The New York Herald Newspaper, November 1, 1859, Page 1

ty THE NEW YORK HERALD. WHOLE NO. 8467, henry S, S PH a s \S ( os PPM yi en, MORNING EDITION—TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1859.—TRIPLE SHEET. MAP OF THE POLAR SEAS, With the Leading Points of Interest in Arctic Exploration. Pihack «ReturmRech of FratklinAug. 1820 DRAWN & ENGRAVED FOR ; we THE NEW YORK HERALD “> Xs, a History of Arctic Expeditions from 1748 to 1859. ANOTHER EXPEDITION PROPOSED. Voyages of All the Navigators—Discoveries Made—The Northwest Passage Found— Searches for Franklin—His Fate Decided, &e. &., &. Notwithstanding that the fate of Sir John Franklin has been ascertained, there seems a probability that the spirit ‘of Arctic adventure is not yet at rest. Dr. Hayes, who gocompanied Dr. Kane in his last expedition through Bumith’s Sound, is willing to make another visit to those Tegions, with a view to explore the open sea discovered by Bane. ‘The London Medical Times also suggests the propricty ‘ofan overland expedition up the Great Fish river, where Mt thinks some portion of Franklin’s party may be still found alive. The Medical Times rolates an interesting cir- ‘Cumstance in connection with the several propositions ‘made to search for Franklin in the years 1845-6 and ’47. Ttappears that Dr. King proposed to visit the very spot where Franklin’s remains were found in King William’s Land. His second letter offering to make the search was fated June 10, 1847, the very day before Franklin died. ‘The recent discovery of the remains of Sir John Frank. Un’s long missing expedition to the Arctic seas, by Capt. ‘MoMintock, of the yacht Fox, revives the interest in Arctic ‘explorations, and brings baek to memory the sufferings ‘Bnd sacrifices which so many gallant hearts have made fo.tbrow light upon the untrodden regions of the polar firele, and contribute tothe wealth of science and dis- Dovery. ‘We present our readers to-day with a map of the Polar ‘eas, drawn and engraved expressly for our columns, which embraces all the prominent points reachod by the ‘various explorations, and the tracks followed by some of ‘the most important expeditions sinco the first attempt was ‘made to discover the Northwest Passage, from Behring’s Btraile to Baftin’s Bay, along tho northern coast of Ame- rica. In 1748 tho British government offered a reward of a ‘thousand pounds sterling to any one who would make this Passage by way of Hndson’s Strait. From this period till ‘the year 1818, two or three expeditions were undertaken Doth by sea and land, without success; ono, in which ‘Captain Phipps, afterwards Lord Mulgrave, accompanied ‘by young Nelson, the futuro hero of the English navy, ‘Penctrated as far North as latitude 80 48 slong the east ‘phore of Spitebergen. The celebrated Captain Oook also made his way as far as Ioy Cape, latitude 70 45; but elther were able to proceed further through: the ico, Meantime voyages by land wero undertaken by Mr. ‘Hearne from Hudson’s Bay towards the Polar sea, in ono Of which he discovered tho Coppermine river, and by Mr. Mackenzie, who descended the river, to which he gave ‘bis name, as far as an island whero ‘the tide was obsery- ed to rise and fall; but there is no certainty that ho reached the ocean. These two streams, however, have Binoe been followed to the Polar sea. In 1617 the Groenland whalers reported the sea to bo more free from ice than ever before, and the British Admt- ralty conceived the idea of making another attempt to dig. Cover the Northwest Passage, and if possible reach ine Polo, Accordingly, on the 18th of April, 1818, Capt. (attor- wards Sir John) Ross, and Licutenant (afterwards Sir Edward) Parry, left the Thames in tho Isabella and Alex- ander, and sailed for Cape Farewell, which they passed n about five weeks, and made for Cape Dudley Digges, ‘n the midst of ice. From this they entered Smith's Sound, and after examining it carefully, concluded that it, as well as Jones’ Sound, and Lancaster Sound, were bays without openings, having supposed that they saw head- lands across. After surveying the shores of Cumberland Strait, and the coasts around there, Captain Ross re- turned to Englarid in the following October, without mak- ing any important discovery. At this same time that Ross and Parry set out on this voyage, Captain Buchan and Lieutenant jFranklin (afterwards Sir John), sailed in the ‘Trent and Dorothea into the Spitzbergen Seas, with a view to reach the North Pole, when they found the tempera- ture mild and pleasant, the sky clear and azure as the skies of Italy. Obstructed on all sides by icebergs, the navigators found it almost impossible: to advance, and though they reached a point as far north as eighty de- grees and thirty-four minutes, they returned to England in October, the Dorothea having almost foundered ina gale which took them in the middle of the ice, attempting to reach the Greenland coast. Next year Parry, assisted by Lieutenant Liddon, made another attempt to get through Lancaster Sound, being in doubt as to the opinion formed by Ross in the previous voyage, that it was simply a bay. Ho left the Nore with the Hecla and Griper, manned by ninety-four men and provisioned for two years, May 11, 1819. They pushed through Davis’ Straits and Baffin’s Bay into Lancaster Sound, throngh very heavy ice, and passed through it into Barrow’s Strait, thus named by Parry, after the promoter of the expedition, ono of the Lords of the Admiralty, Hore, being beset in ice, they ran southward into @ bay which they called Prince Regent’s Inlet. Returning, they pushed on to the west- ‘ward, passing Capes Hurd and Hotham and Beechy Island, until they entered Wellington Channel, and passed on northwards to Melville Island, where they wintered. The expedition had now reached the 110th meridian of west longitude, and the crew were entitled to tho reward of five thousand pounds promised by Parliament to the first ship that should attain that point. Amusing his men with private theatricals and other pastimes, together with con- siderable hunting, Parry got through the dismal winter, and on the 2d of August the ice broke up, permitting a farther advance to within sight of the western extremity of Melvitle Island, where another line of land was "dis- covered, and called Bank’s land. [It was found impossible to proceed farther west, so that the ships returned home after having reached thirty degrees of west longitude more than any former navigators, discovered several now lands, bays and islands, and established the existence of @ Polar sea north of the American continent. : In the September of the year Parry sailed, an overland Journey was set on foot under Sir John Franklin from York factory, Hudson’s Bay, in which he was accompa. nied by Dr. Richardson, two midshipmen, Back and Hood, and seaman named Hepburn. The intention was to ex- ‘amine the north coast of America eastward from the Cop- permine river. Phis was a tedious and porilous journey, the men enduring unparalleled sufferings from starvatien and cold. They travelled in this attempt 6,460 miles, and wore three years in accomplishing that distance, having reached a point on the coast as far west a& Point Barrow. Captain Parry, eucouraged by his previous euccess, un- dertook @ second voyage in May, 1821, with the Hecls find Fory, intending to make for Repulse Bay by Hud- fon’s Btrait, in the hope that the Northwest passage Might be found south of Molyille Island, whore he for- mérly found the ice impassable. Having reached within ‘view of Southampton Island, Parry sailed up Fox's Chan- | nol, but he soon found that thore was no outlet there, Ho next tried Repulse Bay, but with as little success, He then proceeded along the coast, and found himself in a labyrinth of small islands, and finally reaching an open sea, bp ran before a northerly wind until at length, on the 8dof September , he found himself just where he started from on the 6th of August, the result of the voy- age being the satisfaction that there was nothing to be discovered in that direction. Tracking along the coast northward, examining every channel and opening, the ships became frozen up in tho middie of the Northern Sea. In July they broke from their icy barriers, and pursued their investigations for some time, but without any defi. nite result as far as the Northwest Passage was con- cerned, and in October, 1823, they arrived in England. In May of 1824 Parry started on his third voyage with the same brigs, Hecla and Fury, but did not succeed this time in advancing higher than Port Bowen in Lancaster Sound, where the Fury was driven ashore and abandoned, and the Hecla returned to England. The next expedition set on foot was in another direction, namely, to sail round Cape Horn and enter the Polar Sea by Behring’s Straits. This enterprise was undertaken by Capt. Beechy in the Blossom, in 1825, who reached Kotzebue Sound on the 22d of July, and thence proceeded to Chamisso Island, there to await Franklin, who was out on his third expedition. Ho surveyed the shore westward with a boat for a distance of 126 miles, as far as Point Barrow, without meeting Franklin, who, it ‘was afterwards found, had reached within 146 miles of that place. Beechey returned to England in October, 1828. We will now advert to the Iand expedition of Franklin, which Beechy was expected to meet. Franklin’s plan was to do- scend the Mackenzie river in boats to the sea, and push on from thence to Joy Cape or Behring’s Straits, westerly with one party, and easterly to Cop- permine river with another. Dr. Richardson and Lieut. Back, his‘ old companions, accompanied him. In July, 1825, they reached Fort Chippewyan, arriving in safety at Great Bear Lake, from which point, after erect- ing a winter dwelling, a small party, headed by Franklin himself, set off down the Mackenzie river, journeying a thousand miles, until, on as@ending an eminence on Garry Island, they beheld the sea, entirely free from ice, opon before them. Here Franklin elevated a silk flag which his first wife had made and given him as a parting gift, with instructions to hoist it when he reached the much covoted polar sea—she being on her deathbed at the timo of his departure. Satisfied at having beheld the open sea, Franklin returned to his companions at Boar Lake, ar- riving there on the 8th of September, and there wintered for seven or eight months. When the summer opened two parties again set out down the Mackensie, Frankl taking a westerly direction from the mouth of tho river, and Rich ardson an easterly one. Franklin, however, failed, as be- fore stated, in getting as far west as the Blossom’s boat had come to in gearch of him. ‘ About this time some private adventurers wero mak ing excursions in the Northern Seas about the cousts of Greenland. Among them Mr. Scoresby, an experienced whaleman, and Capt. Clavering, of the British navy, but ‘no discoveries of the northwest passage resulted. ‘The idea of reaching the north pole in ships having been for some t¥mo abandoned, Gapt. Parry now undertook the attempt over the frozen sea in boats provided with ran- ners, which might be used as sledges and boats alike. Ho ‘set out from Spitabergen in May, 1827, aud after a dan- Gerous and tedious journey got as far north as 82 degrees, 45 minutes parallel, almost the utmost limits of animal life, when be was compelled to return, In May, 1820, Captain Ross, accompanied by hig nephew Commander James Ross, sailed in the Victory on his se: cond voyage in search of the Northwest Pazsage, by some opening leading out of Prince Regent's Inlet. Pushing through Lancaster Sound, they reached BrenffOM Bay, where they landed, and called the land Boothia, in honor of Sir Felix Booth, who fitted out the expedition. They wintered at Felix Harbor, both places having become since remarkable by the visit of the yacht Fox, and the discovery of Franklin’s remains by McClintock. Here, also, James Ross ascertained the location of the magnetic pole to be in the southern part of Boothia,as marked on our map. This expedition lasted four years, during which the crew endured the utmost privations. On tho 26th of May, 1832, the Victory was abandoned, and the party attempted the terrible journey over the frozen sea and land in their boats towards Baf- fin's Bay. Finding Barrow’s Strait an impenetrable mass of ice when they arrived at the junction of Prince Re- gent’s Inlet on the 29th of August, they hauled their boats on shore and pitched their tents. After waiting nearly a month in the hope of advancing, they found no choice left but to return to Fury Beach and there spend their fourth dismal winter. They arrived here on the 7th of October, having left their boats on the shore at Batty Bay, and dragging their provisions over the ice in sledges. The winter proved a terribly severe one; but in July they moved on to where the boats were left, and after waiting month for an open channel), resumed their voyage to- wards Baffin’s Bay. They found Barrow’s Strait open, and sailed on past Admiralty Inlet. On the 26th of August a sail hove in sight, which proved to be the Isabel- la, of Hull, formerly commanded by Ross himself. The unfortunate navigators were taken on board and con- veyed to England, which they reached onthe 11th of October, 1833, having been four years absent. Great alarm was created by the long absence of Ross, and Back started in search of him in February, 1833, from Montreal, down the St. Lawrence, and reached Sault Ste Marie on the 11th of May; then coasting Lake Superior, he pushed on toFort Chippewyan and Fort Resolution, on the Great Slave Lake. On the 8th of August the party struck the Fish river, and Hoar Frost river, which they ascended ‘until forced to abandon the enterprise in consequence of the rapide. Returning, they Inid up for tho winter at Great Slave Lake. The cold was intense, and the suffer- ings of the adventurers throughout the whole journey were almost incredible. About the middle of April, as they “were preparing to resume their Journey to the Polar Sea, news of Ross’ safety reach- ed them, to their great joy. Back, however, ‘advanced towards the sea in boats by the Fish river,a distance of 680 miles, and reached the sea about 37 miles south of the Coppermine. This land he called King William’s Land, after which he retraced his stops and returned to England, in September, 1835. In June of the following year ho again set outin the Terror for asea jougney, through Davis Strait and Hudson’s Strait. Here, getting into the ice in. July, they wero nipped for four months. The perils through which the Terror passed at this timc’, are, we be- Jove? without parallel in Arotic adventure; tightly locked among terrific icebergs, sho was dashed and drifted about for miles between Cape Womfort and the middle of Hudeon Strait, until every timbor was strained so that the crew momentarily expected to go to destruction. An attempt was made to out her out with instruments, when happily the ice broke away in July, and tho Terror was forced from her dangerous position, but in such a leaky condition that Back was compelled to make direct for England. She at last reached tho northwest coast of Ircland, gradually sinking by the hoad,and was run ashore in Lough Swilly on the 8d of September, and, had she been threo hours longer at sea, she would certainly have gone to the bottom. Ber wholo frame proved to bo strainod and twisted, many of her bolts were either loosened or ‘broken, her forefoot was entirely gono, and upwards of twenty feet of her keel, together with ten fect of hor sternpost, had been driven over more than three feet and a half on one side, leaving a frightful opening astern for tho free ingress of water.. Well, therefore, might her crew, when they afterwards looked on her as she lay dry on the beach at low water, express astonishment that ever they had floated back in her to British shores; and ample occasion had they to cherish adoring gratitude to the All-Powerful and AlJ-Benevolent Belng who had pre- served them. Simultaneously with Back’s expedition, the Hudson's Bay Company despatched two of their employés, Dease and Simpson, to survey those portions of the northern coast which Franklin and Back had failed to reach. They descended Mackenzie river, and followed the coast cast- ward, discovering the two rivers, Garry and Colville, as well as a new land, which they named Victoria. In the following year (1889) they sailed through the narrow strait’ between Victoria and the mainland, now calicd Dease’s Strait, where they ascertained that Boothia was an island. Beholding from au eminence the open Gulf of Boothia, and having determined ‘1 line of coast thus far, they returned onthe 16th September into the Coppermine river, after travelling in boats a yoyageof 1,600 miles through the Polar Sea. Under the auspices of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Rae set out again overland through Canada, arriving on the 8th of October, 1846, at York Factory. His object was to explore the open bay from the point reached by Dease and Simpson, eastward to Fury and Hecla Strait, so as to connect their discoveries with those of the second voy- ages of Parry and Ross. Starting from York Factory in July, with two boats, each manned by six men, along the shore of Hudson's Bay, he reachea Churchill and passed Chesterfleld Inlet on the 18th of July, reaching the head of Repulse Bay on the 25th. The ice prevented further progress at that time, and the party wintered at Repulse Bay. Next April a party started in sledges westward, and Rae himself succeeded in getting on foot to within sight of the ice-covered sea, studded with islands, which proved to be Lord Mayor's Bay, where the disaster occurred to the Vie- tory, under Sir John Ross, some years before. They did not succeed, however, in reaching Dease and Simpson’s farthest point, and on the 12th of August the adventurers left Repulse Bay for home. We uow come to the last fatal voyage of Sir John Franklin, so wrapped in mysteyy for nearly twelve years, and upon which only recently 0 much light has been thrown by the discovery of McClintock. The Erebus and Terror wore got ready for another Arctic investigation by the British Admiralty, and the command given to Franklin, who was assisted by Captains Crozier and Fitz James and a gallant band of officers and men, not one of whom returned to tell the tale of the disasters which befel them. On the 19th of ‘May, 1845, the doomed ships left the Thanzes in search of the Northwest Passage, with instructions to proceed through Davis’ Strait, Baffin's Bay and Lancaster Sound, thence through Barrow’s Strait to Melville Island, when it Proceeding westward in this course not to stop to examine openings, either north or south, but to push straight about 745¢ deg. till he reached Cape Walker long. 98 deg. west, and from thence endea- fo reach Bohring’s Strait. In the evont of being obstructed in this course, ho was ordered to Uhrough the Strait between Dover and Cornwallis islands (Wellington channel), should that channel offer a more practicable oulet from the Archipelago and a more ready access to the open sea. Upon passing Bebring’s ‘Strait he was to proceed to the Sandwich Islands and Pa- ama, and put an officer ashore with despatches. By refer map the probable ramblings of Frank: PRICK TWO CENTS. - lin’s party during the ¢arly part of the expedition may be. readily inferred from the nature of these instructions, The Erebus and Terror entered Davis’ Strait in July, ‘1845, and were seen for the last time on the 26th of thas month by the whaler Prince of Wales, being then moored. to on iceberg in lat. 74 deg. 48 min. north, and long. 66 deg. 13 min. west., not far from the centre of Baffin’s Bay, and about 210 miles from the entrance of Lancaster Sound. ‘Toward the end of the year 1847 anxiety began to be felt in rogard to the fate of Franklin and his men. Not # word bad been beard from them since they had bees seen by the Prince of Wales whaler, end apprehensios became general that they had shared a similar fate tothe Fury of Sir Edward Parry, or the Victory of Sir Johm Ross. The government, therefore, promptly determined to send three expeditions in search of them. The firs® ‘was a marine expedition, by way of Behring’s Strait, te ‘be conducted by Capt. Henry Kellett, of the ship Herall, of twenty-six guns, then in the Pacific, aided by Comman~ der Fhomas E. L. Moore, in the Plover, surveying vessels and this was designed to relieve Sir John Franklin an@® his companions in the event of their haying gone througia the northwest passage, and stuck fast atsome advanced’ point of the Polar Sea. The second was an overland amd boat expedition, to be conducted by Sir John Richardsom, to descend the Mackenzie river, and to examine the eastward to the Coppermine; and this wis designed afford relief in the event of the adventurers having takem to their boats westward of the northern Archipelago, and forced their wayto the American continent: The third was a marine expedition, to be conducted by Sir Jameg Clarke Ross, with the ships Enterprise and Investigator, through Lancaster Sound and Barrow’s Strait, to examine all the tracks of the missing ships westward as far as they could penetrate into the Archpelago; and this was designed toaflord relief in the event of the adventurers having been arrested cither in the very throat of the supposed passage, or at some pomt on this side of it, and of their at- tempting to retrace their steps. This plan of search secm- ed comprehensive and noble, and was carried with all pos~ sible promptitade into execution. On the 14th July, 1849, the Herald and es manded by Kellett and Moore, reached any way of Behring’s Strait, when hey were ~ ot Shedden in his yacht the Nancy Dawson. Fron this thégr pushed on to Icy Point, and on the 25th sent « boat party with Lieut. Pullen, accompanied by the yacht, ap far am Dease’s Inlet. The doat expedition was intended to com- nect the proceedings of the present voyage thoge of Richardson’s overland journey. Pullen Dease’a Inlet, leaving deposits of provisions at different pointe along the route; atid having despatched two whaleboate well manned up the Mackenzie river with orders to retarm home by Fort Hope and York Factory, he returned to the ships, which by thie time bad proceeded to Cape Lia- Durne, on the 2th of August, without finding any tees whatever of Franklin or his party. Kellet meantime haa been making extensive explorations around the vicinity ef €ape Lisburne, and discovered a new territory or island in latitude 72 20 N., Jongitude 175 16 W., which he sap- posed to be @ part of the lofty range seen by natives of Cape Jakan, in Asia. ‘Tho ships went north ‘until they met the pack ice, and then by means of boats examined allthe bays and inlets between ley Cape and Point Bar- row, without being able to throw a ray of light on the fate of Franklin. The ships returned home in October, 1950. The second expedition, under Sir John Richardsom and Dr. Rae, in ascarch of Franklin, started overland, in June, 1848, from Methy Portage, and reached the last portage or Siave river on tho 16th of July, and there divided into a seaward or exploring party under Richardsou aud Rac, aud @ land or auxiliary party