FATE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 174, 19 January 1860, Page 4

FATE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

Captain McClintock has returned ii’om his search expedition, bringing conclusive intelligence respecting Franklin and his companions. It appears, from the information he has collected, that the Erebus and Terror were abandoned on the 22nd of April, 1848, in the ice, five leagues to the n.n.w. of King William Island, and that Captain Franklin had died on the 11th June. 1847, thus escaping the more terrible fate of the survivors, who, endeavour-

ing to push their way to the Great Fish River, 'appear to have perished literally from the severity of the climate. Numereus relics of the unfortunate explorers have been brought home, and still more, which there were no means of conveying away, were discovered among the inhabitants of an Esquimaux snow village. r This last voyage, which by a singular coincidence was undertaken at the sole cost ol La,dy Franklin, against the opinion, and almost the protest, of the Government and a large section of the public, removes the mystery which has so long hung over the great Arctic expedition, and sets at rest all uncertainty on the subject. Nor has it been unproductive of important results.in another direction. It has finally determined the geographical problem of that iuclement region, and linked the ‘ termini of former expeditious by traversing the entire of the hitherto unexplored intervals. The whole' line of coast is now known, and we have happily no farther occasion for investiga - tion in that disastrous and unprofitable quarter of the globe. The whole report of Captain McClintock is wellworth perusal. We at least now know where and how Franklin and his companions perished, and we learn that to the last they performed their duty, abandoning their ships when that course became imperative. I cannot forbear quoting the following verses as well and beautifully describing the happy death of : Franklin, and the fearful and fatal journey of his survivors towards the Great Fish River. They strive on— Till all the dreary way, Is dotted with their dead ; And the shy foxes play About each sleeping head. Unharmed the wild deer run, To graze along the Btrand, Nor dread the loaded gun Beside each sleeping hand. The remnant that survive Onwards like drunkards reel; Scarce wotting if alive But for: the pangs they feel. The river of their hope At length is drawing nigh— Their snow blind length they grope, , And reach its banks to die ! Thank God ! brave. Franklin’s place Was empty in that band, : He closed his well run race , Not on the iron strand. 1 Not under snow-clouds white, By cutting frost wind driven, Did his true spirit fight 1 Its shuddering way to heaven. But warm aboard his skip, 1 With comfort at his side, And hope upon his lip, | The gallant Franklin died.

It is reported that her Majesty will confer upon Captain McClintock the honor of knighthood ; but the discovery of the boat is due to Lieut. Hobson, the son of the late Governor Hobson, of your Colony. This ofiicer noticed when travelling on the frozen snow what appeared to be two sticks peering above the ground. Struck with their singularity in this barren region, he was induced to examine them more closely, and was richly rewarded by finding that these ‘ sticks ’ were in fact the awning stanchions of a boat buried in the snow, and on clearing around it the ghastly spectacle of two dead men presented itself. These poor fellows had evidently died from sheer exhaustion, induced most probably by scurvy, as they had provisions in the boat, and fuel was close at baud.

A large quantity of clothing was found within her, also two human skeletons. One of these lay in the after part of the boat under a pile of clothing; the other, which was more disturbed, probably by animals, was-found in the bow. Five pocket watches, a quantity of silver spoons and forks, and a few religious books, were also found, hut no journals, pocket books, or even names upon any article of clothing. Two double-barrel guns stood upright against the boat’s side, precisely as they had been placed eleven years before. One barrel in each was loaded and cocked ; there was ammunition in abundance, also 30 or 40 lbs. of chocolate, some tea and tobacco. Fuel wa9 not wanting; a drift tree lay within 100 yards of the boat, '