15 Unsolved Mysteries People Can’t Stop Thinking About

After two years, people got worried and search parties were sent out. They find an abandoned camp on Beachy Island and the graves of three men nearby, all members of the expedition. In 1859, after Parliament suspended the search, Franklin’s wife sent a private search. On King William Island, the crew finds a cabin with two messages inside – one good, one bad. The voyage slip was dated May 1847 and stated that the voyage went so well that they “wintered” on Beech Island, the research party found. The second, dated just two weeks after the first message, clearly indicated that 24 members of the expedition had died, including Franklin. He informed them that the rest of the crew would head south. In addition, another body was found.

More information about the expedition was revealed only in 2014. Finally, one of the ships – LN Erebus – is found. She was in Queen Maud Bay, submerged in about 36 feet of water. After two years it became horror It is located south of King William Island. Even more confusing, the ships were in the wrong place. They were 60 or more miles from where the messages said they would be.

There is still much mystery surrounding exactly why this caused such a rapid change between the first and second letter, or why none of the 128 passengers were heard from again. Inuit oral traditions indicate that ships were stuck in the ice and men died slowly. Research today indicates that many died from diseases such as scurvy, and others resorted to cannibalism in order to survive.

You can learn more about shipping here.

Suggested by: Anonymous