HISTORICAL SUMMARY 97 



when in the vicinity of Cape Walker, to penetrate to the south- 

 ward and westward in a course as direct as possible to Bering 

 strait. A quick passage appears to have been made through 

 Lancaster sound to Wellington channel, up which the ships 

 sailed to the seventy-seventh parallel, and then down again on 

 the west side of Cornwallis island, returning eastward to winter 

 at Beechey island. Many traces of a winter residence were 

 found there, including sites of workshops, forge and observa- 

 tory. Over TOO empty meat cans, all labelled ' Goldner's 

 Patent,' were found piled in regular mounds. A large quantity 

 of similar tins supplied to the navy had been found to be putrid, 

 and were condemned. This had probably happened to the tins 

 left at Beechey island, and helped to hasten the starvation of 

 the unfortunate crews two winters later. Three seamen died 

 during the first winter, and were buried on the island. The 

 next information concerning the fate of Franklin was obtained 

 from a brief record, found on King William island by 

 M'Clintock, in 1859. The record is as follows: 'Lieutenant 

 Graham Gore and Mr. Charles F. des Vceux, mate, left the ships 

 on Monday, the 24th of May, 1847, with six men (to deposit 

 papers on King William's island) ' ' H.M. ships Erebus and 

 Terror wintered in the ice in latitude 70 5' K\, longitude 

 98 23' W. Having wintered in 1846-47 at Beechey island in 

 latitude 74 43' 28" 1ST., longitude 91 31' 15" W. After hav- 

 ing ascended Wellington channel to latitude 77, returned by 

 the west side of Cornwallis island, (Sir) John Franklin com- 

 manding the expedition. All well.' This was the original 

 record, and a most mournful addition was made to it, on the 

 25th of April, 1848, after another winter in the ice. Here is 

 the addition: ' (1)848. H.M. ships Terror and Erebus were 

 deserted on the 22nd April, 5 leagues !N"!N~. W. of this (hav)- 

 ing been beset since 12th Sept., 1846. The officers & crews 

 consisting of 105 souls under the command tain F R M. 



Crozier landed here in lat. 69 37' 42", long. 98 41' paper 

 105 



