SOME INCIDENTS

OF CAPTAIN (AFTERWARDS SIR JOHN) FRANKLIN'S OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM HOOD'S RIVER TO YORK

FACTORY IN 1820.

PART I.

IN attempting to cross the river, they could not but lament the loss of their best canoe. St Germain, the interpreter, Captain Franklin and Belanger, a Canadian voyager, embarked in the small remaining one, when the breeze being fresh, it was driven to the brink of the rapid. Belanger applied his paddle to prevent the canoe from being forced into it, but he lost his balance, and the canoe was upset. They kept hold of it, however, till they touched a rock, on which they managed to keep their footing till the water was emptied. Belanger then held the canoe steady while St Germain put Captain Franklin into it, and got into it himself; Belanger they were forced to leave upon the rock; the canoe dashed down the rapid, struck, and was again emptied, but at last they got safe to shore.

Meanwhile, Belanger, standing up to his middle in a freezing rapid, his body covered with wet clothes, roared out for help. St Germain tried to get him into the canoe, but in vain, it was again hurried down the rapid. Adam next tried, but could not succeed. They then made a line out of slings, but it did not reach him. Belanger was nearly exhausted, when the canoe was luckily got near enough to throw to him a small cord, by which they dragged him, perfectly senseless, through the rapid. He was instantly stripped, rolled up in blankets, and, by Dr Richardson's orders, two men

undressed themselves, and lay by him in the bed, but it was long before warmth could be restored in him. It would be difficult to describe the anxiety that Captain Franklin had experienced during the unsuccessful attempts to relieve Belanger. Every time the canoe was put out it dashed furiously down the rapid, and he lost sight of it among the rocky islets. Once he thought he saw it buried in the waves; and the sad fate of all his brave companions, forced to wander about the coast of the lake, rushed upon his mind. His own fate would have been decided; for he was alone on the opposite side of the river, without gun, hatchet, or ammunition, unable even to light a fire, or relieve himself from his wet clothes.

Belanger was soon tolerably well again, and the recollection of this accident was lost in new evils; among these hunger was the most acute, tripe de roche* and pieces of singed hide being considered a capital meal. Snow fell in showers, and their blankets scarcely kept them warm. When they encamped at night, they lighted a fire to thaw their frozen shoes and put dry ones on; then they wrote their journals and prepared their supper. They ate it in the dark and then lay down, keeping up cheerful conversation, until the warmth of the blankets had thawed their bodies, so as to enable them to sleep. When they had no fire they lay down in their wet clothes, for fear they should freeze so hard as to prevent their being able to wear them the next morning.

Having resumed their march they again reached a part of the Coppermine River. The loss of their canoe was now felt, and the more so that neither a ford nor

* A kind of glutinous moss which is found adhering to the rocks.

wood for a raft could be found. Mr Back and the hunters were again sent forward with some hopes of meeting the Indians and getting assistance from them.

The remaining party were with some difficulty collected, and cheered by finding a putrid deer, on which they breakfasted. They set to work to make a raft of willows, but the willows were green, and when finished, it had so little buoyancy that one man only could be supported on it. It might, however, suffice to transport the party, if a line could be conveyed to the opposite shore, and Belanger and Benoit, two of the strongest Canadians of the party, tried to do this, but they failed for want of oars. Every plan was attempted, and at last Dr Richardson said he would swim across the stream with the line, and haul the raft over. He plunged in with the line round his waist, but had not swam long before his arms were so benumbed with cold, that he could not move them; he then turned upon his back, and had nearly reached the shore, when his legs too got benumbed, and he began to sink. His terrified companions therefore pulled the line, and dragged him back again almost lifeless. They rolled him in blankets and placed him before a good fire; fortunately he was able just to speak, and tell them how he ought to be treated. Towards evening he was able to converse a little, and they removed him into the tent. He had lost the sense

of feeling on one side, and when stripped, even the Canadians shuddered at the skeleton form which appeared before them.

It was his being so dreadfully thin and starved, that caused the cold water to take so terrible an effect upon him. What increased the pain he suffered, was, that as he was getting into the water, he trod upon a dagger,

and cut his foot to the bone, but this did not stop him in his brave attempt.

The canoe being at last finished, the whole party was transported one by one across the river, and Mr Back, with three of the Canadians, again went in search of the Indians. The rest of the party, after eating the remains of their old shoes and scraps of leather, set off over a range of black hills. The tripe de roche disagreeing with Crédit and Vaillant, these men were weaker than the others, and news was brought to the party in advance, that they could proceed no further. Dr Richardson turned back and found them lying in different places in a pitiable condition; they fell down whenever they attempted to move, and when some of the stronger men were entreated to go and carry them, they positively refused; and even threatened to lay down their loads, and make the best of their way to Fort Enterprise.

After consulting what was to be done, it was agreed that Dr Richardson and Mr Hood should remain behind with Hepburn to assist Crédit and Vaillant if they should survive, and that Captain Franklin with his party should go in search of the Indians, or on to Fort Enterprise, and send succour as soon as any could be obtained. With a heavy heart Captain Franklin took leave of his brother officers.

The snow was very deep, and before the party had proceeded many miles, they were forced to encamp. After passing the night in a wretched condition, two of the men were utterly unable to proceed, and were sent back to Dr Richardson. Two more were shortly after seized with dizziness, and Captain Franklin was compelled to continue his way with only four of the Canadians, Adam, Peltier, Benoit, and Samandie.

PART II.

After a most toilsome journey, Captain Franklin and his party arrived in a state of excessive weariness at Fort Enterprise, where, alas, no trace of human beings could be found! No Indians, no provisions; in short they had been utterly neglected. Akaitcho, the Indian chief who had engaged to store up food for them at the fort, had broken his promise, and on entering this miserable abode, where they had hoped to find rest and succour, they all burst into tears; the melancholy fate of their poor companions behind, rushing into their minds.

They found indeed a note from Mr Back, saying, that finding no provisions, he had gone on with his party to Fort Providence, but that the weak state they were all in, rendered it very probable that none of them might live to reach it.

Thus abandoned, they set to work to collect skins and tripe de roche for supper, and some wood which they pulled up from the floor, made them an excellent fire.

Benoit being sent on in company with one of Mr Back's men who had returned to search for the Indians, the party at the fort was reduced to four. Two of these, Adam and Samandie, were unable to stir, so that Peltier and Captain Franklin had to share the fatigue of collecting the wood, pounding the bones and preparing the two meals, which Captain Franklin insisted they should eat every day.

The tripe de roche now became almost too much frozen to be gathered, and the strength of the party declined daily. When they had sat down they could scarcely rise again. Their mouths becoming sore from eating the bone soup, they left it off and made soup of the skin instead of frying it. Peltier, the strongest among them,