Polar Record 39 (208): 1–18 (2003). Printed in the United Kingdom. DOI: 10.

1017/S0032247402002723 1

Clairvoyants and mediums search for Franklin

W. Gillies Ross
Department of Geography, Bishop’s University, Lennoxville, Quebec J1M 1Z7, Canada
Received March 2002

ABSTRACT. The search for Sir John Franklin (1847–59) coincided with a growing interest in mesmerism and modern
spiritualism in Britain. Several clairvoyants, claiming to ‘see’ Franklin’s ships and crews in the Arctic, made statements
about the status and location of the overdue expedition, and at least three mediums described communications with
Franklin’s spirit. Although the Admiralty provided assistance to Dr Haddock, the mesmerist of Emma, the Bolton
clairvoyant, they did not take any action on the basis of her statements, probably because the various accounts were
contradictory and could not be verified, and because the Admiralty Lords were sceptical of paranormal phenomena.
Lady Franklin, on the other hand, visited clairvoyants and altered the plans for her search expeditions under Forsyth and
Kennedy on the basis of a revelation. Recently, an American medium has described more than two dozen conversations
with the spirits of Sir John and Lady Franklin.

Contents range of ordinary knowledge there existed a mysterious

Introduction 1 force that, if properly exploited, could cure diseases and
Clairvoyants and Franklin 2 provide other practical benefits. Mesmer used hypnotism
Parker Snow’s vision 9 to harness the invisible power, and later another German,
Weesy Coppin’s revelation 9 Baron Karl von Reichenbach, experimented with magnet-
Mediums and Franklin 10 ism, electricity, heat, light, crystallization, and chemical
The ebb and flow of belief 13 attraction, to facilitate access to what he called the ‘vital
Influence on the Franklin search 15 force’ or ‘odyle.’ His influential work was translated into
Acknowledgements 17 English by William Gregory, Professor of Chemistry at
References 17 the University of Edinburgh, and published during the
Franklin search (Reichenbach 1850).
‘Men may utterly disbelieve in the existence of so strange In its broadest sense the term ‘mesmerism’ referred
a faculty as clairvoyance; but it must be admitted that there to a spectrum of phenomena, all apparently derived
is something in the whole art and mystery of mesmerism from the supposed vital force or influence. (Other terms,
which baffles philosophy and defies comprehension.’ more or less synonymous, included ‘animal magnetism,’
(The Aberdeen Herald 13 April 1850) ‘zoistic magnestism,’ ‘electro-biology,’ and ‘electro-
physiology.’) Among the related phenomena, the most im-
portant in the context of the search for Franklin was clair-
Introduction voyance — ‘the direct and immediate perception of absent
The search for Sir John Franklin coincided with a or distant objects without the use of the eyes’ (Gregory
remarkable surge in paranormal phenomena in Britain, 1909: 34). The latter sort, in which far-off things are
and, inevitably, some of the persons who believed in the perceived, has sometimes been called ‘clairvoyance in
existence of extraordinary powers of perception, either in space’ (Tischner 1925: 2), but the term ‘travelling clair-
themselves or in others, were intrigued and challenged voyance’ (Guilley 1991: 112) is even more apt because
by the sensational mystery of his disappearance. But clairvoyants claimed they could undertake a mental
as the pronouncements of clairvoyants and mediums voyage to any place designated by their mesmerists.
about Franklin were virtually impossible to confirm or In a narrower sense ‘mesmerism’ referred simply to
refute unless the rescue of Franklin was actually effected, what the Scottish doctor James Braid termed ‘hypnotism’
the planners of search expeditions faced a dilemma. in the 1840s. The revelation that a patient in a trance
Should they ignore such statements (and risk losing an could be made insensible to pain had aroused the interest
opportunity of finding Franklin) or should they act on the of medical doctors, notably John Elliotson (1843) and
information (and risk sending search expeditions to the James Esdaile (1975), both of whom carried out many
wrong place)? painless surgical operations using the mesmeric trance
In the first half of the nineteenth century, Britain (thereby incurring the opposition of conservative elements
was introduced to ‘mesmerism.’ It had originated with in British medical circles). The mesmeric or hypnotic
Friedrich Mesmer (1733–1815), a German whose thera- trance was also used frequently to facilitate the process of
peutic treatments (and colourful theatrical effects) had clairvoyance (Fig. 1), and as mesmerised subjects could be
become hugely popular in Parisian society, despite the made to exhibit curious and amusing forms of behaviour,
condemnation of the French Academy of Sciences in the technique was often used to titillate audiences in
1784. Mesmer’s chief tool was what is today called commercial stage performances (Fig. 2).
hypnotism, sometimes induced with the aid of magnets. An entirely different sort of paranormal phenomenon
He and his numerous followers believed that beyond the reached Britain from the United States. The famous
2 ROSS

Fig. 1. Mesmerism was used in the treatment of illnesses and as an anaesthetic during operations. It also helped
clairvoyant subjects perceive objects beyond the range of normal vision, including Franklin in the Arctic. (The
Wellcome Library, London)

‘Rochester rappings’ — apparent communications from In 1849, when The Aberdeen Herald (14 July 1849:
the spirit world to the teen-aged sisters Maggie and Katie 111) reported that Lord Ducie had become a believer in
Fox in 1848 — convinced many people that there truly psychic phenomena and would soon become president
was life after death, and that they could get in touch with of the Mesmeric Institute in Bristol, it suggested that if
departed relatives and friends through mediums. In an some people really possessed such extraordinary powers
age when technology and materialism seemed to have they should turn them to some useful practical ends. Why,
undermined religious faith, a new ‘modern spiritualism’ for example, did they not explain what had happened to
was suddenly born, and it exploded into prominence. Sir John Franklin? Whether or not this article (which was
Within two years there were 100 mediums in New York doubtless published in other papers as well) motivated
City and more than 50 spiritualist circles in Philadelphia some clairvoyants to focus their powers on the Franklin
(Brandon 1984: 43). When two well-known American mystery is not certainly known, but at least one of them
mediums, Mrs W. R. Hayden and David Dunglas Home, had already begun doing precisely that, and several more
arrived in Britain in 1852 and 1855, respectively, the were to follow.
spiritualistic movement ‘swept like a tidal wave across
the kingdom, from John o’ Groat’s to Land’s End’
(Wyndham 1937: 2). Clairvoyants and Franklin
If clairvoyants could really ‘travel’ mentally to any Francis Leopold McClintock stated that ‘In the early days
destination, however remote and unfamiliar, and ‘see’ of the Franklin search there were clairvoyants, visions,
what was happening there, then presumably they could dreams, and revelations in the greatest abundance — a
not only reveal the location and condition of Franklin’s large number came from America’ (quoted in Lloyd-
ships, but could also determine the health and morale Jones 2001: 30). Unfortunately, he did not elaborate,
of the men, the state of the sea ice, the extent of food and no statements about Franklin by American clair-
resources, and the intentions of the commander. And if voyants have come to light. In Britain, on the other
mediums could really hold discourse with spirits, they hand, several clairvoyants are known to have made
could discover who on Franklin’s expedition had died pronouncements about Franklin and some of the searching
and under what circumstances. expeditions.
 CLAIRVOYANTS AND MEDIUMS SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN 3

Fig. 2. As mesmerised subjects could be made to exhibit amusing forms of behaviour, the
technique was often used in commercial stage performances. (The Wellcome Library, London)

Ellen Dawson her brother-in-law, Ashurst Majendie, who was later

Ellen was described by Miss Boyle, a former maid of an active member of the London Mesmeric Infirmary
honour to Queen Adelaide, as ‘a young, pale, sickly- (Anonymous 1852–53: 213). In May 1849 Majendie
looking girl’ (Esdaile 1975: 91), but she displayed accompanied Lady Franklin and her niece Sophia Cracroft
remarkable powers and had a favourable reputation as a to Hands’ residence in hopes of getting news of Sir John.
clairvoyant in upper class circles. At the home of Ellen’s After entering a trance, Ellen ‘travelled’ a long way and
controller, Mr J. Hands, in London’s Grosvenor Square, ‘saw’ two ships surrounded by ice, and several men, one
Miss Boyle watched as he put the girl into a ‘mesmeric of whom appeared to resemble Sir John and who had
sleep’ by pointing directly at her for about three minutes, portraits of two women hanging in his cabin, apparently
after which she ‘travelled’ to Normandy, Le Havre, and Queen Victoria and Lady Franklin. Not far off were two
Rouen, telling what she ‘saw’ in each place. Then she other ships, apparently the search expedition under Sir
described in detail Miss Boyle’s own house in Somerset, James Ross. It was a vision full of promise and Ellen
both inside and out. It was a thoroughly convincing supplied details that made it all seem so real. The men
demonstration. were dressed in fur garments, had salt beef and biscuit
Ellen’s talents were sometimes directed towards prac- to eat, and smelled of brandy (clearly things were not
tical problems such as theft, and her successes enhanced going all that badly). In the description of the session by
her reputation. When a valuable brooch went missing in Woodward (1951: 266–267), there is no mention of the
November 1848 its owner consulted a mesmerist, E.H. location of Franklin’s ships or those of Ross, so perhaps
Barth, who referred the lady to Hands. Under a mesmeric Ellen did not reveal this.
trance Ellen was able to identify the thief (a servant) and Sophia Cracroft’s personal record of the session,
locate the brooch in a pawn shop (Barth 1849–50). A few written on 28 May, reveals a few other details. Hands was
years later Barth mesmerised Ellen at his own house, to assisted by another man, also a mesmerist. Ellen, ‘a very
solve another jewelry theft and to locate a missing husband diminutive young girl,’ declined to speak directly to Lady
(J.A.S. 1852–53). Franklin because she did not wish to upset her, so while
Among Ellen Dawson’s clients was Lady Franklin. Jane remained in one room (either alone or with the second
She may have been introduced to Ellen and Hands by mesmerist), Ellen, Sophia, Majendie, and Hands went
4 ROSS

into an adjacent room. Sophia sat beside Ellen and asked question, the spirit explained that ‘Franklin Island’ was
the questions. Ellen’s responses dealt mainly with the northwest of Melville Island and closer to Melville Island
appearance of the ships and officers, but in disappointingly than to Bering Strait. ‘What is the longitude of Franklin
general terms; whenever Sophia pressed for more specific Isd.?’ was the next question from Jane or Sophia, but
information, clouds suddenly obscured the girl’s vision. evidently Orion’s attention span had been exceeded, for
However, at the end Ellen reassured Sophia that ‘all is the abrupt reply was, ‘I do not know — good bye’
quite right’ (Cracroft 1849–57: 1). (Cracroft 1849–57: 4). Evidently, this was not Lady
Sophia also described another session with Ellen on Franklin’s first visit to the Morrisons, for when Jane or
or about 18 November 1849: ‘I clasped her hand in my Sophia asked whether Franklin was at the same place as
right, put my left over, & said I felt sure she wd. tell me last Monday, and what its latitude was, the spirit answered
the truth — all she knew. She agreed but said she cd. with undisguised impatience, ‘That was told last time.’
not talk to Lady F about it, could not bear to tell Jane
what she saw.’ What she claimed to see was Sir John’s Emma, the Bolton clairvoyant
ships ‘so blocked up [by ice] that they cannot get out, One of the medical men fascinated by the mysteries
unless a ship goes to help them.’ This vision, coming at a of mesmerism was Joseph W. Haddock, a surgeon-
time when the hand of winter was already pressing firmly apothecary and later doctor of medicine in Bolton. In
upon the Arctic regions and most waterways were frozen the autumn of 1846 he hired a 20-year-old Worcester girl,
solid, was doubtless discouraging; it would be eight or Emma L., as a domestic servant. Haddock was interested
nine months before a search expedition could enter the in mesmerism and phrenology, and he discovered that
Arctic archipelago. But at least Franklin was alive and Emma, when in a mesmeric trance, possessed clairvoyant
well, and had plenty to eat. As to the best way of reaching powers. After private and public demonstrations of her
the ice-bound ships, Ellen suggested an approach from talents in 1848, she solved some cases of theft and
the west [via Bering Strait], ‘because they are nearer that missing persons, one of which was summarised in The
way’ (Cracroft 1849–57: 2). Zoist (Elliotson 1849–50). Her reputation was enhanced
Writing to someone (probably her mother and sisters) by the publicity attending her exploits, which were
who had expressed doubts about consulting a clairvoyant, written up in the Bolton Chronicle, the Liverpool Courier,
Sophia explained that the object was not to look into The Manchester Guardian, and The Times (Elliotson
the future, but ‘simply to ascertain that wh. now is by 1849–50).
means of an extended state of vision.’ If Ellen had made Haddock (1975: 144–145) explained how he and
a few mistakes — and it appears that she had — this was Emma became involved in the Franklin search. ‘I was
only natural for ‘one who is searching for truth’ (Cracroft applied to by a naval gentleman, a private friend of
1849–57: 2). But a few months later Sophia (who always Sir John Franklin, to know if I thought any light could
reflected Jane’s opinions) appears to have developed a be thrown on the fate of his friend, by the aid of my
degree of scepticism about this experience, or perhaps clairvoyante. My reply, in substance was, that judging
simply a dislike for Hands. Replying to a request from from past experience, I thought if I had some writing
her mother and sisters for the name of a clairvoyant for of Sir John’s, she could say whether he was dead or
a friend to consult, Sophia told them that Hands was a alive.’ The ‘naval gentleman’ was Captain Alexander
strange character, advised them to have nothing to do Maconochie, RN, who had been a professor of geography
with him, and suggested a Madame Baumann in Wimpole at the University of London and secretary of the Royal
Street instead (Cracroft 1849a). Geographical Society (Woodward 1951: 192). In 1836 he
had accompanied Franklin as private secretary when he
Lieutenant Morrison’s son took up the post of lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen’s
Lady Franklin and Sophia also consulted Lieutenant Land. Despite an unfortunate estrangement there, when
Morrison and his son (Lloyd-Jones 2001: 29). Judging Maconochie’s efforts to reform the prison system reflected
from Sophia’s remarks on 9 February 1850, the son, only badly on Sir John, who was later recalled to England, the
13 years old, was the clairvoyant. His father relayed Maconochies and Franklins had remained on good terms.
questions from visitors to the boy, who used, as a scrying Maconochie himself was interested in spiritualism and
device, a crystal ball the size of an orange, set on top of had already questioned clairvoyants in London and Paris
a tumbler. Lieutenant Morrison claimed that the ball had about Franklin, apparently without satisfactory results.
been made in India in the seventh century by a famous He sent Haddock a sample of Sir John’s writing to help
astrologer and magician, and that it would show images or Emma make contact, and in September 1849 he travelled
words of two unusually helpful spirits, Orion and Gego. to Bolton, attended at least three of her sessions, posed
After some of the people present asked about their dead or meaningful questions about the missing explorer, and
missing loved ones, Jane or Sophia (it is not clear which) came away impressed with her reliability. Thereafter,
asked about Franklin, and Orion provided some very he followed Emma’s pronouncements about Franklin
encouraging information. Sir John was not only alive and closely, through Haddock’s letters and newspaper reports.
well, but he was making his way homeward from ‘Franklin And, importantly, he kept the Admiralty informed,
Island’ with sledges and ‘ice boats.’ In response to a sending them copies of his correspondence with Haddock
 CLAIRVOYANTS AND MEDIUMS SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN 5

during a period of several months (Maconochie 1849– (Cracroft 1849c). What particular information Sophia and
50). Normally the Admiralty would probably have paid Jane considered to be evidence of a ‘diseased mind’
no attention to accounts of clairvoyants’ revelations, but or ‘over excited nerves’ was not explained, but in one
Maconochie had all the right credentials, so he was a man session Emma had described bodies underneath the snow,
they could trust. a leaping animal with black and white stripes, some
Maconochie was also valuable to Haddock. With tangled forests, wild cattle and wild men (Historic Times
the cooperation of Captain W.A.B. Hamilton, Second (London) 12 October 1849) — a rather curious mix of
Secretary of the Admiralty, he sent a chart of the polar fabulous and alarming things that might easily provoke
regions, news about the search, letters written by Franklin, such a diagnosis.
Crozier, and other officers on the expedition, and by Haddock had a dozen or more sessions with Emma
Saunders of HMS North Star. He even sent a lock between 21 September 1849 and 15 September 1850.
of Franklin’s hair (presumably obtained from Lady Like Ellen Dawson, she stated that Franklin and some of
Franklin). According to Haddock, these objects would his men were still alive, and that rescue ships were not far
help Emma connect with the men of the various expedi- off, but she also revealed what Ellen apparently did not —
tions, and at the same time enable him to test her accuracy Franklin’s location. In a session in September 1849, when
(Maconochie 1849–50). In retrospect, they could also she ‘travelled’ to the place, she noted the difference in
have enabled Haddock to fabricate plausible ‘revelations’ local time between Bolton and Franklin’s ships, which
from Emma. could then be translated into longitude. According to
Judging from a few marginal remarks on Haddock’s her information, Franklin was in northwest Hudson Bay,
letters (forwarded by Maconochie), the Admiralty Lords about 85◦ W, apparently making his way to Churchill on
were sceptical, even contemptuous, about Emma’s revel- foot, but he intended to winter in the vicinity before
ations. When Haddock wrote ‘Emma has been strikingly proceeding. This location provided a potential target
correct in her description of these gentlemen’ [officers (albeit a vague one) for prospective search expeditions, but
on the various expeditions], a caustic Admiralty note re- evidently Franklin intended to give them a merry chase,
marked ‘Strikingly correct certainly — a perfect transcript for soon afterward Emma saw him in Prince Regent
of the descriptions I wrote,’ and then advised ‘take the Inlet, then at Lowther Island in Barrow Strait, and finally
description of Mr Saunders, whose description I’d not north of the Parry Islands (Historic Times (London)
sent & which is anything but strikingly correct.’ When 12 October 1849; Dundee Advertiser 26 October 1849:
Haddock wrote that, according to Emma, HMS North 1; Haddock 1851). One newspaper gave an additional
Star had arrived in Barrow Strait after James Ross’ two location, northeast Hudson Bay, but this may have been
ships had left, and had reached a position ‘further west an error (Dundee Advertiser 5 October 1849: 2).
than him,’ a minute said ‘Has proved wholly incorrect.’ Rationally, the succession of locations cited by Emma
When Haddock wrote ‘I should like to know what Captain (Fig. 3) should have given rise to suspicion and despair
Hamilton thinks of the probabilities of Emma’s report,’ rather than confidence and hope. Why would Franklin,
a minute pointedly said ‘I know what I think.’ At from a position approximately 400 miles from a safe
one point the exclamation ‘Humbug!’ appeared in the refuge at Fort Churchill in late September, suddenly
margin (Maconochie 1849–50). Although the men at the reverse direction and head north as winter was closing
Admiralty do not seem to have placed any reliance in in? And how could he possibly have travelled from
Emma’s revelations, they were obliged to take the time to Hudson Bay to Barrow Strait, a straight-line distance of
read and assess Haddock’s letters and various newspaper about 700 miles, in the 18 days between the two positions
clippings on the matter, and this was time that could have cited? With the inevitable changes of course to circumvent
been much better spent in other aspects of the search. natural obstacles, the journey would have required an
During a trip to Scotland, Lady Franklin and Sophia average of more than 40 miles per day — impossible
Cracroft happened to read in a newspaper (evidently The for a party of exhausted men walking over snow and ice,
Manchester Guardian) a letter about Emma’s visions, hauling their camping gear, food, and fuel on sledges. The
submitted by Maconochie. Writing to her sister, Sophia healthy man-hauling parties of the search expeditions,
declared, ‘We have had the statement by Captn. Macon- on generous rations, covered only about 11 miles a day
achie [sic] of all that passed between him & the Bolton (Mackinnon 1985).
clairvoyante & do not in any way rely upon it. It is a very However, when hope hangs by a slim thread reason
fanciful story, both as regards the clairvoyante, & that may vanish. After expressing scepticism about the initial
wh. she reveals’ (Cracroft 1849b). ‘I do not know of revelation by the Bolton clairvoyant, Sophia Cracroft
any trickery in the matter,’ she added in a subsequent changed her mind when a more appealing location
letter, ‘& do not believe there has been any. But after was cited in a subsequent session. With undisguised
reading the statement made by Capt. Maconachie. . .of enthusiasm, she then wrote, ‘in a Dundee paper of today
the proceedings, we come to the conclusion, I perhaps we see the statement of another consultation with this
even more strongly than my aunt, that there was a girl, & I am very much inclined to place confidence in
diseased imagination, or over excited nerves, at work, this statement. . .I will tell you that she says my uncle
& that therefore her statements sd. not be depended upon’ is getting home & is at Lowther Island, in 78 1/2 W.
6 ROSS

Fig. 3. Franklin’s location according to clairvoyants, 1849–51. Another clairvoyant report,

apparently fraudulent, placed Franklin on Somerset Island (near no. 2).

long’ (Cracroft 1849c). Her view undoubtedly reflected are aware of — so decided a signal success’ (New-York
that of Lady Franklin. One wonders what they thought Daily Times 14 October 1851: 2).
later, when Emma put Franklin hundreds of miles farther The credibility of Gregory’s statement was accepted in
north, beyond the Parry Islands, where no European had England as well. A newspaper in what is now Sandwich,
ever gone. Ontario, The Voice of the Fugitive (5 November 1851),
Emma kept her paranormal vision focused on quoted The Times (London) as stating, ‘Extraordinary
Franklin. Professor Gregory, the translator of Reichen- as this story is, the evidence for it is too reliable to be
bach’s work and an investigator of psychic phenomena, questioned for a moment.’
was present at a session on 17 February 1851. As he Gregory was present at another of Emma’s sessions
described in his book (Gregory 1851: 306) she ‘saw’ in August 1851 and consulted another clairvoyant at
the ships of Austin’s search expedition at a longitude of about the same time. Amazingly, ‘both these clairvoyants,
95◦ 45ı W, and those of Franklin a hundred miles farther unknown to each other, agreed in stating that the ships
west at longitude 101◦ 45ı . Several months later it was were fixed in ice, that Sir John was alive, looking anxious
learned that at that very moment Austin’s ships had been and thoughtful, and that a good many of his companions
frozen into the landfast ice of Barrow Strait near Griffith had died since I had last inquired’ (The Aberdeen Herald
Island — at almost exactly the longitude she had cited. If 3 January 1852: 2). Evidently, there was no lack of sub-
her revelation had so accurately revealed Austin’s location jects for Gregory’s research; he claimed to have examined
(unknown in Britain at the time) then her information four other clairvoyants repeatedly and several others once.
about Franklin’s whereabouts could be correct too! An Whether or not they all could perceive Sir John Franklin
American newspaper remarked, ‘Here, then, we have a in the Arctic ice is not known.
prophecy giving precise numbers, and even distinctly
recorded previous to the time when any knowledge of Jenny
the event referred to could have been had; and which A 20-year-old clairvoyant named Jenny went public on
turns out to be quite correct. Clairvoyance, which has the matter of Sir John Franklin in the spring of 1850. She
been getting somewhat into disrepute, will probably be was a Scottish-born domestic servant who had been in the
looking up hereafter. It has never before had — that we employ of a Liverpool couple for a year. Her master,
 CLAIRVOYANTS AND MEDIUMS SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN 7

an amateur mesmerist, had occasionally demonstrated Ellen Dawson. Evidently, traffic was heavy on the flight
the girl’s supernatural powers to a few friends, but after path between England and Franklin’s ice-bound ship.
the Liverpool Mercury heard of the matter, he agreed to
‘Captain Hudson’s girl’
let reporters attend a session and observe the proceedings.
The Liverpool Mercury noted that were two clairvoyants
According to the reporters’ verbatim record of the
in Liverpool and it told its readers:
proceedings, Jenny ‘travelled’ a long way to a ship that
we shall, as opportunities arise, examine both of them
had been beset in Arctic ice for three or four years.
on the same cases or events; and as the examinations
On board she ‘saw’ Sir John and a dozen companions.
will be conducted and reported by short-hand writers
They had the flesh of fish, birds, and polar bear to eat,
belonging to our establishment, this will probably
and had been able to reserve some of the ship’s provisions
be received as a guarantee of their faithfulness. We
for future needs. Some men were alive but below deck
pledge ourselves that the records shall be as correct
at the time, and others had died. Although sympathetic
as human ability can make them. As to the revelations
to their predicament, Jenny candidly exclaimed, ‘Why, it
themselves, we leave the public to place what reliance
is a wonder they don’t try to get out. They are a set of
upon them they please. (reprinted in The Aberdeen
stupid blockheads’ (The Aberdeen Herald 13 April 1850,
Herald 13 April 1850, supplement: 1)
supplement: 1, from the Liverpool Mercury).
The identity of the second clairvoyant girl in Liverpool,
Visible in Jenny’s supernatural vision were other
whose revelation had evidently been described in an
ships trying to reach Franklin and, on land a thousand
earlier issue of the Liverpool paper (probably between
miles away, native people whom she described as ‘wild
1 and 10 April 1850), has not yet come to light, but she
customers’ with ‘wild beasts’ skins on them for clothing.’
may be the one referred to in the above account as ‘Captain
She agreed that they must be ‘Esquimaux.’
Hudson’s girl.’ Presumably, Hudson was her mesmerist —
Jenny noted that the time on Franklin’s ship was
another instance of a naval or military man controlling a
10 AM. At that moment it was 9:47 PM in Liverpool.
female clairvoyant.
Although not mentioned in the article, this time difference
A few weeks later, the Daily News (3 May 1850) of
(10.8 hours) translates into 162◦ of longitude west
Saint John, New Brunswick, remarked, ‘Recently a girl in
from Liverpool. As Liverpool is located 3◦ west of
Liverpool, in a clairvoyante state, has been making revel-
Greenwich, Franklin’s ship was on the meridian of 165◦ W,
ations somewhat similar to those of the Bolton lady.’ The
that is to say, somewhere on a north–south line running
girl had claimed to see Franklin, looking ‘sad and wear-
close to Point Hope, Alaska. The latitude gave her some
ied,. . .poorly and tired, and almost worn out with hopes
difficulty, however. She said that the ship was 300 miles
deferred.’ His ships, ‘dirty and battered,’ were surrounded
from the North Pole, but then she thought it might be
by ice, but the men were bravely cutting through in an
3000 miles, or. . .perhaps it was only 200. (Three thou-
effort to advance towards the west. Despite the obvious
sands miles from the Pole on the meridian of 165◦ W
uncertainties of ice navigation, Franklin confidently
would be half way to the Equator in the Pacific Ocean;
believed he would be able to reach England in ‘six months
the other distances would put the ship within 5◦ of the
and three or four days.’ The expedition had met natives,
Pole.) But when asked to name a place near Franklin’s
whom she ungenerously described as ‘wild, stupid, and
ship, she said, ‘Why it is lying to the north of a place
uncommunicative.’ This unnamed clairvoyant (who again
called Behring’s Straits’ (which eliminated the figure of
may have been ‘Captain Hudson’s girl’) declared that no
3000 miles). Jenny proposed a rescue method that had
search expeditions would find him, and she was pessi-
probably not occurred to the Admiralty — send three
mistic (but very close to the truth) concerning the utiliz-
shiploads of salt to the area to melt the ice and free the
ation of the Northwest Passage: ‘What can be the use of
vessel. When asked where exactly the salt ships should go,
this road? It ought never to have been sailed. It will never
her deficient sense of geography again became apparent.
be sailed again.’
Just send the ships to the edge of the ice, she advised, and
they will see Franklin. (This might have been difficult. A John Park
ship reaching the margin of the polar pack ice north of According to The Manchester Guardian (15 May 1850),
Bering Strait would still be a thousand miles away from reprinting an article published in The Aberdeen Herald,
the closer of the Arctic positions cited by Jenny. To see a clairvoyant 22-year-old tailor named John Park in
Franklin’s ship would have required Jenny’s paranormal Peterhead had been mesmerised by one William Reid
vision.) on 22 April. Reid’s account, in the form of a letter to
Near the end of her trance, as Jenny was making her the editor, described how Park ‘travelled’ to Fury Beach
way homeward, she ran into a fierce squall that impeded (on the east coast of Somerset Island) and visited both of
her progress. ‘Are you sailing, then?’ she was asked. She Franklin’s ships. He found the expedition in remarkably
replied, ‘Oh no; I am in the air.’ Had she seen anyone else good shape, the men busy hunting, fishing, repairing some
on her voyage? was the next question. She answered, ‘I ice damage to one vessel, and communicating with native
passed one woman going. . .She told me she was from people. On his way back to Scotland, Park boarded a
London, and I said I was from Liverpool. She is away after Peterhead whaler, the Hamilton Ross, at ‘Old Greenland’
him.’ This was a reference to another clairvoyant, possibly (the Davis Strait/Baffin Bay region). He learned that the
8 ROSS

ship had secured 100 tons of oil and that her second requests made by the minister, Smith then ‘travelled’ to
mate, David Cardno, had injured his hand sealing. On the various places and described them in detail. P.H. confessed
following day, after being put into a trance again by Reid, to Gregory that his scepticism ‘received a considerable
he returned to the Arctic and ‘saw’ Franklin in bed with shock.’ In the face of such convincing demonstrations of
hymn and prayer books at his side. On his way home Park the man’s powers of perception it was hard to stay away
again visited Peterhead whalers, stopping on board the from the subject of Franklin, so Smith was sent off in
Hamilton Ross and the Traveller, and conversing with search. He ‘found the ships Erebus and Terror, spelling
Captain David Gray of the Eclipse. the names of each on the stern of the vessel.’ Both ships
The Aberdeen Herald, in which the article first were fast in the ice; ‘those on board were alive, but in low
appeared, noted that Cardno — a real whaleman — spirits,’ with little hope of being extricated. No location
had in fact injured his hand while on the Hamilton was given, and P.H. later regretted that he had not pursued
Ross, and that Captain Gray — a well-known whaling the subject more intently.
captain — had actually been on board that ship. Assessing
the reliability of the report, the newspaper commented, An Australian clairvoyant
‘we refrain from saying more than that this affair is One of the unresolved questions about clairvoyance was
either an extraordinary fact, an extraordinary fraud, or the effect of distance. Gregory recognized a sequence
an extraordinary coincidence. Charity and caution lead us of stages in which an individual perceived objects at
to adopt, ad interim, the latter alternative.’ progressively greater distances. In the sixth, or ‘travelling
What the newspaper did not notice about this ‘extra- stage,’ he said, the clairvoyant ‘visits different places and
ordinary coincidence,’ however, was that although the describes them, as well as the persons in them’ (Gregory
ships and persons mentioned in Park’s alleged clairvoy- 1909: 34). A particular person might advance from one
ance were authentic, the Eclipse, Harrison Ross, and stage to a more advanced one, and the most gifted might
Traveller did not sail to the Davis Strait (‘Old Greenland’) reach a very high intensity of perception. But every
region in 1850, but rather to the whaling grounds near clairvoyant had limits, and for some the travelling stage
Spitsbergen — nowhere near Park’s route from the North might be unattainable. When William Scoresby junior,
American Arctic to Scotland. The only two Peterhead whose scientific investigations of terrestrial magnetism
ships to exploit the Davis Strait/Baffin Bay region were the had led him into the murkier waters of animal mag-
Victor and the Enterprise, neither of which was mentioned netism (1849), suggested that clairvoyance — if such a
in the account (Arbuthnot n.d.). This suggests that the phenomenon really existed — could not possibly extend
episode was probably a hoax contrived by the man who over great distances, The Zoist vigorously protested. ‘Why
called himself William Reid. should great distance annihilate effect?’ asked their
A slightly different version was published in The anonymous reviewer of Scoresby’s book — possibly John
Public Ledger of St John’s, Newfoundland (2 July 1850), Elliotson himself. Distance, he asserted, could be over-
taken from the Morning Chronicle of London. It made no come by the intensity of will of the mesmeriser, and the
mention of the 22-year-old Park, but referred to ‘a boy susceptibility of the subject (Anonymous 1849–50: 328).
under mesmeric influence in Peterhead’ who ‘in presence The geographical range of clairvoyance was a fun-
of a large audience’ had described Franklin as ‘quite well, damental issue, as the central Arctic of North America
but looking thin,’ and had given various details about the was about 3000 miles from Britain. In the fall of 1850
whaling ship Hamilton Ross. His revelations were said to the opinion that distance could be overcome by certain
have ‘thrown the inhabitants of Peterhead into a state of clairvoyants was apparently supported when Dr. J.B.
great excitement.’ Motherwell wrote to Elliotson describing the delibera-
tions of a clairvoyant woman in Melbourne, Australia,
James Smith almost half-way round the world from Franklin’s probable
In a letter written to Dr Gregory on 31 March 1851 location. Motherwell had shown her a letter written by
(Gregory 1851: 338–342) a minister who signed himself Franklin in 1838 which had enabled her to describe
‘P.H.’ described meeting and testing a locally well-known correctly various episodes in Franklin’s career in Van
clairvoyant, James Smith of Whalsay, during a visit to Diemen’s Land. When asked about his Arctic expedition
Shetland in August 1850. P.H. stated that he had at of 1845, she had replied, according to Motherwell’s
first been entirely sceptical of clairvoyance and other ‘nearly verbatim’ account, as follows: ‘I see the vessel
phenomena associated with animal magnetism. Intent Sir John Franklin is in; there are other vessels with him;
upon proving the man a fake, he told the mesmerist that they are all starting together. I think there are three or
he had no wish to hear ‘any mere general descriptions four of them, and they are sailing now: they are passing
of places or persons, nor any account whatever of Sir land just now which is very high. . .I see land now; it is
John Franklin, or such like, the accuracy of which I very low, and seems inhabited by natives who are quite
could not pronounce upon.’ Instead, he supplied several astonished and are running down to look. The vessels are
questions about himself. To his amazement, Smith, while beginning to come near each other now, and I see floating
in mesmeric trance, answered all the questions correctly, in the sea those large white cliffs: they are icebergs’
as well as ones he subsequently added. In response to (Elliotson 1851–52: 71).
 CLAIRVOYANTS AND MEDIUMS SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN 9

a ‘spontaneous vision of passing events,’ in which a

subject’s sympathies for an absent person’s predicament
can generate a vivid image of the situation, or what a recent
work has termed ‘dream clairvoyance’ (Guilley 1991:
112). Review of Reviews (the editor of which, W.T. Stead,
claimed he could interview people, both living and dead,
by paranormal communication) called Snow’s experience
‘a clairvoyant vision,’ and stated that Snow had possessed
clairvoyant powers since the age of 12. Aside from the
Franklin vision, however, the journal mentioned only one
rather unconvincing example of his alleged extraordinary
powers — in his childhood he lost a coin but weeks later he
‘saw’ where it was, and found it in that very place. If Snow
had really known since boyhood that he was clairvoyant,
would he have described his vision as ‘a waking dream’
Fig. 4. Franklin’s location according to Snow’s vision, or admitted that he might have only ‘fancied’ that he saw
January 1850. HMS Erebus and Terror are represented the Arctic scene?
by solid squares, and scattered bodies and parties of men Whatever the phenomenon was, it was so alarming
by clear triangles. and seemed so real that he wrote to Lady Franklin that
very day urging her to send a search expedition of 100
If the account seems somewhat vague, failing to give men to that region by way of Hudson Bay, and offered
a geographical position for Franklin or any other concrete his services (Great Britain 1850: 138–141). He did not,
information, it may be because Elliotson intentionally however, reveal that his pleas were based on dreaming or
suppressed part of the clairvoyant’s statement when it clairvoyance. What influence his letter had on Jane’s ideas
was published in The Zoist. He believed that it might do about Sir John’s whereabouts and condition is uncertain.
more harm than good to disseminate information whose The curious thing about Snow’s vision is that it fits
reliability could only be assessed if and when Franklin so well with facts that were determined later. The lo-
was found. If it then turned out to be accurate, it would cation, the abandonment of the ships, the dispersal of sur-
demonstrate that great distance did not necessarily prevent vivors into small groups, and the deaths of men in scat-
clairvoyance from operating. Although an outspoken tered localities were all correct. Yet his vision is said to
proponent of clairvoyance, Elliotson did not consider it a have occurred nine years before McClintock’s expedition
reliable means of finding Franklin. discovered these things! This led Review of Reviews
(1893: 377) to ask: ‘What is the use of a clairvoyant
Parker Snow’s vision revelation if it is no avail to rescue those whose where-
Several months before sailing as second-in-command of abouts were so marvellously made known?’ But Snow
Lady Franklin’s search expedition on the Prince Albert in does not appear to have revealed that his search proposal
1850, William Parker Snow experienced a vision. At three was based on a vision at any time during the 43 years
in the morning on 7 January 1850 he suddenly saw a vivid preceding the publication of the biographical sketch,
picture of an Arctic region between the meridians of 90 apparently written by a spiritualist. Did Snow really
and 100◦ W, extending from the estuary of the Great Fish experience a vision?
(Back) River northward into Boothia Peninsula and King
William Island. Pictured in this scene were two ice-bound Weesy Coppin’s revelation
ships, apparently abandoned, one northwest of Victory The most persuasive and influential spiritualist statement
Point, and the other near the continental coast just west about the missing expedition was said to have come from
of the Adelaide Peninsula, near O’Reilly Island. On King the spirit of a dead girl, Louisa, or ‘Weesy,’ Coppin. This
William Island there were lifeless bodies and a few living was not a clear case of clairvoyance because no one in
men, and at several places on the mainland he saw small the Coppin family claimed to be able to ‘see’ Franklin
parties of men on foot (Fig. 4). Franklin himself was or anyone else, and, although the phenomenon allegedly
not seen. Snow rushed immediately to his desk, wrote involved communication with the spirit world, none of
down the details, incorporated what he already knew about them claimed to be a medium. According to Reverend
Franklin’s expedition, and drew a rough map (Review of J. Henry Skewes, the vicar of a Liverpool church who
Reviews 1893). brought the revelation to public attention 40 years later, it
Snow was unsure about the nature of his experience. was simply a ‘special act of Providence’ (Skewes 1889:
He began his narrative with the words, ‘What I did see 195).
or fancied I saw [author’s italics] was the following. . .’ Lady Franklin learned of Weesy’s revelation from the
and because he was awake at the time he described it dead girl’s father, Captain William Coppin, a Londonderry
as ‘a waking dream’ (Review of Reviews 1893: 377). shipyard owner, builder of screw steam vessels, surveyor
It may have been what Gregory (1909: 230) called of ships and engines, and ex-commander of merchant
10 ROSS

precisely where the remains of the expedition were

discovered in 1859. Had her spirit really revealed the
true location several years before McClintock’s voyage in
the Fox? Or, if the Weesy phenomenon was a deception
perpetrated by Coppin and his family, how had they
happened upon the correct locality?
Because Reverend Skewes published the details of
Weesy’s revelations so long after the events and wrote in
such a sensationalist style, his reliability was questioned.
Among his fiercest critics was McClintock, whose scath-
ing denunciation of his claims (Lloyd-Jones 2001) promp-
ted Skewes to publish an expanded edition (1890), which
included revealing correspondence between Coppin, Lady
Franklin, and Sophia Cracroft — evidence difficult to
refute.
Skewes made the following assertions. Coppin not
only wrote Jane Franklin in the spring of 1850 to tell
Fig. 5. Sequence of places in Weesy’s revelation, October
1849, and Franklin’s inferred track.
about the revelation, but he actually visited her on more
than 30 occasions! On the basis of Weesy’s information,
she instructed Charles Codrington Forsyth and William
ships — in short a reputable man experienced in maritime Kennedy, who commanded her private search expeditions
matters. His four-year-old daughter ‘Weesy’ had died in in 1850 and 1851, to proceed down Prince Regent Inlet
May 1849, but her spirit had been visiting her four sib- and attempt to advance towards the southwest, instead
lings, sometimes making itself known by a blue light, of searching towards the north as she had originally
and at other times appearing as an apparition so con- desired. Forsyth was not especially sympathetic to the
vincing that the youngest child more than once ran eagerly spirit-derived information, but Kennedy travelled to
towards it only to crash into a wall. When the family Londonderry to meet the Coppin family, attended three
gathered for dinner a place was always laid for Weesy, spiritualist sessions, and came away convinced. When
who, according to the children, joined them (Skewes he departed from Aberdeen in the Prince Albert, Coppin
1889; Lloyd-Jones 2001). Weesy was visible to all four was present. By causing Jane to alter her search plans,
children and to Captain Coppin (who had had several Weesy’s revelation led to the discovery of Bellot Strait
psychic experiences before), but not to Mrs Coppin or her during the expedition, and if Kennedy had turned south
sister. from the western extremity of the strait towards Victory
In October, when daughter Ann (aged seven) asked Point (in accord with his instructions) instead of north, he
Weesy about the location of Sir John Franklin, an Arctic would have come upon the scene of the disaster on King
‘scene, in the form of a chart’ with two ice-bound ships William Island half a dozen years before McClintock.
appeared on the floor, while the words, ‘Erebus and (Skewes 1889, 1890).
Terror. Sir John Franklin, Lancaster Sound, Prince Regent Lady Franklin’s frequent contact with Captain Coppin
Inlet, Point Victory, Victoria Channel’ became visible on and her faith in Weesy’s revelation were known only to a
a wall. Ann copied the inscription and chart. (Captain few close friends (one of whom was Charles Dickens,
Coppin was away at the time.) On at least two subsequent who must have been eager to publish the details). But,
occasions Weesy’s spirit was asked about Franklin, once significantly, it was also known to Captain W.A.B.
in November 1849 by Captain Coppin, and again in 1851 Hamilton, the Admiralty’s influential Second Secretary.
by William Kennedy, the commander of Lady Franklin’s Shortly after Forsyth’s departure in the Prince Albert,
imminent search expedition, and on both these occa- Jane confided to him, ‘Mr Coppin continues to write to
sions the results were apparently similar (Skewes 1889: us, & each time he says the ship is seen at the same place
73–75). but the ice is breaking all around her’ (Franklin 1850).
The sequence of the four place-names (Fig. 5) that She persuaded Coppin to visit Captain Hamilton, who
appeared on the wall suggests that Franklin had proceeded promised to inform the Admiralty Lords of Franklin’s
through Lancaster Sound and Prince Regent Inlet into alleged location, but without revealing its spiritualist
Victoria Channel (now Victoria Strait) off Point Victory source (Skewes 1889: 80). The Admiralty, however, took
(now Victory Point) on the northwest coast of King no action.
William Island. In 1845 Bellot Strait between Somerset
Island and Boothia Peninsula (Fig. 6) had not yet been Mediums and Franklin
discovered, but if Franklin had gone down Prince Regent A well-known spiritualist aspect of the Franklin search
Inlet he might have found it and followed it westward was the love affair between Elisha Kent Kane, the
to reach Victoria Strait. Looking at Weesy’s revelation celebrated American Arctic explorer, and the medium
retrospectively, one is struck by the fact that this is Maggie Fox of ‘Rochester rapping’ fame. The two met
 CLAIRVOYANTS AND MEDIUMS SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN 11

Fig. 6. View from 20,000 feet above Prince Regent Inlet, looking westward along Bellot
Strait, not discovered until Kennedy’s expedition in 1851–52. The strait leads to the ice-
covered waterway of Peel Sound/Franklin Strait, through which HMS Erebus and Terror
probably passed. Prince of Wales Island is faintly visible in the background. (National Air
Photo Library, Ottawa)

in Philadelphia after his return in 1851 from the first indifferent manner in which our provisions were
Grinnell Expedition in search of Franklin, when Maggie packed spoiled many of them, and compelled me to
may have been as young as 13 (Davenport 1897: 36), and detach too large a party to hunt, so that we could
they are said to have been united several years later in a not prevent the ships being crushed by ice. Thus
common-law marriage ceremony that was kept secret to driven from our refuge, all who had not previously
avoid the wrath of Kane’s parents (Corner 1972). Kane been drowned or died of hardship perished from
was not a believer in spiritualism, however, and Maggie the combined effects of cold and hunger. Had it
does not appear to have communicated with the spirit of not been for the defective quality and fastenings
Sir John Franklin. When Kane set off in command of the provisions we should not have been jammed
of the second Grinnell Expedition in 1853, it was without up, as there would have been no necessity to have
the benefit of any useful tips from Maggie or any other hunted until we were in a locality more favorable for
medium. the purpose. . .The result of our operations was the
discovery of a large tract of open water near the North
Alfred Cridge Pole. . .Our farther progress was stopped by a barrier
In 1854 a man in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who described of ice about three miles wide. Our men traversed it,
himself as a ‘writing medium’ (Cridge 1854), published and from the other side was seen an open sea as far
some interesting information about Franklin. During a as the eye could reach to the northward. We were
séance held in February, with a Mrs J. Johnson assisting, reluctantly compelled to retrace our steps, and try to
Alfred Cridge had invited spirits to communicate. In proceed westward in another direction. On our return
response to his invitation, an unknown spirit made rapping by the route we had come, we were crushed by the ice
sounds and spelled out his name — Sir John Franklin. in the manner above related. . . (Cridge 1854: 74).
Then Cridge’s hand began to move in a mysterious way, Cridge asked for some proof of identity, but none was
scrolling out a message from Franklin, who revealed the provided. However, several months after the séance, he
reasons why he had failed to complete the Northwest learned from an article in an English newspaper, reprinted
Passage: in a journal entitled American Vegetarian that many tins
The cause of our failure was a season which set in with of preserved meat supplied to the Admiralty by a firm
unusual severity, at an earlier period than usual. The in Bohemia had proven to be so ‘revolting’ and ‘putrid’
12 ROSS

that the authorities had worried about a new plague; fur- J.G.H. Brown, who had ‘soared to realms said to be out of
thermore, Franklin’s ships had been supplied with some the ken of ordinary mortal crystal-gazers’ (Barrow 1986:
of this tainted food! Cridge declared that he had 33), posed the following question to the angel Gabriel:
never been particularly interested in the Franklin expe- ‘Is Sir John Franklin, who undertook an expedition to
dition, that the communication from Franklin had been the Arctic Regions for the purpose of discovering the
unsolicited, that he had not known about the tainted north-western passage of the Polar Regions, living or
food before, and that the writing (done by his hand dead?’ Gabriel answered, ‘Behold! This man has long
under the guidance of Franklin’s spirit) had been ‘psycho- since perished by cold, hunger, and exhaustion, while
metrically examined by two readers,’ both of whom felt others have shared a similar fate; and in a future chapter,
‘sensations similar to that of a person dying of exhaustion, he, himself, will be commanded to appear in the spirit, and
gradually falling into a sleep’ (Cridge 1854: 74–75). give confirmation of these assertions in his own words’
These, he declared, were convincing evidence that he had (Brown 1857: 155–156). In early summer 1856, Brown
really had been communicating with the spirit of Franklin. ‘had recourse to the apparatus for the communion with
Search expeditions had found hundreds of empty food aerial spirits, and then called upon the spirit of Sir John
cans on Beechey Island four years before, leading to the Franklin. . . .’ Franklin’s spirit duly appeared, ‘attired in a
suspicion that the food had been rotten. Similarly, the long loose brown garment, similar in appearance to that of
unsanitary conditions in the meat packing plant of the Duke of Wellington, and so far as its outline could be
Goldner, who supplied Franklin’s expedition, had been observed, it appeared something below the middle stature,
revealed long before Cridge wrote his book. We have only broadish set, and a face of an oval shape, tolerably well
his word that he was unaware of these events until after featured, and expressive of great intelligence, and who
he heard from Franklin’s spirit. The Inuit stories at Pelly appeared about the middle age’ (Brown 1857: 163). The
Bay in April 1854 had persuaded John Rae that Franklin spirit displayed a scroll containing a lengthy summary of
and all his men were dead. This news was published in the his expedition.
Montreal Herald on 21 October 1854, and in The Times The narrative contained the usual ingredients of Arctic
(London) two days later (Richards 1985: 107). Whether adventure — icebergs, narrow leads, dangerous reefs,
this was before or after the publication of Cridge’s book polar bears. After being frozen into the ice, Franklin had
is uncertain. ordered the crews to abandon the ships and cross the ice
An American medium to the land, where they camped for the winter. In the
On 30 June 1855, a medium, apparently in the United following summer, efforts to advance in the ships failed,
States, received a communication from a spirit indicating and they settled in for a second winter ashore. Food grew
that both Sir John Franklin and Elisha Kent Kane (who had scarce and the crew became mutinous. The ships were
been searching for him) were dead. Summarizing a note driven away to destruction, leaving the men ‘destitute
or article said to have been published in the New England of every thing.’ The survivors were marooned on an ice
Spiritualist, the Perth Courier (3 August 1855), in what is floe and driven against a large berg. Franklin and a few
now Ontario, wrote with award-winning carelessness as men managed to reach an island, on which one of the
follows: remaining officers disappeared into some boiling waters.
Dr Kane has recently passed away from the earth life, Franklin found the bodies of some of his companions dis-
his mortal body having been crushed by the ice, as he membered, presumably by some animal, and he became
went after his crew, who had gone in search of land. ‘weary, exhausted and spirit-broken’ (which would be
His ship’s [sic] have been crushed to pices [sic] and quite understandable under the circumstances). The end
destroyed and most, if not all of his crew [are] in the came on 24 September 1853: ‘I soon fell into that sleep
spirit world. The spirit also stated that he in company from which I never awakened to mortal existence; and my
with Dr Kane, Sir John Franklin and others, was last body was devoured by the bears’ (Brown 1857: 163–168).
night in the Polar regions, and saw the remains of Unfortunately, the account given by Franklin’s spirit gave
Dr Kane upon the ice, with clothes, papers and his no details of place or time.
watch, upon which they saw his name, Dr Kane, he According to Brown, the hardships endured by Frank-
having engraved it thereon, not expecting to escape, lin brought some of the people present at the séance to
but hoping that it might possibly be found by someone tears. As for the authenticity of the phenomenon, he said
in search of him. that as higher powers had enabled the spirit of Franklin
In fact, Kane’s search expedition had included only to appear and testify, this was ‘sufficient to banish all
one vessel, and at the time of the alleged séance Kane and doubts as to its truthfulness’ (a questionable argument).
his men, having abandoned the ship in the ice north of Franklin’s spirit also revealed that two of his men had
Smith Sound, were making their way southward toward survived the ordeal and would soon appear in Britain ‘as
Upernavik, Greenland. living proofs of what is here stated.’ ‘When the facts
become generally known, and the remains of their bones,
John George Henry Brown and remnants of clothing are discovered,’ he added, ‘who
A few years after Rae’s distressing news about white men then shall say that spiritual communications cannot be
starving near King William Island, a Nottingham seer, relied upon?’ (Brown 1857: 168–170). A few years later,
 CLAIRVOYANTS AND MEDIUMS SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN 13

bones and fragments of clothing were found — on King Even more interesting than Franklin’s remarks on the
William Island — but they did not confirm the alleged disaster on King William Island are those about spirit life
account by Franklin’s spirit, and no living survivors ever on the other side. Evidently the spirits are well aware of
emerged from the Arctic. events on Earth and envious of some technological aids.
Sir John and Lady Franklin admire Rule’s tape recorder.
B.J. Rule They know that men have landed on the Moon. They are
The most recent spiritualist claiming to have communi- aware of the horrific explosion on the Apollo mission and
cated with Sir John Franklin may be Mrs B.J. Rule, who feel that NASA’s space program needs new leadership.
lives in Florida. She appears to be well qualified to Indeed, Franklin thinks he can help improve the rocket
communicate with spirits, having ‘studied metaphysics design, and badly wants to go into space himself (isn’t
for many years, including self-hypnosis, Eastern philo- he already there?). He is surprisingly open-minded on the
sophy, scientific palmistry, and transpersonal psychology’ subject of flying saucers, accepting as fact that aliens
(Rule 1998). Furthermore, she describes herself as a visit the Earth to perform certain missions. They are
Franklin descendent. Following the advice of the well- remarkably intelligent, he observes, but a bit short on
known psychic Edgar Cayce, Rule uses the technique of physical strength and endurance.
automatic writing. A ‘Scientific Union’ exists on the other side. One of
Her book Polar knight: the mystery of Sir John the members is none other than the American explorer
Franklin (Rule 1998) tells of more than two dozen conver- Charles Francis Hall, whom Franklin admires for the
sations with the spirits of Sir John and Lady Franklin courageous attempt to find his grave (in 1869). Hall is still
between 1985 and 1988. In Sir John’s early conversations working on the problem of how to forgive the enemies
with Mrs Rule, he expressed a desire to set the record he encountered on his last earthly voyage (doubtless
straight about his final expedition. After so many false they include whoever poisoned him with arsenic on the
accounts he wanted the true story to be told in an accurate Polaris expedition). Other members of the Scientific
and exciting way, and he seemed gratified that she was Union include Richard Byrd, Thomas Edison, Albert
ready to undertake the task. When she asked where Einstein, Herbert Hoover, Guglielmo Marconi, James
to find information, he said ‘In England. Cambridge Watt, and two astronauts. Clearly there is no lack of
Library. Naval Academy, Mariner’s Periodical, an old intellectual stimulation.
periodical of my time. Journals of Lady Jane Franklin.’ But the verbatim remarks of Sir John and Lady
Another time he advised her, ‘Check the London Times.’ Franklin, as reported by Rule, seem stilted, trite, and in-
Later he suggested that Rule’s sister, who was planning accurate. Jane chats idly about mundane topics, admires
a trip to Australia, should contact grandchildren of the house in which a session took place — ‘I like your
his former friends in Tasmania, and visit Government house. It is very nice’ (page 165) — describes the ‘pants’
House, his old school, the harbour, and the archives. He (presumably trousers) she made for herself in Tasmania
mentioned that he once donated initialled napkin rings, for riding (page 64). Sir John uses the adjective ‘nice’
and a gold pen with cameo, to the Geographical Society three times to describe the tape recorder (page 50), and
there. Subsequently, Mrs Rule’s sister did see these items says, rather awkwardly, ‘I should have exhausted the trials
in a museum in Tasmania. Rule attributed the ‘first real to be sure the supplies were all right’ (page 118). He
break’ in her research to the Scott Polar Research Institute mentions the ‘Mariner’s Periodical’; does he mean the
in Cambridge, which mailed her a package of information Nautical Magazine? The Mariners’ Mirror? And what
(Rule 1998: 7, 49, 51). Englishman would refer to The Times as The London
In the dialogues Sir John revealed that contaminated Times? Or the National Maritime Museum as ‘the Naval
canned food caused illness and death, but the crew, Academy?’ Both Sir John and Lady Franklin were ac-
imagining that evil spirits were spreading disease, scuttled complished writers, far more articulate than such passages
one of the ships. Discipline then broke down, cannibalism indicate. Considering the length of time since their
occurred, and Franklin, seeing no one he could trust, left deaths — a century and a half for Sir John, a century and
the others and walked alone across King William Island to a quarter for Jane — one wonders whether these are pre-
its southeast corner (about 100 miles), where he died after liminary signs of senility. Hopefully, however, such
giving his Cross of Hanover to some Inuit, who buried him uncharacteristic modes of speech are simply a result
under a pile of rocks. His probable route, and the location of careless transcription, for Rule herself makes the
of his grave, are shown on a map. Interestingly, the map occasional slip in reporting the names of explorers —
reveals that most of the persons who have subsequently for example, Hoswell for Caswell; Ammoney for
scoured the island in search of Franklin’s burial site have Ommanney; Penney for Penny (Rule 1998: 165, 64, 50,
been looking in the wrong place. The grave is at Matheson 118, 117, 122).
Point (68◦ 52ı N, 95◦ 10ı W). But, sadly, it appears that
Franklin did not have any written documents with him, The ebb and flow of belief
for he stated that when he left the other survivors, ‘I took Novel scientific ideas sometimes generate scepticism,
my blanket, a knife, telescope and some food, my Cross disbelief, ridicule, and opposition, even if they are firmly
of Hanover and compass with me’ (Rule 1998: 106, 107). based on scientific evidence and careful investigation, as
14 ROSS

was Darwin’s theory of evolution, published only a decade Professor Simpson of the Medico-Chirurgical Society
after the birth of modern spiritualism. The extraordi- offered to pay £100 to any clairvoyant who could read a
nary nature of most of the phenomena associated with line from Shakespeare that he had inserted into a box, but
mesmerism and spiritualism made them natural targets six months later no takers had appeared; Madame
for criticism, yet there were many dedicated believers, Lorenzo, the ‘Second-Sighted Lady,’ proved to be in
not only among common folk but also in the higher collusion with her mesmerist, Signor Lorenzo; Mr Lewis
echelons of society. Darwin’s co-evolutionist Alfred performed in Aberdeen, Sothal Mills, and Kintore, in one
Russel Wallace (1975), and Sherlock Holmes’ creator Sir week, hypnotising 14 people at one performance, and
Arthur Conan Doyle (1926) both wrote books purporting in another putting a girl into a trance during which she
to prove that spirits did communicate with people on experienced no sensation of pain, but did feel pain when
Earth. Mr Lewis pricked his own hand with a pin; another
Even on the relatively straightforward phenomenon mesmerist, Mr Dymond, admitted that his performance
of hypnotism, a phenomenon that can easily be demon- was all a hoax. Some public demonstrations were
strated, there were violently opposed points of view. convincing and peaceful but others were interrupted by
Because of its exciting potential in surgery it attracted hecklers and ended in noisy disarray with the patrons
the attention of some free-thinking medical men, but demanding their money back (The Aberdeen Herald
their successes were greeted with contempt by the estab- 6 September 1851: 144; 27 September 1851: 155; 24 April
lishment. In India, James Esdaile (1975: 167) used 1852: 5; 8 May 1852: 5). It is hardly surprising that Lady
mesmerism in more than 260 surgical operations (includ- Franklin and Parker Snow kept the paranormal nature of
ing amputations), during which his patients felt no pain, their information secret.
and after which they retained no memory of the oper- Long after the Fox sisters initiated the rise of modern
ation. Yet the opposition tried to curb his activities. spiritualism in the United States, Maggie, the alleged
Fortunately, after he presented his records to higher widow of Elisha Kent Kane, and her younger sister
authority he was congratulated on his pioneer work and Katie admitted that their spirit rapping had been a trick.
put in charge of a mesmeric hospital in Calcutta. But It had been ‘absolute fraud,’ Maggie declared, and in
when he submitted a paper about his methods and results October 1888 she gave a public demonstration of how
to the Edinburgh Monthly Journal of Medical Science, it they made noises by manipulating the joints of toes or feet
was rejected. Mesmerism had earlier been labelled ‘an (Davenport 1897: 37; 74). But at about the same time the
odious fraud’ by The Lancet (Esdaile 1975: 269), and the discussion of ‘animal magnetism’ and ‘spiritualism’ in the
conservative medical establishment in Britain apparently Encyclopaedia Britannica (1878–1889), while pointing
did not wish to hear about it having been successfully out that many physical manifestations of contact with
employed in surgery. Other doctors supporting the use the spirit world, including lights, sounds, voices, table-
of mesmerism in surgery also ran into stiff opposition. turning, apparitions, and direct writing, were susceptible
John Elliotson, ‘the most important scientific exponent to fraud, did not deny that such phenomena occurred.
of mesmerism in England’ (Kaplan 1982: vii) and a man In 1889 Reverend Skewes published his account of
who campaigned vigorously for reform in the medical Weesy’s revelation, which he strongly believed to be true.
system, pioneered the use of the stethoscope in Britain, Davenport (1897), on the other hand, regarded the ad-
and was an early advocate of acupuncture, resigned from mission of deception by the Fox sisters as a ‘death-blow
his job at University College Hospital in London because to spiritualism’ (the title of his book). Yet spiritualism
his unorthodox beliefs were not tolerated (Cooter 1984: survived. In the early twentieth century Houdini wrote
52). At the time, ether and chloroform were being tried as several books exposing the conjuring tricks used by clair-
anaesthetics, so the proponents of mesmerism may have voyants and mediums (Randi 1995), but this did not
faced some jealous rivals. destroy belief either. Showing that certain psychics had
Scepticism is natural, but it is strange that so many used deception, and even replicating their tricks, did not
reputable doctors and scientists, instead of encouraging prove that all psychics were fakes. And, in any case, faith
unbiased scientific investigation of hypnotism and other sometimes transcended reason.
phenomena, summarily dismissed them as nonsense William Kennedy, who travelled to Londonderry to
and strongly criticized those who earnestly sought to witness revelations by Weesy’s spirit in Captain Coppin’s
confirm or refute the facts. Although the alleged animal home, was not the only Arctic explorer to take an interest
magnetism, universal fluid, influence, or power, supposed in phenomena associated with mesmerism and modern
by Mesmer, Reichenbach, and others to be at the root of spiritualism. Sir John Ross was a believer in phrenology,
paranormal capabilities was not visible, that did not prove in which a person’s head shape was said to reveal traits
that it did not exist, for electricity and magnetism were of personality and behaviour (in phreno-mesmerism,
invisible too. touching certain parts of the head was said to produce
On a popular level, the performances by mesmerists a response in specific organs of the body). He saw it as a
also encountered mixed reactions in the 1850s. Claims potential tool with which commanders could allocate
and denials succeeded each other in rapid succession, shipboard duties and assign disciplinary measures that
as a few examples from The Aberdeen Herald indicate: were appropriate to the particular character of each
 CLAIRVOYANTS AND MEDIUMS SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN 15

seaman. Ross began measuring heads early in his naval ca- total number of individuals claiming to perceive Franklin
reer (Ross 1994: 111), joined the Edinburgh Phrenological through clairvoyance undoubtedly exceeded a dozen.
Society (of which Elliotson was a prominent member) in In addition, at least four mediums (Cridge, Brown, an
1823 (Cooter 1984: 53), and published a pamphlet on the unidentified person in North America, and Rule) have
subject two years later (Ross 1825). The pseudo-science described communications with Franklin’s spirit.
of phrenology gradually faded away, however, and is now All the known clairvoyants in the years 1849–52 said
regarded as ‘complete nonsense’ (Youngson 1998: 217). that Franklin was alive. In fact he had died in June 1847,
One of Ross’ acquaintances was William Scoresby long before they made their pronouncements, so they were
junior, the versatile Arctic whaling master, author, curate, all wrong. Furthermore, those who cited locations for
and authority on the Franklin search, whose contributions Franklin all put Franklin in different places (Fig. 3), none
to science led to his election to the Royal Societies of both of which coincided with the actual location. This casts
Edinburgh and London by the age of 35 (Stamp and Stamp serious doubts on the authenticity of their alleged paranor-
1976). Scoresby was an expert on magnetism, particularly mal powers. But the possibility of fraud was recognized,
as it related to ships’ compasses and their deviation, even by some of the mesmerists. Haddock wrote: ‘I have,
and only a few months after Franklin’s departure for the therefore, regretted that ever any notice of this particular
Northwest Passage in 1845 he began investigating animal investigation [with Emma], found its way into the public
magnetism (which he called ‘zoistic magnetism’). Four newspapers, because it has led to a host of imitators; some
years later he gave two public lectures summarizing the of which seem to have reflected the statements already
results of more than 70 experiments with more than 30 known or reported. And I know, that Lady Franklin has
women (Scoresby 1849). Although he had not extended been pestered, and her feelings hurt, by persons intruding
his investigations to clairvoyance, he was sceptical of it, on her the most arrant nonsense and downright falsehoods,
noting that those who claimed to have the paranormal as pretended clairvoyant revealments’ (Haddock 1851:
capability never turned it to any useful purpose, such as 150). Of course, other mesmerists may have felt that
locating the missing expedition. Haddock had imitated them.
Sir John Franklin was again associated with spiritu- In Weesy’s revelation and Snow’s vision, however,
alism in 1967, although only indirectly, when the BBC the approximate location of Franklin’s expedition was
subjected the prominent Dutch clairvoyant Gerard Croiset correctly identified. It is therefore less tempting to suggest
to a test. They took an authentic letter by Franklin, that they were fraudulent. Yet it is curious that among the
comprising about 40 words, wrapped it in cardboard so four Coppin family members who professed to communi-
that only a few letters were visible, and showed it to cate with Weesy’s spirit only one — the father — was
Croiset. He concluded that it had been written by a captain more than nine years old, and that 40 or more years elapsed
who drowned when his ship sank between America and before the paranormal nature of the observations by Weesy
England, in 1866 or 1869. The BBC concluded that it was and Snow were made public. Although it seems amazing
‘a remarkably close guess’ (Cooper 1974: 108). that Franklin’s location, allegedly revealed to Coppin’s
Spiritualism still has many believers; a quick internet family and to Snow by paranormal processes, turned out
search brought up almost 800 web sites advertising the to be correct, one must remember that some individuals
services of personal psychics and the sale of relev- — without resorting to the questionable phenomena of
ant equipment, including scrying mirrors, crystal balls, clairvoyance and mediumship — had already urged the
pendulums, divination and dowsing tools, magical and Admiralty to search that particular region. Among them
occult supplies, tarot cards, ouija boards, shamanistic were the explorer Dr Richard King and Lady Franklin
and ritual items, palmistry and astrology tools, and many (Woodward 1951: 272–273).
others. That most of the controllers were older men with
naval or merchant marine experience — Captain Coppin,
Influence on the Franklin search Captain Maconochie, Lieutenant Morrison, and probably
At least eight clairvoyants — Ellen Dawson, Lieutenant Captain Hudson — who were au courant with the Franklin
Morrison’s son, Emma, Jenny, ‘Captain Hudson’s girl,’ expedition and search, makes one suspicious. Did they
John Park (possibly a fake), James Smith, and the woman obtain as much information as they could about Franklin
in Australia — are known to have made statements about and his companions, the search expeditions and their
Franklin. Parker Snow’s vision and Weesy’s revelations personnel, and the Admiralty’s intentions, and then
might also be considered as clairvoyance. Professor fabricate reasonable ‘revelations’ by the so-called clair-
Gregory said he had interviewed several clairvoyants voyants they controlled? If so, it is difficult to see how
in France and England (none of whom is known); and the clairvoyants themselves could have been innocent of
McClintock spoke of many in the United States (none collusion, unless they believed sincerely (but mistakenly)
of whom has come to light). In addition, there were in their own powers and were skilfully manipulated. To
probably others who either kept their visions of Franklin believe that the clairvoyants really did possess paranormal
to themselves, received little attention, or made pro- vision, one would have to suppose that, like normal
nouncements that have sunk into the mire of forgotten persons, they could become confused, make mistakes,
historical facts during the last century and a half. The or experience trompe de l’oeil. But the mesmerists did
16 ROSS

admit this. Discussing the clairvoyance of Ellen Dawson Forsyth, Snow (his second-in-command), and Kennedy
in a letter to Elliotson, Barth wrote: ‘I have known her were silent on the question; they never mentioned the
make blunders and be wrong in her assertions’ (Barth revelation, and neither did she. Did she suppress the
1849–50: 101). Haddock, the controller of Emma, the information for fear of criticism or ridicule? Did she
Bolton clairvoyant, cautioned: ‘we must expect to find worry that public knowledge that she had based search
many anachronisms and incongruities in her statements, plans upon messages received from the spirit of a dead
similar to what we all experience in ordinary dreams’ child might harm her reputation and discourage potential
(The Manchester Guardian 14 November 1849). Elliotson sponsors of future expeditions? Skewes (1889: v) merely
went even further. ‘I believe in clairvoyance,’ he stated, said that she had kept the story secret for ‘family reasons.’
‘but I place implicit reliance in no clairvoyant,’ adding, One would expect to find evidence of what Lady Franklin
‘there is generally more error than accuracy in the whole really thought in her correspondence and private diaries,
clairvoyance of every person’ (Elliotson 1851–52: 71). but Ralph Lloyd-Jones examined these documents and
Nonetheless, some mesmerists — including Haddock found nothing, concluding that all references to Weesy’s
himself — felt that they were assisting the Franklin search revelations had been expunged from her letter books and
by publicizing the statements of their clairvoyants con- diaries, partly because ‘her evangelical husband would
cerning Franklin’s location. The attitude of Elliotson was never have approved of spiritualists’ (Lloyd-Jones 2001:
perhaps more responsible; he withheld such information 34).
from publication. If Lady Franklin and Sophia Cracroft kept the connec-
A crucial question is whether the information from tion with Coppin secret and expunged from their letters
clairvoyants and mediums — authentic or not — influ- and journals all information bearing on this point, then
enced the search for Franklin. The Admiralty learned we are left with the statement and supporting of evidence
about Weesy’s revelation when Captain Coppin visited of Skewes. As no valid reason to disbelieve Skewes has
Captain Hamilton to emphasize the importance of search- emerged, it appears that Weesy’s revelation did influence
ing near King William Island. But, as Lady Franklin had the course of the Franklin search.
instructed Coppin to keep the spiritual origin of the evi- An unfortunate aspect of the statements by various
dence secret, the Admiralty had no way of assessing its clairvoyants was their effect on public opinion. By stating
reliability, and they did not act on it. The pronouncements that Franklin and some of his men were alive they were
of Emma generated far more publicity, and Captain disseminating false information, and thereby extending
Maconochie kept the Admiralty informed about her state- the fragile hopes of families, friends, and thousands of
ments. Yet, the Admiralty did not act on her information others not directly connected with the expedition. To what
either. Even if the Lords Commissioners had been extent the clairvoyant ‘evidence,’ by prolonging the belief
receptive to spiritualistic phenomena, the unreasonable that the missing men were safe, contributed to the large
shifts in Franklin’s location in Emma’s reports would number of search proposals made by various individuals,
have seemed ridiculous to anyone who followed their cannot be ascertained.
sequence. And although the Admiralty was aware of the Nothing indicates that the books by the mediums
statements of some other clairvoyants, no evidence has Cridge (1854) and Brown (1857) were noticed by Lady
been uncovered to indicate that they were believed to be Franklin or the Admiralty, but it would be truly remarkable
credible. if books published during the search period and purporting
Lady Franklin, on the other hand, is said by Skewes to contain statements from Franklin’s spirit were not
to have transferred the search area for her expeditions brought to their attention. They probably escaped mention
of 1850 and 1851 to the region outlined by Weesy. Is in written documents because they were simply too far-
there any evidence to corroborate this assertion? In mid- fetched to be taken seriously. The alleged messages from
December 1849 she suggested that Wellington Channel Franklin’s spirit during the search period, and those
and other waterways leading north from Barrow Strait reported more recently by Rule (1998), face the same
should be searched, but two weeks later she advocated objections as the statements by various clairvoyants.
a search of the region near King William Island and They simply do not agree. Surely a man of Franklin’s
the mouth of the Great Fish River (Stone 1993: 130). integrity would not communicate contradictory accounts
However, this may not have represented a sudden change of his experiences and location. Mediums were aware
in her thinking. Perhaps she simply wanted to see both that such contradictions undermined their credibility. In
areas searched because Sir John had been directed firstly Britain, Brown (1857: 162) wrote: ‘Up to the present time
towards the continental coast and secondly towards the no positively reliable information has been ascertained
north. And although by this time she had visited Ellen of his [Franklin’s] real fate, although in America and
Dawson and had heard about Emma, she had not yet been in this country several spirit mediums have obtained
made aware of Weesy’s revelation, which pointed to the information respecting him; but some of the statements
region near King William Island. contradicting each other, all were doubted and repudiated
Was her subsequent decision to send the expeditions as unworthy of reliance. . ..’ Even so, Brown criticized
under Forsyth and Kennedy to that very region in 1850 the Admiralty for not taking spiritualistic information
and 1851 based on Weesy’s revelation, as Skewes states? seriously:
 CLAIRVOYANTS AND MEDIUMS SEARCH FOR FRANKLIN 17

One person whom I know, well versed in spiritualism, Cracroft, S. 1849a. Letter to mother and sisters
wrote to the Admiralty, and offered to point out [October 1849]. Cambridge: SPRI Archive MS 248/
the actual spot where some of the remains of the 247/16; D.
vessel and the bones of the crew could be found; Cracroft, S. 1849b. Letter to mother and sisters, 15
October 1849. Cambridge: SPRI Archive MS 248/
but on learning that by spiritual agency this important 247/17; D.
discovery would be effected, the Admiralty refused Cracroft, S. 1849c. Letter to mother and sisters, 25
to listen, or to encourage anything in the form of October 1849. Cambridge: SPRI Archive MS 248/
spiritual manifestations. Thus did red tape and pre- 247/21; D.
judice prevent an important feature connected with Cracroft, S. 1849–57. Statements on the Franklin search.
the genuine character of spiritual agency from being Cambridge: SPRI Archive MS 248/247/1–7; D.
put to the test. (Brown 1857: 162) Cridge, A. 1854. Epitome of spirit-intercourse: a con-
densed view of spiritualism, in its scriptural, histor-
In view of the serious discrepancies between the
ical, actual and scientific aspects; its relations to
various statements regarding Franklin, however, the Christianity, insanity, psychometry and social reform.
Admiralty’s attitude seems perfectly reasonable. Manifestations in Nova Scotia. Important communic-
ations from the spirits of Sir John Franklin, and Rev.
Acknowledgements Wm. Wishart, St John, N. B. With evidences of identity,
and directions for developing mediums. Boston: Bela
I gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr W. Ritchie Marsh.
Benedict (Calgary), Mr Ralph Lloyd-Jones (London), Davenport, R.B. 1897. The death-blow to spiritualism:
Matilde Nardelli (Wellcome Trust Medical Photographic being the true story of the Fox sisters as revealed by
Library, London), Dr Beau Riffenburgh (Cambridge), the authority of Margaret Fox Kane and Catherine Fox
Mrs B.J. Rule (New Smyrna Beach, Florida), and the Jencken. New York: G.W. Dillingham.
anonymous assessors of the manuscript. Doyle, A.C. 1926. The history of spiritualism. 2 vols.
London: Cassell.
Elliotson, J. 1843. Numerous cases of surgical operations
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