The North West Passage & The Hand Of Franklin

The North West Passage With Sir John Franklin

The Northwest Passage is a famed sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through a group of Canadian islands known as the Arctic Archipelago. European explorers first began to search for the Northwest Passage in the fifteenth century, but treacherous conditions and sea ice made this route unpredictable and potentially fatal.

The North West Passage and the hand of franklin

Sir John Franklin The North West Passage artwork by Solarglide

The North West Passage, A Route From Europe To Asia

The idea of a Northwest sea route from Europe to East Asia dates back to at least the second century A.D with several failed attempts to follow. The most tragic Northwest Passage expedition was led by English Royal Navy Officer and Arctic Explorer – Sir John Franklin in 1845. Franklin’s expedition set sail with 128 men onboard two ships, The HMS Erebus and The HMS Terror. The last time anyone saw either the Terror or Erebus was in July 1845, when two Whaling vessels spotted them across The Baffin Island.

“The Terror & The HMS Erebus”

Unfortunately, both ships vanished without a trace. Search parties continued to look for the ships eleven years after they disappeared, but found no trace. The fate of the missing crew has intrigued historians and adventurers for many years, and was popularised by the powerful supernatural drama – ‘The Terror’ produced by South Shields born Director – Ridley Scott. It is believed both ships became ice bound and locked within the ‘Ice City’ of the Northwest Passage, and then abandoned by their crews.

It was also believed the crew resorted to Cannibalism however, the British press of the time suspected this would strike fear into unsuspecting Victorians and dismissed the story as mere fabrication.

‘The Northwest Passage’ Song by Stan Rogers has caught the imagination of the the team here at Solarglide, and we strongly believe maritime history should be re-imagined and ‘kept alive’ within our Social Media.

{ Chorus }

Ah, For just one time

I would take the Northwest Passage

To find the hand of Franklin

Reaching the Beafort Sea

Tracing one warm line

Through a land so wild and savage

And make a Northwest Passage to the sea.

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