KABLOONAS

KABLOONAS
Burial of John Franklin. Author: me

KABLOONAS

Kabloonas is the way in which the Inuit who live in the north part of Canada call those who haven´t their same ascendency.

The first time i read this word was in the book "Fatal Passage" by Ken McGoogan, when, as the result of the conversations between John Rae and some inuit, and trying to find any evidence of the ill-fated Sir John Franklin Expedition, some of then mentioned that they watched how some kabloonas walked to die in the proximities of the river Great Fish.

I wish to publish this blog to order and share all those anecdotes that I´ve been finding in the arctic literature about arctic expeditions. My interest began more than 15 years ago reading a little book of my brother about north and south pole expeditions. I began reading almost all the bibliography about Antarctic expeditions and the superknown expeditions of Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton, etc. After I was captured by the Nansen, Nobile and Engineer Andree. But the most disturbing thing in that little book, full of pictures, was the two pages dedicated to the last Franklin expedition of the S.XIX, on that moment I thought that given the time on which this and others expeditions happened, few or any additional information could be obtained about it. I couldn´t imagine that after those two pages It would be a huge iceberg full of stories, unresolved misteries, anecdotes, etc. I believe that this iceberg, on the contrary than others, would continue growing instead melting.



miércoles, 28 de diciembre de 2016

EL POLO DEL FRÍO EXTREMO - THE POLE OF EXTREME COLD

(In English below)
Os dejo aquí el link a un libro "The great Frozen land" (accesible pero en inglés) que cuenta la historia de un paseíto de 3.000 millas por la tundra siberiana que el señor Frederick George Jackson realizó montado en un trineo en 1893. Yo todavía no me lo he leído pero está en la lista de "siguientes".
Su objetivo era probar la vestimenta, el material y la comida bajo condiciones árticas invernales antes de emprender la expedición de 1894-97 para explorar el norte de la Tierra de Francisco José (80ºN), la expedición que se conocería como Jackson-Harmsworth.
Frederick  George Jackson
Eligieron la Tundra siberiana porque como él mismo dice en el prefacio del libro:

"Como mucha gente sabe, las tundras bajas del ártico ruso y Siberia, aunque son fácilmente accesibles por el este, oeste y sur de los confines de la civilización, poseen un clima invernal de una severidad tan grande que no solo supera el rigor de muchas regiones que se encuentran mucho mas al norte, sino que realmente presentan menores temperaturas que las registradas en la cuenca ártica. Por lo que es en las heladas Tundras de Siberia donde encontraremos lo que ha sido denominado EL POLO DEL FRÍO EXTREMO".

Para mi personalmente, Jackson es un personaje un tanto desconocido y puede que lo sea para muchos de vosotros también. Casi todos los forofos de lo polar nos hemos siempre centrado en los grandes exploradores que o bien llegaron o bien intentaron realizar grandes hazañas como llegar andando, en barco, en globo o en avión al Polo Norte, Polo Sur, cruzar el paso del Noroeste, etc. Pero dejamos a un lado muchas veces a aquellos que realizaron expediciones de exploración que podríamos considerar "de detalle" por llamarlo de alguna forma. Aquellas expediciones se centraban solo en una pequeña parte de la geografía ártica, que normalmente había sido descubierta por otros y la cartografiaban con esmero, midiendo y registrando todo tipo de datos científicos y meteorológicos.

En mi caso, conozco a Jackson sobre todo porque fue él durante esa segunda expedición a la Tierra de Francisco José quien se tropezó por pura casualidad con Nansen que volvía de su expedición al Polo Norte. La historia de Nansen pudo haber sido muy distinta si este encuentro no se hubiese producido, esta afirmación es objeto de conjetura todavía hoy en día. Es posible que Jackson salvase la vida de Nansen, y es posible también que si no hubiese sido por este encuentro, Jackson sería uno de esos exploradores de "segunda" de los que apenas habríamos oído hablar.

Jackson - Nansen encounter Junio 1896
Con o sin encuentro, Jackson demostró ser merecedor de la fama que ahora parcialmente tiene. Completó el reconocimiento del archipiélago descubierto (al menos fueron los primeros que se lo adjudicaron) por los austriacos Karl Weyprecht y Julius Von Payer en 1873. Engañado por los exploraciones superficiales de la expedición precedente, Jackson demostró que la Tierra de Francisco José no era una extensión de tierra que llegaba hasta el polo, como se creía, sino un archipiélago que no superaba en su punto más septentrional los 81 ºN. Algo parecido a lo que le ocurrió a la expedición Danesa de Jorgen Bronlund, que por fiarse de los mapas dibujados por Peary acabaría pereciendo en el norte de Groenlandia en 1908 junto con dos de sus colegas.

Ahora que estoy leyendo sobre Cook me doy cuenta de lo potencialmente peligroso que era dar crédito a ningún mapa, por fiable que la fuente pudiera parecer. Los mapas posteriores al tratado de Tordesillas movían tierras e islas a placer para situarlas en ubicaciones donde fueran más conveniente para según que potencia. Ficticias bahías como la de Poctes Bay en King William Island podría haber conducido a la expedición de Franklin a una muerte lenta por inanición y escorbuto en 1846, pero lo más sorprendente es que aún en épocas relativamente recientes en el siglo XX, un mapa equivocado podía todavía matar exploradores bien preparados y entrenados como ocurrió en el caso de la expedición danesa. Yo, gracias a Dios, no me separo nunca de mi GPS, y espero que nunca me deje colgado cuando realmente lo necesite.

Here I add the link to a book called "The great Frozen land" which tells the story of a short walk of 3.000 miles by the siberian Tundra which Mr Frederick George Jackson did riding a sledge in 1893. I haven´t read it yet but it is in my list of "Nexts".

His target was to test the clothing, equipment and food under arctic winter conditions before beginning his expedition of 1894-97 to explore the north of Franz Joseph Land (80ºN), the expedition which would be called Jackson-Harmsworth arctic expedition.

Frederick  George Jackson
The choose the Siberian Tundra because, as he himself says in the preface of the book:
"As most people are aware, the low Tundras of Arctic Russia and Siberia, although readily accessible and stretching on the east, west, and south to the confines of civilisation, possess a winter climate of a severity so great that it does not merely exceed the ri-gour of many regions lying farther north, and in the strict embrace of Oceanic ice, but actually reveals the lowest temperature yet recorded in the whole of the Arctic basin. 
For it is on the frozen Tundras of Siberia that we find what has been called " THE POLE OF EXTREME COLD." 
To me, personally speaking, Jackson is a character slightly unknown and it may be for many of you too. Almost all polar fans have always focused in those great explorers who, walking, sailing, by balloon or plane, either reached, or well just tried, theNorth Pole, the South Pole, the Northwest passage, etc. But we usually put aside those who made "detailed" explorations, to say something. Those expeditions focused only in a small part of the arctic geography, which had been previously discovered by others, and they carefully mapped them, measuring and recording all kind of scientific and meteorological data.

In my case, I know Jackson above all becasue it was him who during that second expedition to Franz Joseph Land, stumbled by chance upon Nansen who was returning from his expedition towards the North Pole. Nansen story could have been different if that encounte hadn´t happened, that assertion still is matter of conjecture. It is possible that Jackson had saved Nansen´s life and it is also possible that if it weren´t for that encounter, Jackson would be one of those "secondary"explorers about who one hardly have heard a word.

Jackson - Nansen encounter Junio 1896
With or without encounter, Jackson demonstrated to deserve the fame which now he partially has. He finished the survey of the archipielago discovered (at least first on claiming that) by the austrians  Karl Weyprecht y Julius Von Payer en 1873. Cheated by the cursory precedent explorations, Jackson demonstrated that Franz Josef Land wasn´t a huge land extension which touched the North Pole, as it was the general believing, but an archipielago which its northern point was located not beyond 81ºN of latitude. Something similar happened to the danish expedition of Jorgen Bronlund, who, believing in the accuracy of Peary´s maps will end his days in the north of Greenland in 1908 together with other two colleagues.

Now than I am reading about Cook´s voyages, I realise how potentially hazardous was giving any credit to any existing map those days of exploration. No matter how reliable it could seem. Maps made after Tordesillas treaty move unscrupulously lands and islands to locate them in more convenient places, according to the need of every power. Fictional bays like that of Poctes (or Poetess) bay, in King WIlliam Land could have driven the Franklin expedition to a certain and slow death by starvation and scurvy in 1846, but the most astounding of all is that in relatively recent days in the twenty century, a wrong map could still kill well trained and equiped explorers as it happened in the case of the danish expedition. Me, thank goodness, never forget my GPS, and I wish it never abandoned me the day I really need it.

jueves, 22 de diciembre de 2016

Y EL SOL SALIÓ Y ME CANTÓ - AND THE SUN ROSE AND SANG TO ME (Part 1)

(In English below)

El sol era recibido por los exploradores polares después de un largo invierno como si hubieran encontrado un oasis en el desierto después de haber pasado toda una semana sin beber agua. Dependiendo de la latitud en la que se encontraran, el sol podía permanecer escondido de su vista desde solo unos días hasta varios meses.

Hay quien dice que puedes experimentar incluso reacciones físicas cuando ves el sol ponerse por última vez justo antes de que comience la larga noche ártica. El sol significa disponer de luz, calor y tener el ánimo alto, un claro contraste con la larga noche ártica que implica siempre oscuridad, frío y normalmente, actitudes depresivas.

La aparición del sol sobre el horizonte suponía un punto de inflexión para todas aquellas expediciones que pasaban al menos un invierno en altas latitudes. No para todas, solo para aquellas que habían cruzado el circulo polar ártico. Por eso no he buscado referencias sobre este hecho en los relatos de expediciones como la de Sir John Franklin en el río Coppermine, una de mis favoritas, y otras por el estilo que nunca cruzaron el círculo polar.

El sol era siempre bienvenido con alegría por las tripulaciones de los barcos que habían permanecido atrapados por el hielo durante los largos meses que duraban los inviernos en las regiones polares. Algunas veces, su esperada salida se plasmaba en hermosas acuarelas que los propios oficiales del barco pintaban a bordo. Hace poco me he comprado una copia de una esas ilustraciones por Internet.
Fue el brillo de sus colores y la actitud de los hombres que aparecen en la escena lo que inmediatamente captó mi atención sobre ella y la que al mismo tiempo ha inspirado esta publicación. 
La imagen real que tengo en mi poder tiene en realidad colores bastante mas apagados que los que veis en la foto siguiente.

Returning sun in the Arctic regions
Likely from one of Elisa Kent Kane Expeditions published in "Sunday at home" february 1870
La ilustración proviene de una publicación de carácter religioso llamada "Sunday at home" february of 1870 (página 468). De acuerdo con la descripción, este  dibujo en particular procede de una de las expediciones de Eliza Kent Kane, el afamado explorador americano.

Pero repasemos como era el sol recibido por aquellos intrépidos y valientes exploradores del siglo XIX.

En la narración de su primer viaje como comandante a bordo de los barcos HMS Hecla y HMS Griper (1819-20), William Edward Parry describe como días antes de que el sol apareciese ordena realizar guardias para hacer observaciones científicas. Sus cuarteles de invierno estaban ubicados en Winter Harbour (74º N) en Melville island.

"Puesto que el momento en el que sol debía de reaparecer sobre el horizonte estaba cerca, comenzamos a otear desde lo alto del mástil para hacer observaciones, tales como la cantidad de refracción atmosférica, que podía ser visible antes que en circunstancias normales"

Los hombres de Parry escalaron y permanecieron de guardia en lo alto del mástil, durante cortos periodos de tiempo para evitar congelaciones, con objeto de realizar las observaciones necesarias en el momento en el que el sol apareciese, cosa que ocurrió  el 3 de febrero de 1820. La temperatura era de - 38 ºF, casi la misma que en grados Celsius en este caso.

"A 20 minutos del aparente amanecer, el sol fue visto desde lo alto del mástil del Hecla a una altura de cincuenta y un pies sobre el mar, siendo esta la primera vez que veíamos esta luminaria desde el 11 de noviembre, un periodo de ochenta y cuatro días."

Se hicieron observaciones sobre la luz, la refracción y otros eventos, pero aparentemente no se celebraron fiestas ni nada por el estilo. Lo que Parry hizo cuando hubo suficiente luz, fue comenzar los preparativos para zarpar de nuevo. Aquella fue realmente una larga noche, quizás una de las mas largas experimentadas por ningún otro explorador anterior.

Durante la segunda expedición de Parry (1821-22), pasaron un par de inviernos cerca de Igloolik. Igloolik está ubicado a solo unos pocos grados por encima del círculo polar, de manera que la noche perpetua no lo es en realidad tanto. Durante su segundo invierno, el sol fue recibido como sigue:

"El 19 de enero de 1823, el cielo se despejó, fuimos entonces gratificados con la visión del sol, y  se vieron numerosas partidas de paseantes  en diferentes partes de la bahía disfrutando de la novedad y el esplendor de esta gratificante y gloriosa visión...Los esquimales que estaban en los barcos hoy antes de que el sol saliera dijeron que lo veríamos hoy, y  con gran confianza, aparentemente. Es cierto, no obstante que en esta ocasión no tuvo lugar ninguna danza del sol ni ninguna otra festividad...su única de expresión de satisfacción ante este evento fue parecida a la nuestra."

De nuevo, no hubo celebraciones ni fiestas, Parry no estaba impresionado por el regreso del sol, quizás estaba mas preocupado acerca de como alcanzar sus objetivos. Él, después de todo, tenía una reputación que mantener y a un imperio entero expectante vigilando sus espaldas.

Por supuesto que hubo mas ejemplos como estos que he contado aquí. Ya iré indagando un poco mas en la próximas semanas. Una de mis historias favoritas relacionadas con la vuelta del sol está relacionada con el invierno de 1848-49 que James Ross´s pasó en Port Leopold (también a 74 ºN).

Para celebrar la vuelta del sol, se organizó una carrera que consistía en escalar la colina que dominaba la bahía donde su barco se encontraba todavía atrapado por el hielo. En aquella carrera participó Henry Mathias, el ayudante de cirujano del HMS Enterprise. Hace un tiempo escribí en el post que he vinculado unas líneas mas arriba acerca de aquel momento:

"La carrera la ganó Mr Court que llevaba una pequeña paleta en cada mano, así que imaginad como era de inclinada la pendiente, la temperatura era de - 49 ºF, (-45ºC). ..., fue un evento feliz que pronto se nubló cuando Mathias comenzó a escupir sangre y a perder fuerzas rápidamente desde ese momento"

Lamentablemente, Henry Mathias murió en Junio de ese mismo año. Aparentemente ya estaba enfermo de tuberculosis cuando partió de Inglaterra, su estancia en el ártico no debió hacer sino empeorar su estado de salud. Su cadáver yace aún en Port Leopold junto con el de otros tres compañeros de expedición.

Como os he dicho seguiré estudiando otras expediciones de la época, he leído en varias ocasiones sobre este tema, solo tengo que recopilar la información y escribirla. Trataré de seguir un orden cronológico y mostrar como se vivieron aquellos momentos por los diferentes capitanes y tripulaciones. Ya iremos viendo.

The sun was received by polar explorers after a long winter, as if they had found an oasis in the middle of the desert  after being deprived of drinking water for as long as a week. Depending on the latitude they were, the sun could stay hidden from their view for a period of time which could vary from several days to months. 

There are people who say you may even experience physical reactions when the sun sets for last time before the beginning of the long Arctic winter nights. Sun means light, heat and high spirits in clear contrast with the long polar night which means darkness, cold and usually, depressive attitudes.

The returning of the sun was an inflection point to all those expeditions which spent at least a winter at high latitudes. Not for all though, only for those which had crossed the Arctic circle. I haven´t looked for that reason on the narratives of expeditions like my dear Coppermine expedition by Sir John Franklin and in others of that kind which never crossed the Arctic circle, but only on those who did it.


The Sun was always welcomed cheerfully and happily by the crews of the ships which had stayed beseted by the ice for the long freezing months of the Arctic winters. Sometimes, its expected rising was even depicted in watercolours or engravings of some sort by the officers on board. I recently bought one of those drawings which inmediately caught my attention when I saw it in the Internet. It was the brightness of its colours and the attitude of the men who appear in the scene which inmediately captivated my eyes.


Returning sun in the Arctic regions
Likely from one of Elisa Kent Kane Expeditions published in "Sunday at home" february 1870
As it happens with digital photography, colours seem to have been enhanced somehow by the development process of the picture and it happens that actual colours are much more faded. 

The coloured illustration comes from the religious journal called "Sunday at home" february of 1870 (page 468). According to what I have read in the publication this particular drawing comes from one of Eliza Kent Kane´s expeditions.

But let´s review how was the sun received by those intrepid and gallant explorers. 

In Parry´s account of his first journey of 1819-20 on board the ships HMS Hecla and HMS Griper as a leader, it is pages and days before the sun actually rose that Parry began to speak about it demonstrating how strongly they missed being warmed by its rays. They had their winter quarters located in Winter Harbour (74 ºN) in Melville Island.


"As the time was now near at hand when the sun was to re-appear above our horizon, we began this day to look out for it from the mast-head, in order that some observations might be made, as to the amount of the atmospherical refraction, which might render it visible to us sooner than under ordinary circunstances"

Parry´s men climbed to the top of the mast in a succession of short shifts to avoid frostbites. He wanted them to observe its first appearance which happened about the third of february of 1820. The temperature was of - 38 ºF, same than in celsius in this case.

"At twenty minutes before apparent noon, the sun was seen from the Hecla´s main-top, at the height of fifty one feet above the sea. being the first time that this luminary had been visible to us since the 11 th of november, a period of eighty-four days."

The light, refraction and other events were observed but apparently there were no parties nor any other special celebration. What Parry did when he had enough light was beginning preparations to set sail again. That one was a long night, maybe one of the longest endured by any previous explorer of those regions. 

During his second expedition he spent a couple of winters near Igloolik. Igloolik is only a few degrees over the Arctic circle so the perpetual night wasn´t that perpetual after all. During the second winter the sun was welcomed as follows:

"On the 19th (january 1823), the weather, having at least cleared up, we were once more gratified with a sight of the sun, and numerous parties of walkers were seen in various parts of the bay, enjoying the novelty and splendour of this cheering and glorious sight....The esquimaux who were at the ships today before the sun rose particularly said that we should see it, and appaarently with great confidence. It is certain however that on this coccasion no sun-dance took place nor an other festivity... their only expression of satisfaction at this event being of the same geneal nature as our own."

Again no celebrations nor parties, Parry was not impressed by the returning sun, he maybe was more concerned about the accomplishment of their objectives. He, after all had a reputation to keep high and an entire empire watching his back.

Of course there were more examples like those I have explained here, I will dig in some of them in the coming weeks. One of my favourite stories related with the returning of the sun is the race which was organized during the winter James Ross´s spent in Port Leopold (74ºN) in 1848-49. Henry Mathias, the assistant surgeon of HMS Enterprise. The race consisted on climbing the hill which dominates the bay and it happened the 27th of february of 1849. Quoting myself from a previous post about the small graveyard which was once built there by James Ross:

"The race was won by Mr. Court who carried a scraper in each hand, so imagine how steep was the slope, the temperature was -49 F (-45ºC). According with the reference, that was a cheering event which was soon shadowed by the fact that Mathias began to split blood and to lose strength."

Henry Mathias died in june of that same year, apparently he was already sick when he departed from England. His body still lies in Port Leopold together with other three shipmates.

I will study other expeditions trying to follow chronological order and see how all those events were experienced by the different captains and crews.





jueves, 3 de noviembre de 2016

FINDING FRANKLIN, A MANUAL MORE THAN A BOOK

It usually takes me weeks if not months to read a book in English. It is still challenging even now that I have improved a good deal with the language (maybe you will end thinking otherwise after reading this post). But when I pick up a book written in Spanish, my eyes fly over its pages as a bird. That´s exactly what has happened to me while reading ´Finding Franklin´, it was written in English but I didn´t noticed it.

Finding Franklin and friends
I began with the book some days ago and everytime I arrived at home after work I couldn´t avoid grabbing it and read till I had to dine or to go to bed. 

Finding Franklin more than a book is surgery. If you are one of those who are well initiated in the "Franklin question" you  won´t like to lose a second  of your valuable time reading for the umpteenth time how John Ross missed the entrance of the Northwest Passage, how Parry got through it the year after, and bla, bla.bla. When you have a book like this in your hands what you want is to get to the point as soon as possible as if you had to be taken in a taxi to the center of an unknown city. Precedents of exploration in the Northwest Passage and subsequent  expeditions, are written in hundreds of books, more than I thought there could exist at first when I got lost in the Arctic labyrinth. Many of those books merely repeat exactly the same story only in different words.

I had foreseen that maybe Finding Franklin could be the sequel of the famous and, nowadays very difficult to find, Cyriax´s book titled "Sir John Franklin´s last expedition." but after reading it I would say much more about it. Unlike Cyriax, Russell Potter doesn´t lose time, if losing is the proper verb tp be used, in describing background stories. 

Russell´s purpose is a quite different one, and you soon realise after reading its Index, that you are in front of something different. You may have breathed in a similar atmosphere when you read, and you surely did if you have Finding Franklin in your hands, Unravelling the Franklin Mistery and Strangers among us

Then, like jumping over separated stones to cross a river, you begin to leap from one chapter to the following compelled for the inertia of your own reading in such a way that you can´t stop even if you want to. 

I have read many books about the Franklin expedition, maybe not as much as you, but from my amateur experience, it is only through the reading of Potter´s book, that I have now a complete view of the sequence of those, from very far in time to the more recent, events which took place in King William Island and surroundings.  Its content could lead you, book in hand, to retrace the steps of the poor men who were so unlucky to be forced to land there. You have the feeling that with such a good manual in your backpack, as if it was a Lonely Planet guide, you won´t miss any detail and you will have every important clue you could need to have at hand in just one single book. 

Jumping from skull to bone, from relic to searcher you could follow easily the path of annihilation. Such has been this feeling on me that when I reached the end of the book, I was expecting to find a CD attached to the backcover with an audioguide and a map containing the description of every single relic which was found in those barren island.

Even now that the Terror has been found, I don´t believe it should affect too much what has been told in Russell´s book. But what, however, I have missed in his book, and this is just to put a "but" in this reflection about a superb book, is that after reaching the climax which wrapped you in its last chapter, Russell  had risked to make a final exercise on which he had tried to reconstruct the story. Maybe, it is not fair calling it just an ´exercise´ but more an impossible task due to the infinite variants this reconstruction could offer. 

Unfortunately, unlike Nemo, Franklin didn´t arrive safely home. We know that for certain, but finding Franklin still resting quietly in his lost stony mausoleum in King William Island, could bring, at least to some of us, part of the peace which our hearts and brains so ravenously need. 

miércoles, 19 de octubre de 2016

ADIÓS MI QUERIDO AMIGO WILLIAM BATTERSBY / GOODBYE MY DEAR FRIEND WILLIAM BATTERSBY

Ayer me dieron la tristísima noticia de que un amigo William Battersby, escritor del fantástico libro “James Fitzjames, el hombre misterioso de laexpedición de Franklin, fallecía en un accidente de avioneta el pasado lunes.

Es una noticia trágica en varios sentidos, por un lado pierdo a una persona entrañable, amigable y divertida a quien consideraba un amigo, y por otra, el mundillo de los entusiastas de las expediciones polares pierde a uno de sus más valiosos efectivos.

Cuando comencé con mi blog en el año 2012 lo hice con la idea de disponer de un lugar donde apuntar todas las anécdotas que leía sobre expediciones polares para que no se me olvidaran y a la vez me permitiera compartirlas con otros entusiastas de la historia de la exploración polar. 

Prácticamente al mismo tiempo, tropezaba con varios blogs creados por ingleses, americanos y canadienses que versaban sobre la expedición de perdida de Franklin. Me aventuré a comentar en algunas de sus publicaciones y sorprendetemente, aquellos a los que yo veía como expertos inalcanzables, pronto me tendieron sus brazos y se empezó a forjar una relación que en algunos casos acabaría en amistad. Encontré a historiadores profesionales y amateurs como Peter Carney, Russell Potter, Glenn Stein y a entusiastas como yo como Jess Weatherbee, Bill Greenwell, Kassandra Noele, etc. 

Poco después me uní al grupo de Facebook “Remembering the Franklin expedition” en el que por cierto, estáis invitados a participar, y el número de amistades creció considerablemente. Estos autodenominados "Franklinitas" se reúnen anualmente en Londres para rememorar la expedición perdida pero sobre todo para tomarse unas pintas de cerveza y pasar un buen rato en agradable compañía. Allí fue donde conocí personalmente a William.

La primera vez que asistí a la reunión en Trafalgar tavern, en Greenwich entré por la puerta del pub y vi a un William sonriente sentado en una mesita cerca de una ventana pinta en mano. Conocía su cara por las fotos que había visto en internet, en su blog y en su libro, no obstante, no estaba cien por cien seguro de que fuera él. De pelo pelirrojo o quizás rubio y cara redonda y sonriente me recordaba a uno de esos niños de los libros de Guillermo el travieso. 

Un poco apurado pensando que quizás no fuese él, salimos del pub y esperamos un rato fuera. Al poco volvimos a entrar y esta vez me presenté, y sí, efectivamente era él. Con una gran sonrisa y visiblemente entusiasmado pronto empezamos a hablar. La conversación fluyó alegremente hasta que el resto de participantes empezaron a aparecer. Recuerdo que después de un incontable número de cervezas llegó el momento de pedirle que me dedicara el libro, que claro está, me había traído ex profeso desde España. Hubo un momento de confusión ya que Bill Greenwell y yo, le pedimos la dedicatoria al mismo tiempo. El resultado fue que yo acabé con la copia de Bill dedicada a mí y Bill con la mía dedicada a él. Decidimos intercambiar los libros para poder quedarnos con la dedicatoria correcta. Fue una tarde maravillosa.




El año siguiente se repitió el evento, y esta vez menos nervioso que en la primera ocasión, volvimos a vernos. 

El libro, en palabras de Russell Potter, una de las mayores eminencias relacionadas con la exploración polar, es descrito de la siguiente manera:

"Battersby's book is the first really full depiction that we have had, and it ably fills our previously incomplete portrait of Franklin and his senior officers. It's a book that no one with an interest in this expedition, or this period, will want to miss."

A esta crítica hubo algunos comentarios previos halagadores a los que William contestó:

"Careful folks, we'll sound like a mutual admiration society. But on the other hand... 

I did thank both Russell and Glenn for their tremendous help in this project in the Forward of the book and I really meant it. You have both been tremendouslu helpful. 

I think this subject: studying and understanding extra-ordinary people who did extra-ordinary things, does seem to bring the best out in people. In many ways it is similar to the subject of gallantry in war, but it is somehow more uplifting."

Os podéis hacer una idea de que clase de hombre era, recuerdo que cuando leí su comentario sonreí:

"Cuidado amigos o sonaremos como una sociedad de admiración mutua" 

Yo tampoco soy de la clase de los que les gusta recibir muchos halagos, si es que merezco alguno. 

"Estudiar y entender a gente extraordinaria que hizo cosas extraordinarias parece que saca lo mejor de las personas."

Creo que no podría estar más de acuerdo en eso.

Este año precisamente William andaba detrás de revisar su libro y aumentar contenidos. Me pidió que le echara una mano con determinados asuntos, era algo que tenía que ver con dos vapores ingleses que comandaban los mejores amigos de Fitzjames y que por avatares del destino acabaron en manos de la marina Española. Teníamos que traducir documentos, buscar imágenes y leer cartas de la época. Una pequeña aventura.

No os podéis imaginar lo halagado y orgulloso que me sentía de que alguien como William pidiera mi colaboración. Tampoco os podéis imaginar qué clase de investigador era, o lo podréis hacer si leéis su libro o alguno de los artículos que tiene publicados. En su blog hay una sección llamada "William Battersby ´s published research" donde los podéis leer.

La información que finalmente se fuera a publicar de aquello en lo que estábamos colaborando seguramente sería una parte muy pequeña del total de material que estábamos encontrando, pero aún así me lancé a buscar información con toda la ilusión del mundo. Si leyerais los e-mail que me mandaba os quedaríais fascinados ante la profundidad de sus análisis y de la cantidad de trabajo que él mismo desarrollaba al respecto, admirable. Incluso en la noticia que se ha publicado sobre el accidente el instructor jefe de vuelo y testigo del accidente dice sobre él :

"I saw the whole thing happen. It's a beautiful day for flying, and it was quite an experienced pilot, a very meticulous chap. The last thing on my mind was he would have any problem at all....A very nice chap, people got on with him very well"

Un "very meticulous chap and a very nice chap", así era él.

He pasado toda la noche despertándome cada dos por tres, y cada vez que me despertaba me venía a la cabeza su pérdida. Todas las veces, todavía medio dormido, he pensado que se trataba de una pesadilla pero en cuanto me despejaba un poco, la realidad de lo ocurrido volvía inmisericorde a recordarme que lo que ha pasado es muy real.

Lo voy a echar mucho de menos, todo el mundillo Franklinita y entusiasta de la exploración polar lo hará. A mi particularmente me va a quedar ahora un hueco en el corazón que va a ser muy difícil de rellenar. Guardaré la copia dedicada de mi libro (bueno, la de Bill más bien) como un gran tesoro que siempre ocupará un lugar destacado en mi librería polar al igual que William ocupará un lugar para siempre en mi memoria.

Creo que conocer a William Battersby, una persona extraordinaria que hizo cosas extraordinarias, me ha hecho ser un poco mejor persona.


Yesterday I received the very sad news that a friend William Battersby, writer of the awesome book “James Fitzjames, the mistery man of the Franklin expeditiondied in a light plane crash this past Monday.

It is tragic news in several senses, for one side I am losing a charming, friendly and funny people who I considered my friend and on the other hand the micro world of enthusiasts of polar exploration has lost one of its most value assets.

When I began with my blog in the year 2012 I did it with the idea of having a place where take notes of all the anecdotes I was reading about polar exploration in order not to forget them in the future, and at the same time, to share them with other enthusiasts.

Almost at the same time I stumbled upon several blogs made by British, American and Canadian people which versed about the lost Franklin expedition. I was brave enough to comment in some of those blogs and surprisingly to me, those who I considered as untouchable experts, soon embrace me and we began to forge a relationship which in some cases ended in friendship. I found there amateur and professional historians as Peter Carney, Russell Potter, Glenn Stein and other enthusiasts as me like Jess Weatherbee, Bill Greenwell, Kassandra Noele, etc. 

Soon after I joined the Facebook group called “Remembering the Franklin expedition”, to which, by the way, you are invited to participate and the number of friends soon rised considerably. These self-titled Franklinites get together in London once a year to remember the lost expedition but above all to have some beers and to have a good time. It was there where I met William.

The first time I attended the meeting in Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich I get into the pub and  I saw a smiling William sat besides a window pint in hand. I knew his face from pictures I had seen in the Internet and in his blog and book, however, I wasn´t one hundred sure it was him. Red head, or maybe blonde he remind me a bit those children from the Richmal Crompton´s books “William”.

A little bit embarrased, thinking maybe it wasn´t actually him, we get out of the pub and wait some minutes outside. Then I gathered enough strength and got in again. This time I introduced myself and my girlfriend and yes, it was actually him. With a broad smile and visibly enthusiastic, as he was, we soon began to talk. Conversation flew happily till the rest of attendants arrived. I remember that after an uncountable number of beers the time to dedicate books arrived. I had of course brought my copy from Spain for that occasion.

There were some confusion because Bill Greenwell and me asked him at the same time to sign our respective books. The result was I ended with Bill´s one and he with mine. We decided to change the books in order to keep the correct dedication. That was a wonderful evening.


The next year the get together happened again and this time I was less nervous than in the first one. We met again.

His book, in Russell´s words is:

"Battersby's book is the first really full depiction that we have had, and it ably fills our previously incomplete portrait of Franklin and his senior officers. It's a book that no one with an interest in this expedition, or this period, will want to miss."

To this review there were some flattering comments to which William answered:

"Careful folks, we'll sound like a mutual admiration society. But on the other hand... 

I did thank both Russell and Glenn for their tremendous help in this project in the Forward of the book and I really meant it. You have both been tremendouslu helpful. 

I think this subject: studying and understanding extra-ordinary people who did extra-ordinary things, does seem to bring the best out in people. In many ways it is similar to the subject of gallantry in war, but it is somehow more uplifting."

You can imagine what kind am I speaking about, I remember when I read his comment I smiled. I am not also of the kind who likes to be flattered if it happens I deserve any.


This precise year William was after reviewing his book and increase its content. He asked me to give him a hand with certain matters which involved two British steamers, commanded by two of the best friends of Fitzjames which ended in the hands of the Spanish Navy. We had to translate documents, looking for images and reading letters of that time.

You can´t imagine how flattered and proud I felt when someone like William asked me for collaboration. Maybe netither you could have an idea of what kind of researcher he was, or you can if you have read his book or any of the articles he published. In his blog there is a section called "William Battersby ´s published research" where you can find them.

The information would be finally  published would surely be a tiny part of what we were finding. You would be astonished if you could read the e-mails he sent me because of the depth of his analysis and because of the amount of work he was able to develop, really admirable. Even in the news of the tragic facts, the flying instructor says about him

"I saw the whole thing happen. It's a beautiful day for flying, and it was quite an experienced pilot, a very meticulous chap. The last thing on my mind was he would have any problem at all....A very nice chap, people got on with him very well"

A "very meticulous chap and a very nice chap", that was him.

I have spent the whole night waking up every now and then and every time I woke up his lost come to my head. Every time too, still half asleep I have thought I was having a nightmare but soon after awaking a bit more I immediately realized it what have happened has been very real.

I am going to miss him in a way nobody else knows, all the Franklinite world will do. In my case it is going to be a hole in my heart which is going to be very difficult to fill. I will keep the copy of my book (well, Bill´s one) as a big treasure which always will occupy an outstanding place in my polar bookselves, the same as William will occupy forever a place in my memories.


I think than knowin William Battersby, an extraordinary man who did extraordinary things, has made me become a better person.

domingo, 25 de septiembre de 2016

MUERTE EN EL ÁRTICO: LOS NÚMEROS HABLAN

Se ha dicho en varias publicaciones, artículos y libros acerca de la expedición perdida de John Franklin de 1845 que murieron más hombres en las expediciones que trataron de localizarlo que en su propia expedición. Esta es una afirmación ante la cual uno tiene que preguntarse, ¿Será esto posible?

No se puede negar que el ártico ha sido el escenario de un buen número de tragedias desde que europeos y americanos decidieran adentrarse en sus aguas. El norte a veces puede comportarse como un asesino en serie que usa todas las herramientas al alcance de su mano para exterminar a todos los que se aventuran en el, y ya veremos mas adelante que dispone de una amplia variedad de ellas para hacerlo.

Veremos también mas abajo que hubo varias expediciones, algunas que transcurrieron tan pronto como durante el siglo XVI, que desaparecieron en el Ártico conmocionando al mundo a causa de la magnitud del desastre y del misterio que rodearon sus destinos inciertos. Pero ninguna de estas expediciones igualó las cifras de la carnicería sufrida por la expedición de Franklin, la cual, consiguió el dudoso honor de ser la expedición con el mayor número de víctimas de la historia de la exploración polar. Un record que no se ha batido hasta la fecha por ninguna otra expedición posterior.

El record hasta que la expedición de Franklin ocupara el trono, lo mantuvo Hugh Willoughby, quien murió junto con sus cerca de 70 hombres durante el invierno de 1553-54 mientras buscaba un pasaje hacia el este al norte del continente asiático. El llamado pasaje del Noreste. En este caso el misterio fue parcial y rápidamente resuelto cuando durante el siguiente verano fueron encontrados sus barcos con todos los hombres a bordo. Todos estaban muertos, incluyendo el líder de la expedición. De acuerdo con los documentos, parece que todavía estaban vivos y en buenas condiciones en enero de 1554. Los pescadores rusos que encontraron el macabro escenario describieron lo que vieron de la siguiente manera:

"Los hombres estaban congelados en diversas posturas, como estatuas, algunas mientras escribían, con la pluma todavía en la mano, abriendo el cajón, platos, cucharas en la boca, etc. con los perros de abordo en la misma situación."

Como resultado de esta siniestra descripción, la creencia general es que la tripulación podría haberse envenenado por monóxido de carbono, quizás resultado de una mala combustión en un ambiente cerrado poco ventilado. Había suficiente comida en los barcos por lo que la muerte por inanición fue descartada.

Los barcos, el cuerpo de Willoughby y los diarios fueron recuperados por Richard Chancellor, el otro capitán que acompañó a Hugh al principio del fatídico viaje y que se separó de Hugh en un determinado punto. Los barcos de Willoughby naufragaron en Noruega y con ellos se fue al fondo del mar junto con los diarios la posibilidad de solventar el misterio.

Death of Hugh Willoughby
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Willoughby
La expedición Danesa de Jens Munk en 1619 tiene la segunda posición en este macabro podium con 61 muertes. Parece ser que gran parte de la tripulación podría haber muerto de Triquinosis en la vecinidad del Cabo Churchill en la bahía de Hudson. Aparentemente habían matado a un oso polar que podría haber tenido la enfermedad y al comer su carne, los hombres habrían caido enfermos uno por uno muriendo de forma irremediable. Algo similar le ocurrió a Salomon Andree en su expedición al Polo Norte de 1897 muchos años después. Munk, que por cierto sobrevivió a la odisea, dijo que sus hombres habían contraído una misteriosa enfermedad que no era escorbuto. Por desgracia, uno de los primeros en morir fue su cirujano, de manera que poco se pudo hacer por aplicar los adecuados cuidados a los enfermos.

Picture from the film "Jens Munk".
http://jensmunk.com/
James Knight es el tercero en la lista. Con 50 muertes, el protagonizó uno de los mayores misterios de la historia sobre expediciones polares. En 1719 comandó una expedición para explorar la bahía de Hudson. Expediciones posteriores, incluyendo la del famoso Samuel Hearne, oyeron los testimonios de los Inuit que contaban la historia de que los barcos de Knight habían naufragado en la costa oeste de la bahía y que las tripulaciones habían tenido que invernar en Marble island. Algunos de los hombres, unos 20, sobrevivieron un primer invierno pero por alguna razón no pudieron escapar o navegar hacia el sur o el este en busca de ayuda en los puestos comerciales de la Hudson Bay Company (HBC). Los testimonios decían que solamente cinco hombres habrían sobrevivido un segundo invierno y que murieron a lo largo de la primavera y verano de 1721. Un capitán de la HBC contó sin embargo una historia ligeramente diferente. En su versión acusaba a los nativos de haber masacrado a los supervivientes del naufragio. John Geiger y Owen Beattie llevaron a cabo una expedición arqueológica en la zona, podéis leerla en su libro Dead Silence. Sin embargo, según creo, no hubo resultados concluyentes que explicasen lo ocurrido.

La cuarta posición en el ranking es para la tercera expedición de Frobisher de 1610, en la cual hubo cerca de 40 muertes. Frobisher había llevado a cabo dos viajes previos, uno en 1576 donde perdió cinco hombres que desertaron del barco y cuyo destino se desconoce (los nativos le dijeron mas tarde a Frobisher que estos hombres habían pasado un invierno con ellos en su poblado y que el verano siguiente partieron hacia Inglaterra en su bote). En la tercera expedición la flota de Frobisher compuesta por 15 barcos fue sacudida por una violenta tormenta que hundió varios barcos.
Martin Frobisher fleet departing from England in 1578
http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/frobisher/frshi01e.shtml
Henry Hudson, cuyo nombre fue dado a la inmensa bahía ubicada al este del continente norte americano, es tristemente conocido por haber sido abandonado en la bahía de James, ubicada a su vez en el interior de la bahía de Hudson, en 1611. Hudson, junto con su hijo y otros siete hombres aún leales fueron forzados a ocupar un pequeño bote. Intentaron perseguir su barco durante un tiempo pero al final se hizo evidente que no lo podrían alcanzar. Se enviaron expediciones de rescate el siguiente año para encontrarlo, pero aparte de algunas pistas no muy claras, no se encontró ni rastro de ellos. Los amotinados tuvieron un encuentro violento con los nativos en la costa mientras se dirigían hacia el estrecho de la bahía.

Henry Hudson abandonment
https://global.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Hudson
Entonces, lo que tenemos aquí es que, si dejamos a un lado la desaparición de James Knight, el resto de tragedias no están directamente relacionadas con las duras condiciones del Ártico, sino con otras circunstancias que nada tienen que ver con el frío, los icebergs, la falta de caza, etc. La siguiente gran tragedia fue la de John Franklin, cuya expedición perdió 129 hombres incluyendo al mismo Franklin.

Es un número enorme de víctimas, el mas grande. Las noticias de la tragedia sobrepasaron las fronteras del Imperio Británico y conmovió al resto del mundo. Por supuesto, hubo otras grandes tragedias y naufragios después del de Franklin pero ninguno relacionado con las expediciones de búsqueda, la de George DeLong, Adolphus Greely, etc.


Entonces, ¿Es cierto que murieron mas hombres en las expediciones de rescate por Franklin que durante su propia expedición? Alcanzar la cifra de 129 significaría un altísimo ratio de bajas para las aproximadamente treinta expediciones que se lanzaron en su búsqueda, teniendo en cuenta que ninguna de ellas llegó a naufragar. Es cierto que algunos  de los barcos de rescate fueron abandonados en el hielo (ya contaré algún día esa historia), pero las tripulaciones fueron rescatadas por otros barcos que se encontraban en la zona y que no estaban atrapados por el hielo.

Si repasamos esas expediciones contaremos alrededor de 37 muertes. No es un número exacto, todavía tengo que leer algunas de las narraciones originales de la época y chequear el dato adecuadamente, pero no creo que sea muy diferente.

El número mas alto de víctimas pertenece a la expedición de Belcher de 1850 en la cual participaron cuatro barcos. Hubo diez muertes. Algunos de estos pobres hombres yacen en el pequeño cementerio ubicado en Dealy island.

Durante la expedición de rescate de James Ross de 1848 murieron siete hombres, casi todos ellos enterrados en Port Leopold. James Saunders en el North Star perdió a otros cuatro hombres cuyos cuerpos descansan en North Star bay. McLure también estuvo cerca de interpretar un papel de protagonista en esta trágica opera, pero milagrosamente escapó solo con cinco víctimas, tres de ellos enterrados en la isla de Banks, donde se hizo algún trabajo arqueológico.

RIchard Collinson perdió otros cinco hombres durante su intento de rescate por el este, pasando por el estrecho de Bering hacia la isla del rey Guillermo, en el corazón del archipielago Ártico Canadiense. Leopold McCLintock perdió otros tres hombres durante su famoso viaje en el Fox, que llegó a encontrar el único documento escrito de la expedición de Franklin y numerosos restos y tumbas pertenecientes a ella. Y finalmente Thomas Moore y Horatio Austin perdieron a un hombre cada uno de ellos.

De todas estas muertes, un buen número de ellas, son debidas al escorbuto y a la tuberculosis, las menos, debidas a accidentes como caídas, ahogamientos o a causa del frio. Un día de estos, no sé cuando, publicaré el listado con los nombres de todos estos hombres con la fecha, lugar y causa de la muerte. Será un buen homenaje para todos ellos. También merecen ser recordados, tanto como los tres famosos marineros de la expedición de Franklin que fueron encontrados y desenterrados en Beechey island.

miércoles, 21 de septiembre de 2016

DEATH IN THE ARCTIC: NUMBERS SPEAK

It has been said in several occasions that there were more men lost in the course of the expeditions which went after Franklin than in the Franklin expedition itself. That is an affirmation to which one has to wonder, could this possibly be true?

It can´t be denied that the Arctic has been the stage of a good number of tragedies since Europeans and Americans decided to penetrate its waters. The North sometimes behaves as a serial killer which uses all the tools at its hand to exterminate all those who dare to get into its dark waters, and we will see it has a huge variety of means to do that.

We will see also below that there were several expeditions, some of them were conducted as early as in the sixteen century, which disappeared in the Arctic shocking the world because of the magnitude of the disaster and because of the mistery which surrounded their uncertain fate. But none of them matched the numbers of the carnage happened during the Franklin expedition which got the dubious prize of being the expedition with the highest number of casualties of the history of Polar exploration. A record not beaten for any other expedition afterwards. 

The record, till John Franklin occupied the throne, was held by Hugh Willoughby, who died together with his about of 70 men during the winter of 1553-54 while searching for a passage to the east north of the Asia continent. The Northeast passage. In this case the mistery was partially and quickly solved when his ships were found soon the following summer with all the men inside, including the chief of the expedition, Hugh, and his journal. According to the journals, it seems they were still alive and well in january of 1554. The fishermen who found the two ships apparently described what they saw this way:

"The men were frozen in various postures, like statues, some in the act of writing, pen still in hand, opening a locker, or platter in hand, spoon in mouth, etc., with the dogs on board displaying the same phenomena."

Because of this creepy description it is the general believeng that they could have been poisoned by carbon monoxide. There were plenty of food on the ships, so death for starvation was discarded. 

The ships, corpse of Willoughby and the journals were recovered by Richard Chancellor, the other captain who accompanied Hugh at the beginning of that fateful trip and who split ways at some point of the journey. Willoughby ships wrecked in Norway and with them, went to the bottom of the sea, the journals and the solution of part of the mistery.
Death of Hugh Willoughby
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Willoughby
The Danish expedition in 1619 of Jens Munk has the second position in this macabre podium with 61 deaths. Jens Munk casualties may have died because of Trichinosis in the vecinity of Cape Churchill. Apparently they killed a Polar bear that caused the death of the most part of the men, similarly of what could have happened to Salomon Andree´s expedition many years after. Munk, who survived the odissey told that their men, and he included, had contracted a misterious disease which wasn´t scurvy. The premature death of his surgeon prevented him of taking the proper care that his men needed.

Picture from the film "Jens Munk".
http://jensmunk.com/
James Knight is the third in the list. With 50 death, he starred one of the biggest misteries in Polar history. In 1719 he commanded an expedition to explore Hudson Bay. Subsequent expeditions, including the famous Samuel Hearne, heard testimonies which tell the story that the ships had wrecked and that they had to winter in Marble island, in the west coast of the bay. Some of the men, about 20, survived a first winter but for some reason they couldn´t escape in boats or sail south or east looking for the safety the Forts in the area could have given them. Inuit testimony says that only five men survived another winter and died in 1721. Testimony from a Captain from the Hudson Bay Company tells however a different story which accuses the natives og that region of having killed Kinght´s crew,

The fourth position in the ranking is for Frobisher´s third expedition of 1610, on which there were about 40 deaths. Frobisher had performed two previous voyages one in 1576 where he lost five men who deserted the ships and whose fate is unknown (Inuit locals told to Frobisher later that they had spent the winter with their people and then left to England in their boat the following summer). This time Frobisher´s fleet of fifteen vessels was stricken by a heavy storm which sunk several of his ships.

Martin Frobisher fleet departing from England in 1578
http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/frobisher/frshi01e.shtml
Henry Hudson, whose name was given to the huge bay at the east of the North American continent, is sadly known for being abandoned in James bay (also in Hudson Bay) in 1611. He was put by force in a small boat together with his son and other seven loyal men in 1610. They tried to chase their ship for a while but it soon become apparent that they wouldn´t reach it. Rescue expeditions were sent to find him the next year but apart of some unclear clues, nothing was never heard of him again. Four other men died after the mutineers had abandoned Hudson in a fight against the natives in the east coast of Hudson bay.

Henry Hudson abandonment
https://global.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Hudson
So what we see here is that apart of the disappearance of James Knight, the rest of tragedies are not directly due to the harsh Arctic conditions but to other circunstances. The next big tragedy was that of John Franklin whose expedition lost 129 men including Franklin himself. That´s a great number of people, the biggest. The news of the tragedy overcome British empire boundaries and moved the rest of the world.  Of course, there were other big tragedies and shipwrecks after, but not related with any searching expedition,  those of DeLong, Greely, etc. and never as dramatic as Franklin's one.

Then, is it true that there would have died as many people as died in the Franklin expedition during the subsequent searching expeditions? Matching that number would imply that, the about of these thirty expeditions, should have had very high rates of casualties, which they, in general  terms hadn´t.

Reviewing the expeditions which got into the Arctic to look for Franklin I have only counted 37 deaths. This is not a precise number, I still have to check properly some overland expeditions and the smaller ones but I don´t think the final number will be too different.

The highest number of deaths belongs to Belcher´s expedition of 1850 on which participated four ships. There were ten deaths, some of those unlucky men lie in a small cementery in Dealy island. During James Ross attempt to find Franklin in 1848 he lost seven men, almost all of them buried in Port Leopold. James Saunders in the North Star lost another four men whose bodies rest in North Star bay. McLure was also veey close to play a main role in this tragic opera but miraculously escaped with just five men death, Three of them were buried in Banks island where some archaeological work has been done. Richard Collinson lost another five men during his east approach passing by Bering strait to King William Island, I am not sure where the bodies of those men were buried, will work about it soon. Leopold McClintock lost another three men during the voyage of the Fox and finally Thomas Moore and Horatio Austin lost one man each.

Of all these deaths, a good number are due to scurvy and consumption, the less are due to accidents like falls or drowning or because of the cold. I will post one of these days a more thorough post with the list of the men who died during these expeditions with their names and data of the places where they were buried and with the causes of their deaths. It will be a good homage to all of them, they deserve too to be remembered with the same intensity that the men buried in Beechey island and the rest of the men lost during the last Franklin expedition.