246 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
for 30 days would weigh 10,600 lb. If all hands dragged, 
the weight would even then be 200 lb. per man. It was 
indeed a forlorn hope. If succour came down the river in 
1848 some might be saved. Crozier and Fitzjames did all 
for their people that was possible. The date of abandoning 
the ships was fixed at April 22nd, 1848. Boats' cooking 
apparatus, pickaxes, spades, silver of the officers' messes 
and other things of the sort for barter with the natives 
were taken and much clothing. There were also mementos 
of those who had passed away, taken for their relations, 
such as Sir John's orders, a few books, and watches. 
The travelling parties, with the two heavy boat 
sledges, started on their journey with a full knowledge 
of their condition, and that many must fall by the way. 
No more heroic band ever went forth to die. They had 
made great discoveries and had served their country 
right well. 
They reached Cape Victory of Ross, on King William 
Island, and encamped. Lieut. Irving found the cairn 
erected by Graham Gore in the previous year, and brought 
the printed form, with the lines written on it, mentioned 
on p. 243, to Captain Fitzjames. Fitzjames had some 
ink thawed, and wrote round the margin: — 
In 1848, H.M. Ships Terror and Erebus were deserted on the 22nd 
April 5 leagues N.N.W. of this, having been beset since 12 Sept. 1846, 
the officers and crews consisting of 105 souls under the command of 
Captain F. R. M. Crozier landed here in Lat. 69 0 37' 42" N. and Long. 
98 0 41/. This paper was found by Lieut. Irving under the cairn 
supposed to have been built by Sir James Ross in 1831 4 miles to 
the northward where it had been deposited by the late Commander 
Gore in June 1847. Sir James Ross's pillar has not however been found, 
and the paper has been transferred to this position, which is that in 
which Sir J. Ross's pillar was erected — Sir John Franklin died on the 
nth June 1847, and the total loss by deaths in the Expedition has 
been to this date 9 officers and 15 men, 
James Fitzjames, Captain 
H.M.S. Erebus. 
F. R. M. Crozier, 
Captain and Senior Officer. 
And start on to-morrow 26th for Back's Fish River. 
On the 26th, in the early morning, preparations were 
made for a start. The men had much less strength than 
