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Leader (1850-1860), 28th October 1854, Edition Town of 2, Page 1013, Untitled Article

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      the coast of Boothia , when he received information which he -thus reports to the Admiralty : — ' ^ During my journey over the ice and snows this spring , with the view of completing the survey of the ¦ west shore of Boothia , I met with Esquimaux hi Pelly Bay , from one of whom I learnt that a party of « white men' ( Kabloonans ) had perished for want of food some distance to the westward , and not far beyond a large river containing many falls and rapids . Subsequently , further particulars were received , and a number of articles purchased , which places the fate of a portion , if not of all , of the then survivors of Sir John Franklin ' s long-lost party beyond a doubt—a fate as terrible as the imagination can conceive . " The substance of the information obtained at various times , and from various sources , was as follows : —

      . " In the spring , four - winters past ( spring 1850 ) , a party of i white men , ' amounting to about forty , were seen travelling southward over the ice , and dragging a boat with them , by some Esquimaux , who were killing seals near the north shore of King William ' s Land , which is a large island . None of the party could speak the Esquimaux language intelligibly , but by signs the natives were made to understand that their ship , or ships , had been crushed by ice , and that they were now going to where they expected to find deer to shoot . From the appearance of the men , all of -whom except one officer looked thin , they were then supposed to be getting short of provisions , and they purchased a small seal from the natives . At a later date the same season , but previously to the breaking up of the ice ,

      the bodies of some thirty persons were discovered on the continent , and five , on an . island near it , about a long day's journey to the N . W . of a laTge stream , which cam be no other than Back ' s Great Fish River ( named by the Esquimaux Oot-ko-hi-ca-lik ) , as its description and that of the kvw shore in the neighbourhood of Point Ogle and Montreal island agree exactly with that of Sir George Back . Some of the bodies had beejr buried ( probably those of the first victims of famine ); some were in a tenfc or tents 5 others under the boat , -which had been turned over to form a shelter , and several lay scattered about in different directions . Of those found on the island one was supposed to have been an officer , as he had a telescope strapped over his shoulders and his double-barrelled gun lay underneath him .

      " From the mutilated state of many of the corpses and the contents of the kettles , it is evident that our wretched countrymen had been driven to the last resource—cannibalisms—as a means of prolonging existence . " There appeared to have been an abundant stock of ammunition , as the powder was emptied in a heap on the ground by the natives out of the kegs or cases containing it 5 and a quantity of ball and shot was found below high water mark , having probably been left on the ice close to the beach . There must have been a

      number of watches , compasses , telescopes , guns ( several double-barrelled ) , &c , all of which appear to have been broken up , as I saw pieces of these different articles with the Esquimaux , and , together with some silver spoons and forks , purchased as many as I could get . A list of the most important of these I enclose , with a rough sketch of the crests and initials on the forks and spoons . The articles themselves shall be handed over to the Secretary of the Hon . Hudson ' s Bay Company on my arrival in London .

      " None of the Esquimaux with whom I conversed had seen the ' whites , ' nor had they ever been at the place where the bodies were found , but had their information from tliose who had been there and who had seen the party -when travelling . " I offer no apology for taking the liberty of addressing you , as I do so from a belief that their Lordships would be desirous of boing put in possession at as curl y a date aa possible of any tidings , however meagre and unexpectedly obtained , regarding this painfully

      interesting subject . It appears that Sir James Ross and Captain BelJlot must have been within a few miles of the spot to ¦ which the party had straggled ; and some of them must have survived until May , 1850 , us shots were heard , and fish hones and feathers of birds were noticed near the scene of the sad event . The following jb a list of articles purchased from the Esquimaux , said to have "been obtained at the place where tho bodies of tho persons reported to have died of famine were found , viz .: —¦

      " 1 silver table fork—crest , an Animals head with winga extended above ; 8 silver table forks *—crest , a bird with winga extended ; 1 silver tablo spoon—crest , with initials ' I <\ 11 . M . C ( Captain Cro / . icr , Terror ) j 1 silver table spoon and 1 fork—crest , bird with laurel branch in mouth , motto , ' Spero meliora ? 1 . silver table npoom , 1 tea spoon , and 1 dessert , fork—crati , a flah ' rt head looking upwards , with laurel brunches on each Hide-, 1 silver table forlt . ~ init . ialH , II . I ) . S . G . ' ( Ilnrry I ) . S . Goodalr , assistant-surgeon , Erebus ) 5 1 silver Ublo fork—Initials , « A . M'D . ' ( Alexander M'Donald , atjeilstant-swgoon , Terror ); 1 ailvcr table fork —initial * , ' V ,. A . M ! . ' ( Gilllca A . Mncboun , Beeoml-innstcr , Terror ) j 1 ttilvcx tablo fork—initials , 'J . T . '; 1 silver dutfw . rt npo « m —initials , \ J . S . 1 ' . ' ( John S . Poddio , surgeon , Krobim ); 1 round silver plate , engraved , 'Sir John l-YimMin , K . C . 1 J . ; aoUrororder , with motto , » Naa « spent temnt , U . 1 C . III ., MDOCOXV .

      " Also a number of other articles with no marks by which they could be recognised . " Dr . Rae adds , that from what he could learn there is no reason to suspect that any violence had been offered to the sufferers by the natives . It seems but too evident that they had perished from hunger , aggravated by the extreme severity of the climate . Some of the corpses had been sadly mutilated , and had teen stripped by those who had the misery to survive them , and who were found wrapped in two or three suits of clothes . The

      articles brought home by Dr . Rae had all been worn as ornaments by the Esquimaux , the coins being pierced with holes , so as to be suspended as medals . A large number of books -were also found , but these not being valued by the natives had either been destroyed or neglected . Dr . Rae has no doubt , from the careful habits of these people , that almost every article which the unhappy sufferers had preserved could be recovered , but he thought it better to come home direct with the intelligence he had obtained than to run the risk of having to spend another winter in the snow .

      The Skipping Gazette states that " Dr . Rae , of the Hudson ' s Bay Arctic Expedition , had an audience with Sir James Graham on Tuesday , at the Admiralty , on the subject of his discovery of the probable fate of Sir John Franklin and his companions . The interview occupied a considerable time , in the course of which , we understand , Sir James Graham announced the intention of the Government to send out early in the ensuing spring an expedition , in order to make further search for the remains spoken of hy the Esquimaux ; and the command of the expedition -was offered to Dr . Rae . " The Admiralty have received documents , "being the latest records of Captain Collinson , found by Commander Mecham , dated August 27 , 1852 , Ramsay Island , lat . 71 deg . 39 min . N ., long . 119 dec . 5 min . W .

      It is thought that Captain . Collinson is on the right track homewards , and great hopes of his safety are entertained . ¦¦ '¦"¦ ¦ , Among the earlier explorers of the Arctic regions was Dr . King , who headed aa expedition ia search of Sir John lioss , and who opened a , correspondence with tlie Admiralty in 1847 and 1 S 48 , to "urge the sending out a land party in search of ¦ Franklin . Dr . King pointed out the Great Fish River as the proper route by which to meet Franklin ' s partythe very river near the mouth of which the thirtyfive bodies have been found . Dr . King intends to volunteer forthwith on the same mission .

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      president , and which was supported b y several bishops and laymen of high character—like Mr . Samuel Gurney and Mr . John Labouchere . He read the newspaper report , and said he found Mr . Serjeant Adams remarked that one of the cases was " more , disgusting if possible" than one he had tried at a previous session . The matter then proceeded after the manner of the Middlesex Sessions—a criminal court of solemn jurisdiction—thus : The Assistant-Judge—Those were the terms I used . Mr . Parry said he knew they were , when he saw the report . The Assistant-Judge—I am in the habit of speaking the truth .

      Mr . Parry proceeded—That report contained observations conveying a . very serious imputation on the society , and on their solicitor . Now , he remembered those two cases very well , but when they were tried he was unable to appear himself , but his friend Mr . Lawrence kindly appeared for him . They were cases which had been fully investigated , and sent for trial by magistrates of equal rank and character as himself ( Mr . Serjeant Adams ) , and who were gentlemen of ability and experience , though not so high in position as he , and they were magistrates of the county and of the metropolis . The Assistant-Judge would willingly hear anything Mr . Parry had to say , so long as what he did say was not irregular . What Mr . Parry had just said was ¦ veryirregular . Mr . TaiTy—Not half so irregular as your original observations .

      The Assistant-Judge—Then , Mr . Parry , I cannot hearanything more , you have to say on the subject . Mr . Parry would say no more , then , of course . The Assistant Judge—Mr . Parry , I will listen to any language which one gentleman may utter and another hear , but in this court you shall use no other . I repeat over again What I said yesterday , that a more disgusting case was never brought before a jury , [ The jury concurred . ] Mr . Parry said he was hot irregular , because he \ vas about to make a motion , and no jutige could deprive ham of'his right ' to do so . ' The society was highly respectable , and after what took place 011 Tuesday he advised the preparation of a tabular statement of the society ' s

      proceedings in these cases , which he now held in his hand , and among the cases mentioned therein , he could select several the ijrosccution of which had been attended with important results , and which would show the amount of good done by the society . He might mention the cases of the Belgian girl , Alice Leroy , which attracted a good deal of public attention , and that of Cunningham , the surgeon , who was transported , for abortion , and others . This document , with the report , he was ready to place before the court , ami it would show that in 32 cases there had been 26 convictions . So it would be seen how useful their exertions had been . They never interfered as volunteers . in prosecutions , but they had taken up cases at the instance of the police and various

      THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND SERJEANT ADAMS . The Assistant-Judge of the Middlesex Sessions is again , and perhaps naturally , indignant . The " Associate Institute for Improving and Enforcing the Laws for the Protection of Women" seems sometimes to take up cases of indecent assaults on women without sufficient authority . Two cases of the kind on girls were brought before the sessions last week , and broke down at once . Serjeant Adams then delivered himself thus . He

      saidr" A case of the same kind was tried before him at the last session at Westminster , and tho first he had now tried was more disgusting , if possible , than that to which he had just alluded , and which was also prosecuted by this society . If they raked up such cases , and prosecuted them , aa they did , without instructions , no man would be safe from the accusations of tbe vilest of women . With respect to the last case ho would make this observation , which , of course , ho liad abstained from making before the verdict of the jury was returned , that tho last answer ho received from the father of the girl was , that ho had given no instructions for the prosecution , but that this society , or rather tho solicitor , had taken up tho case through seeing it in tho newspapers

      Now , ho wished to know what right tho society , however laudable its objects might bo , had to prosecute without instructions merely for tho sake of costs ; and ho would say this , that a man was indicted for obtaining money byfnlso pretencea by getting money paid to him for a prosecution which ho h < ul taken up without SnstructionH , and if there had been money obtained in these instances , there having been no instructions given , that man ' s fato would have been staring tho society in tho face . Ho had no great notion at all of volunteer prosecutors , This society might bo an admirably-conducted ono , hut it became a nuisance if it took up these prosecution * for tho mere aakc of costs . These two cases and another hud occurred in about a fortnight , and it ought to bo discontinued . Ho should not allow tho costs . "

      The next day tho court was enlivened by ono of those scenes for which tho Middlesex Sessions ia famous , and which present ita l > ench and bar in an aspect to which tho public is not accustomed elsewhore , and does not recognise , in tho administration of justice by our tribunals . Mr . Parry , whoso mission scorns to bo the exhibition of nil possible contempt for the presiding judge , presented himself in the character < jf standing counsel to tho society in question to protest ayaiuHt the consuro of tho U-ueh . Ho dunicd that there wan uny ground for t | lc observations which had boon made on tli « solicitor of tho Hociety . or tho society itself , of which tho ArchbiBhop of Canterbury was

      other authorities who applied to them for the very purpose . Yet , notwithstanding this , it was insinuated in broad terms by a judgoou the bench , that these prosecutions were taken up by the solicitor for the mere auke of costs , and that such solicitor was liable to an indictment for obtaining money under false pretences '; ( reuding from the report ) * ' and he would say this , that a man had been indicted for obtaining money by false pretences , by getting money paid to him for a prosecution which he had taken up -without instructions ; and if there had been money obtained in these instances , there having been no instructions , given , thul man ' s fate would have been staring this society in tho face . " Now , ho challenged

      him ( Jblr , Serjeant Adams ) to put tho law in execution if Mr . yiiatiii had dono wrong , or even if there wns a shadow of wrong about the matter , and it was perfectly monstrous that such statements should go forth from a judicial bench to the whole world—ntatuincnts nnbeting tho honour and character of a gentleman cvary way equal personally with the Ahsm tan t ~ Judge . As to tho refusal to allow tho casts , neither ho nor tho society cared about it . The oostH of tho prowecutions would bo paid out of the fundu of the mictaty , which wore ample , and they did not go about to got up cases for the Hake of prosecuting for coata ; on tho contrary , Lhoy hud taken cases in hand at tho iwuuwt and instance of othuru , and had rendered great public Horvice .

      Denying the right of tho Judge to utter " gross libels" from lus judgment scat , which " he would not have dared to put in circulation privately , " ho asked him to reconsider the question of costs , urging- that tho society acted in the pluco of a public prosecutor , nnd that tho case in question liud boon sent for trial alter investigation by tho magititnito . The allowance of the- coatu wan n nwitUir of no moment to tho Hooioty , but h « anl « ' < l Hint , tho AHHislanl-Judgo would now yrant that which J 10 had improperly and rashly refused . I In IiojkmI ho would t « Jto timo to « m-« id « r « f it , «» bo rufiimxi in a inoiiKMit of temper , and If , aftur coiinlilerutiuii , Iliu rofuMii ! should bo porwiHtctl in , thu wholo of tlm I'iniiiiiMtuiii . oH wuuhl ha brought under roviow in u Ulglior <| unr <« ir , and i * n ( ho mmln of | iruaccutiouri wcro paid <»» t <» '' thu « - 'ojj » w ) l < l « i . od fund , thu ttucro-Uiry of » Stuto might h-uvo power to order them to bo paid .

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      October 28 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1013

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 28, 1854, page 1013, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2062/page/5/