to lengthen out a short supply of stores. Dr. William Scoresby argues that Franklin proceeded by the Wellington Channel northwestward, into some position where he is inextricably beset by Ihe ices of the Polar sea, and lhat some portion of the crew may still survive. Scoresby, as is well known, has had a very long and remarkable experience in the Northern whale fishery, having, as long ago as dßou, penetrated about as far north as it can be well authenticated thai any one has reached, or within about SGO miles of the Pole. He unites with his long practical knowledge of the Arctic seas, scientific acquirements of no ordinary kind, and few persons are qualified to form so enlightened an opinion in Ihe case. Captain Austin believes that if Franklin penetrated beyond Beechy Island he took the south-west course by Cape Walker. He thinks it more probable that from this island he attempted lo return eastward. Captain Kellet, the present commander of the Resolute, in Belcher's squadron, considers that Ihere is no evidence lhat Franklin's vessels have been wrecked, and lhat it is not right for any one to say his crews : are dead. He thinks the ships will yet be found a long way to the westward of any point yet reached by exploring parties. Sir John Richardson thinks it probable that a part of the crews at least may slill survive, being shut in somewhere to the north or north-west of Melville Island. He is of opinion lhat human life may be supported for a number of years on ani:nals inhabiting the land and waters of the ffiOjt northern known islands.

Dr. Sutherland, who accompanied Austin's expedition, is of opinion Franklin pursued the course through Wellington Channel. Captain Ommanney thinks that neither Franklin nor any of his companions can now be alive. lie bases this opinion upon the fact that when he left Beechey Island he bad less than two years' provisions remaining, and that the supply of birds and animals could not be depended upon more than eight weeks out of f;c whole year. Ommanney thinks Franklin did not proceed west beyond Boechcy Island. Captain Penny is (irmly of opinion that the expedition pursued its course by Queen's Channel, and is far advanced towards Behring's Straits ; and he thinks a portion at least of the crew may still survive. Mr. Petermann contends that Franklin's parly may still be safe. He thinks they could exist as well in the Arctic regions as Ihe native inhabitants, because they would have in their ships more substantial and comfortable houses than the natives have, and they would draw the same resources from tne country. Captain Inglefield, of Ihe steamer Isabel, gave it as bis opinion, before the Geographical Society of London, that Franklin was yet to be found, and urged (he necessity of further researches. Lieutenant Osborne, the commanderof one of the steamers of -Austin's squadron, differs from his associates generally in his opinion. He thinks Franklin went to the norlh of Barrow's Straits, and must be looked for inßaffin's Bay, to the north of the 7olh or 761h degree of latitude, where more animal food suitable to support human life can be found than in the lower Arctic latitudes.

Such are the discordant opinions of thoso opportunities for personal observation and correct knowledge would qualify them to form the soundest judgment. The evidence in the case, after all the researches which have been made, is pretty much of a negative character. It simply proves where Franklin is not, and not where he is—which course he did not pursue, and not which course he did pursue. After carefully examining all the materials faring upon the subject which we have been able to collect, and we acknowledge they are scanty,, we think Captains Stewart and Ommanney have given the opinion whieh is likely to prove correct, if time ever solves the mystery, which is, that Franklin did not prosecute his researshes beyond Beechy island. Why he left no documents of any kind upon that island is a profound mystery. It may be true, and probably is, (hat the Admiralty expressed no wish to him that he should leave records at his stopping places; but was it necessary for the Admiralty to remind a person of Franklin's known habits, long experience, and knowledge of that which common usage, duly, and necessity alike taught him to do? In addition to all the researches made by Austin's men, we learn by the accounts received from Belcher's squadron, that Beechcy Island has again been searched over, and Cape Riley and Navy Board Inlet, but nothing discovered. All who have examine 1 the remains of the encampment at Beeehy Island have remarked that it was evident (hat it had been deserted in great haste? but the necessity of leaving must indeed have been urgentnothing less than impending destruction to their vessels—to have allowed no lime to deposit a single line in a secure and well marked spot. We can conceive of no possible reason why Sir John, if he proceeded North or West from Beechy Island, left no memorials of any kind to indicate his future movemenls ; but if from that island he turned his course homewards, he might have supposed the thing altogether unnescssary, as he himself would iu all probability as he supposed, be the first to carry to England the account of his own proceedings. But it is a most mysterious and inexplicable affair that Sir John Franklin should be the first to discover so important a passage as Queen's channel and pass through it, and yet not leave a single mark of any kind upon its shores to show that he had discovered it, or that he had taken possession of the land, or that he had even landed upon it. It cannot for a moment be supposed that either Captain Franklin or Captain Crozier, who had served in four expeditions, was not alive to the importance of depositing records or marks of , some kind upon new-discovered lands. The fact that Franklin left no such marks upon the

shores or islands of Queen's channel, is, lo our mind, sufficient proof Dial he did not pass through il or even into it. Ain\ it appears almost as improbable that Franklin would voluntarily pass two such important points in Arctic navigation as Cape Walker and Melville Island, and not leave a sdntde trace lo show that he had been there. Indeed, it is so improbable as to warrant Die conclusion that Franklin has never passed these points. The question has often been asked, by way of argument to prove Franklin's safety, why, if his vessels have been wrecked, have not some (races of the wrecks been discovered? Is it at all probable two men-of-war, manned by crews consisting of 158 persons, should have been overtaken by such complete, such total extinction that not the smallest vestige of them can be di covered ? This is not at all conclusive. The question may with equal pertinency be asked, if still in exislence, why are not some traces of ihem to be found ? Is it not as easy a. task to discover traces of an expedition visiting different islands and coasls. and leaving marks of its existence or its position in various places, as to discover wrecks of vessels, perhaps hair buried under snow or sand, or surrounded by the impenetrable ices of Die Pole » The wrecks of two ships sent out by Die Hudson's Bay Company in 1719 were not discovered till fifty years after they had been wrecked upon a small island. Time may yet reveal the fate of Franklin and his associates.

Admitting that Franklin passed safely through Wellington Channel, and launched into the great Polynia, or Polar sea, it appears to be altogether improbable that he can slill survive, from tho reason assigned by Sir John Ross, that British born persons cannot withstand Ihe effect of six winters of Arctic severity; even if they had food enough. But few or Ihe crews of ships wintering in high latitudes have escaped the al lacks of the scurvy even during the first winter. Nolwilhslanding every precaution was taken by Parry during the winter he spent al Melville Island in 1819-20, such as the constant use of antiscorbutics, regular exercise in Ihe open air, and great attention to cleanliness, the scurvy appeared among his men before spring, though in no case was fatal. In his second voyage he had contemplated spending his third Avinler north, but was prevented by the breaking out of (he scurvy among his crew, whose physical ability was already impaired by the severityand labours of the Iwo previous winters. @e During his third voyage, the inlense dreariness and silence of those regions, instead of becoming less sensible by habit, was more painful y felt than ever before. The first human beings who arc known to have attempted wintering at Spitsbergen, were a party of English whalers, and they all perished before spring. In 1633, seven volunteers from a Dutrh vessv? attempted to pass the winter on this island a;>: J succeeded ; but on repeating the experime»a the next winter, they were all destroyed b\ she scurvy. That three of Franklins men should die the first winter was an extraordinary mortality, and, lo say the least, appears ominous for the general health of the crews. Captain Ommanney suposes the meat may have been of inferior quality, but from what reason we cannot tell.

It hardly appears probable (bat Franklin's men, even if spared by (hat common accompaniment of extreme cold and damp weather, the scurvy, could successfully withstand the intense severity of six Arctic winters ; for it cannot lie otherwise than that, if they still survive, (hey are in want of many of those articles of food and clothing deemed essential to the health and comfort of the natives of temperate climates. Would Sir John Franklin find above the TGth or 78 th de ree of latitude, food of suitable quality and in sufficient quantity to support life. Upon this question those capable of forming an accurate opinion, and indeed those whose opinions we have before given, differ as much as they do in relation to his course and safety. We incline to the opinion that in certain localities food sufficient might be obtained to support life, while in other places of the same latitude the supply from birds and animals could not be depended upon more than six or eight weeks of the year. If Franklin proceeded into the Polynia, or great Polar Ocean, north of the 78th or 80lh degree of latitude, bis supplies of food beyond all doubt, must have long since been exhausted. Captain Parry reached what appeared (o him to be the ulmost limits of animal life, at the 82nd degree of latitude. During the whole of the 25rd of June hesaw r only one solitary bird. From all we have been able to read upon the subject, and from comparing the statements and opinions of those engaged in the search, the conviclion is forced that Franklin did not go north or west from Beechy Island, and that neither he or any of his crews can now be alive.