RECOVERY OF FRANKLIN RELICS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1867, 20 April 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

RECOVERY OF FRANKLIN RELICS.

Mr Thomas M. Barry, second oflicor of tho whaling barque A. Houghton, which was wrecked in June last in Hudson's Bay, has, according to a Scotch paper, arrived at St. John's, Newfoundland, with some interesting relics of the Franklin expedition, as well as authentic information as to how and where tho crews of the Erebus and Terror perished. Mr Barry, in a communication to tho American Consul at St. John's, to whom he presented some of the rolicK, states that, in the early part of October last; year, tho barque was laid up for the winter at Marble Island, at tho mouth of Rankino's Bay, and while there, a numbm* of Esquim nix caur.o down to the vessol from Nachilli, near Capo Tuglclield, and Mr Barry, who has been twenty years in the whale-fishing business, was able to converse freely with the natives, some of whom are vory old men and womon. The old Esquimaux told him that a very long time ago — how long thoy had no method of indicating — a largo party of white men came to their settlement and lived for a timo among them. Soveral of them had colored stripes different from tho rest of thorn on their arms and shoulders. Thoy supposed they were the leaders. One large man, in particular, they called " Hiteta," it great chiof, and ho seemed to havt authority over tho others, and tinnatives respected him especially because of bissizo,and by reason of the obedience which tho white men paid to his orders. Tho old men described to Mr Barry how cold the winter was which followed the arrival of the whites among them. No game of any kind was to bo had, and tho settlement was roduced before long to tho last extremity of destitution. The natives crouched shivering in their huts, without fire or food, except some miserable sealskins, piocc3 of which they chewed. With the excoptiou of those bits of raw skin they had absolutely nothing to eat ; and although they shared this wretched food with the strangers, the white men were unable to ondure tho miseries of tho winter. The natives wore inured to hunger and cold, but many of their tribo perished, although tho whites suffered tho most, and died tho soonest. One aftar the other tho whitea melted away, until all — officers and erew — had perished in the bleak huts of the Esquimaux settlement. When spring came tho starved natives were able to procure food for tho settlement, but the relief camo too late to be of service to tho English crews. Tho Esquimaux wrapped the bodies of the dead in skins and buried them near the settlement under heaps of stones. Before all of tho whites died a cairn was erected among the huts, and tho books and papers belonging to the explorers were carefully placed in it. Other valuables were also placed in it, and the natives told Mr Barry that they still remained untouched, as thoy looked upon the deposit as being sacred, and feared to break into the mound or in any way to disturb the relics They had however, 0 number of articles in their settlement belonging to the expedition, made of silver* copper, and iron, and

many pieces of wood which had been usod to construct boats or sledges. Some of these articles they had with them, and Mr Barry obtained three large silver spoons, two of which he gave to the American consul at St. John's. The spoons are engraved with the Franklin crest — a fish's head surrounded by a wreath, with three lotters like " S's" or " L's" in a row. The natives are willing to guide the crew of the whaler to their settlement, where the cairn is ; but as the journey was nearly 1000 miles, the offer was not accepted. The Esquimaux remained by the barque until the ice broke up. Mr Morison (Morison and Brown, ship-owners, New York), who fitted out the Polaris, in a letter received in Livorpool on Monday, proposes to send off a vessel next spring, and make an attempt to recover the relics of the Franklin expedition, and Professor Nourse, of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, has communicated on tho same subject with our Government. The vessel will bo under the charge of Mr Barry, and he proposes to enter Hudson's Bay, and land at Repulse Bay, on che west coast. From thence, tho journey to Cape Inglofiold can easily be mado with sledgos and dogs, which can bo secured at tho point of landing. Travolling at tho rate of about 40 miles a day, the settlement of Nachilli can be reached in about ten weeks. Hero ho expects to find tho cairn untouched, and bring back the precious relics of Franklin's momorablo expedition.