Morbid Mystery: The Franklin Expedition

WHAT HAPPENED to the Franklin Expedition?
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/ thegooddeath
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**CREDITS**
Mortician: Caitlin Doughty
Writing & Research: Louise Hung (@LouiseHung1)
Editor & Graphics: Landis Blair (@landisblair)
**LEARN MORE**
“Buried in Ice - The Franklin Expedition”
• Video
“How the Discovery of Two Lost Ships Solved an Arctic Mystery”
news.nationalgeographic.com/2...
“Forensic Facts from the Fatal Franklin Expedition”
www.huffingtonpost.com/garry-...
“These Maps Show an Epic Quest for a Northwest Passage”
news.nationalgeographic.com/2...
“What Doomed Franklin's Polar Expedition? Thumbnail Holds Clue”
www.livescience.com/57176-wha...
“How did the Franklin expedition crew die? U-M professor analyzes sailors’ mouths for clues”
ns.umich.edu/new/releases/2501...

[@Hinzmana]

You left out the Inuit oral history. They played an important role in finding the HMS Erebus. They knew where it was all along but no one had bothered to ask them.

[@cameleonfleuri]

Thank you for pointing that out! Inuits and First Nation people are people of great wisdom but are sadly kept away from the white version of history. (I'm a lady from Quebec province and I find it pretty frustrating to say the least!)

[@alekseimonizmirov1395]

Lady Franklin worked with First Nations peoples in the Arctic to find what had happened to her husband, if I recall correctly. There's a whole book about her work with them to find out the truth of the expedition's demise, and how sexism and imperialism made it impossible for that work to be taken seriously in the 19th century. It's been largely discredited for those reasons until lately, and there are people who insist that tribal oral history is unreliable compared to whatever scientific theory they've got. Because those are totally infallible.

[@cleef4196]

Natives

[@Tardisntimbits]

Thank you, I was going to mention this myself.

[@jhjzhou]

Some people even blamed the inuits for the franklin crew's demise, blaming evidence of cannibalism on them... yikes

[@djolley61]

Side note: The HMS Resolute went in search of the Franklin expedition and got stuck in the ice herself, after which she was abandoned by her crew. She was found by an American whaler and the United States returned her to the British as a goodwill gesture. Queen Victoria had a desk made from the ships timbers and gave it to the President of the United States. The Resolute Desk remains in the Oval Office to this day.

[@LC05]

I remember that from National Treasure 2.

[@expressivepets1]

Really? That's a sweet tidbit of history.

[@ink3539]

@@LC05 Yeah when I linked both stories I was like "OMG"

[@dorisfromage2349]

@@LC05 That is where I learned it as well.

[@violetbrown2372]

Where the current occupant of the White house uses it as a prop to hawk beans.

[@VidralliaArchives]

Gonna name my ship "The Totally Mediocre Ray Of Sunshine" It's neither unstoppable nor foreshadowing.

[@glarynth]

May your voyages be adequate and uneventful.

[@mslightbulb]

“The acceptable fish meal” would be my choice.

[@helenanilsson5666]

The Weak Anthropic Principle

[@Mousy677]

calling mine the nice vessel

[@spookysugar]

All aboard the "Couldn't afford a nicer one, but it still gets me from A to B in one piece HMS"

[@sowvision1673]

Morbid Mystery - the severed feet that kept washing up along the coast of British Columbia and Washington State still inside the shoes.

[@quyn3019]

Please! As a Seattle local it's always interesting to see new news articles on the topic!

[@opalishmoth8591]

Was DNA testing ever done on the feet.... Though they would have to get DNA from a relative.... and they don’t know who they could even potentially be related to... But if they collect the DNA and preserve it maybe one day they could be identified...

[@HarryStikers]

Omfg, there's literally an explanation

[@opalishmoth8591]

Harry The Ripper which is....?

[@opalishmoth8591]

Harry The Ripper I have a phobia of blood so no way I’m looking up “severed feet” I don’t want to risk seeing pictures. It sounds like that would still be an interesting topic for her to cover... How do they know the cause of death from just a foot?

[@vivianahuh]

They never learn not to call ships “unstoppable”

[@jamesruddy9264]

Or unsinkable...like the Titanic.

[@thomasdaniels6824]

@@jamesruddy9264 Only the media called the Titanic unsinkable. Thomas Andrews made many statements that the larger the ship is, the easier it is to sink.

[@jamesruddy9264]

@@thomasdaniels6824 ...I know. That's why I threw that in.

[@johnlavery3433]

Reminds me of the Invincible class battlecruiser in WW1. They were supposed to be cutting edge designs. And at the battle of Jutland while the battleships tanked shot after shot, both the invincible class ships (invincible and indefatigable) where destroyed quite quickly

[@ReubenWalton]

Thomas Daniels when did Thomas Andrews say that?

[@aubreyackermann8432]

Also, Erebus was the Greek god of darkness. They named the boats darkness and terror. Why not Hope and Fortuna? Or, go all the way and name them death and suffering?

[@kurtwinkelman7924]

They started out as warships in the War of 1812.

[@BrinaFlautist]

They used to be bomb vessels, which often had names such as Fury, Devastation, or were named after volcanoes (Aetna, Hecla, Vesuvius, etc.)

[@waltertaljaard1488]

Now look here.. We are British, you know. This means we are not superstitious and perfectly rational, due to our puritan protestant heritage.

[@reigninoel]

Nah those should be kept in reserve for the inevitable rescue expedition. When that fails, send the HMS Hopeless Endeavour, HMS Desperation and HMS Cocksure to rescue the rescue expedition.

[@violetbrown2372]

It would be a kick ass name for a rottweiller or Doberman!

[@IsaacIsaacIsaacson]

Fun fact: Sir John Franklin's most recent posting before leaving for the expedition was as Governor of Van Diemen's Land (Now Tasmania). He was a relatively unremarkable governor, but his wife Lady Jane Franklin was a famed woman. She was the first white woman to climb the mountain above our capital, helped start the first schools in our state, founded an art gallery that was expressly opened to the poor, often refused guards to go and visit the people, and when her husband disappeared, spent much of the rest of her life spending her own money on missions to the arctic circle to find out what happened, in the process helping us learn much about the circle.

[@sarahsander785]

Wow. I knew of her endevours (mostly due to playing Anno 1800, where they used the story as inspiration for a quest line) but that's a lot of great things she did for sure!

[@the.nose.666]

Caitlin: "Exactly what happened to the 120 people of the Franklin expedition remains...-" Ryan bergara, in my head: "- unsolved."

[@nigai0amai]

good to know I'm not the only one. Totally threw me for a loop there when she ended that sentence with "a morbid mystery"

[@kyleighwhite1409]

My brain. Remains--body 👁👄👁

[@liofotia5806]

I didn’t feel natural to hear that sentence end with anything but “unsolved”😂 I’ve been watching too much Buzzfeed Unsolved

[@simosa5842]

... and now I want a crossover episode!

[@Karin_Allen]

@@simosa5842 OMG, a crossover between Caitlin and the Ghoul Boys would be epic! #ShaniacToTheCore

[@elizabethgatsby3442]

What about the strange death of good ole Edgar Alan Poe? He disappeared and was found in a ditch in some one else's clothes muttering nonsense. I'd love a video on that iconic death figure and his equally iconic and mysterious death!

[@3798penisholder]

The Seven Year Twitch that would be too goth of a video.. too dangerous

[@billd66]

Some medical students years ago concluded that Poe died of rabies. Rabies was unfortunately endemic in stray dogs in the United States up through the early 20th century. The symptoms fit the historic record, and it's likely that Poe was bitten and didn't present at a hospital until he was symptomatic, at which point he wasn't long for this world.

[@vanessa4587]

Ooh! Yes! Please please please do one on Edgar Allen Poe! Please please please???? I'm a huge fan of his works.

[@kelleymaginnis3083]

The Seven Year Twitch The someone else's clothes bit has a possible explanation. It had to do with voter fraud, of all things. At the time, people would vote, kidnap someone, possibly knock them out, switch clothes with them, and go vote again! It's theorized that this is the reason why he was found wearing someone else's clothes.

[@gracielabielma3941]

Kelley Maginnis wow. But wasn't he well known? Or he also had superman glasses on lol

[@izmckenna]

The lead poisoning would explain the strange/useless items they took with them..... Without sound minds they would have thought walking 1,000 miles south was normal too...

[@shannon3944]

Back in their day, the items they took were normal, "needed" things to them, I believe.

[@henzsol6771]

@@shannon3944 curtain rods? For camping?

[@shannon3944]

@@henzsol6771 maybe they thought they'd have another use for those, if needed?

[@shannon3944]

@@henzsol6771 Also, I would imagine they never thought they'd be out there for that long...😢

[@henzsol6771]

@@shannon3944 well, they're men, so...yeah

[@southerncharm8211]

I've always wondered if they took the desks and such as something that could easily burned and used it for firewood. In a frozen tundra there isn't exactly a lot of dry kindling lying around. Just a thought.

[@persephone2706]

I think that makes a lot of sense.

[@soslothful]

But curtain rods and plates? And taking some food to cook might have been a good idea.

[@southerncharm8211]

@@soslothful They did take some food, but unbeknownst to them the tins that it was stored in contaminated the contents. That left them weaker & more volatile. They found tins of food scattered about. As for the rest, who knows? They weren't in their best frame of mind. As I said with contaminated food, fear, freezing temps, and so much more, along with facing their mortality, I'm willing to bet it was a clusterfuck.

[@eggsybenedict7014]

@@soslothful Curtain rods might be used as support for tents or turned into spears. Plates are, well, plates. I don't imagine they would want to hold their food with their hands in the extreme cold... Also, the Inuit were always interested in trading for anything metal.

[@stuartmccrea5188]

Yes , they would use the wood to get the plate going , are you a genius?

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

Actually, it’s reported that some Inuit hunting parties actually came across the still alive Franklin Expedition but could do nothing for them....

[@gwendalynnwatkins1296]

Were they just already too far gone, or did they just not have the resources to help an expedition of that size?

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

@@gwendalynnwatkins1296 Didn’t have enough. The North is notoriously poor in most resources, and the Inuit just didn’t have enough to spare

[@cheapentertainment8298]

@@Edmonton-of2ec actually a few did try to help! A few families offered them seal meat and a place to warm up, but they where emaciated, disoriented, frost bitten and had vacant eyes (some just staring into space). They instead ate the bodies of their kin and the families where so disturbed they soon found there was nothing they could do...like the other person said, they where too far gone.

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

@@cheapentertainment8298 I never said they didn’t try. I said they couldn’t, and they weren’t able to do, because they didn’t have enough. Northern Canada isn’t exactly the most hospitable or resource-rich area of the planet

[@cheapentertainment8298]

@@Edmonton-of2ec and as an Inuk myself who heard accounts from my community I was politely informing you that in fact, there was seal meat offered at that time for them. It just so happens that they where as my grandmother described "basically walking dead". They where found too far gone mentally and physically to come back from the brink.

[@cells-n-stuff]

I would be the person who brought the writing desk, "how am I supposed to write in my diary without a writing desk!?"

[@HAngeli]

Kelsey Jackson hahahaha XD

[@scharf74]

Well we need to find your diary because we needs to know what happened!!!

[@stuartd9741]

The pen is mightier than the sword....

[@oldfashiondragon]

Canadian beaches am I right

[@HighTideSoaps]

As a Canadian I can say that yes, this is exactly how our beaches are... :S Don't forget your parka!

[@karlathecanuck9992]

Also Canadian. I second this.

[@cassisjaimet4452]

Bc beaches are nice

[@Violets210]

We have to watch out for washed up feet in running shoes on our nice Canadian beaches

[@sprmssvblckhl]

hanna robertson I’m not even Canadian but this comment is drastically underappreciated

[@marnieenglish9400]

I met a client in her 90's, a few months ago, who was a micro biologist and was given samples from the 3 crew and the tins to determine how they died. It was a great conversation, I think she was glad I knew my history on the subject lol

[@ivechang6720]

Hiya! Great episode. I do want to point out one mistake though. The expedition was met after departing the ships by the local Inuit People, who then diligently told the westerners about the meeting. However, the arrogant English authorities refused to credit the report because it didn't agree with their (mistaken) assessments of where the 2nd ship and crews would be. That ship was actually found by searchers who DID listen and made good calculations based on the Inuit' information. I can only feel for the Inuit who had likely witnessed deranged behaviors in the crew. They had to take care to neither kill themselves trying to care for extra mouths nor get killed and cannibalized by the shipmen. Truly sad story anyways. Thanks for sharing your information! ♡ive

[@haldouglas4773]

I did a project on this when I was little and made an estimate (within a 50 mile radius) of where the ships ended up. Years later when the info surfaced-I was right!

[@dominic64tblightning24]

ASMRDiva Dust no one asked for your negativity

[@dominic64tblightning24]

ASMRDiva Dust ?

[@dominic64tblightning24]

i was joking dawg

[@lazyhomebody1356]

@@dominic64tblightning24 Words hurt, Dominic. Words hurt.

[@starrowland4932]

Year of action!!! My friend Cat and I watch you religiously and have decided to throw a “death party” this year so our friends and family members can come together and organize our death plans. You have inspired us to getting our inevitable sh** together. Love you!

[@AskAMortician]

Incredible! We're going to start organizing things like this in the YEAR OF ACTION. Let us know how your death party goes, we'd love your input. xx

[@randomfox9970]

Ask A Mortician I heard they ate too much tin foods but the tons where sealed with lead so some poisoning happened I saw the exhumation too very interesting video 💕👌🐺

[@sinandcyanide7505]

Star Rowland that is an awesome idea and a great way to encourage everyone to get their plans in order! I love it!

[@YuckyMama]

You should have your party on the Day of the Dead. Maybe remembering and celebrating your ancestors and other loved ones would add another layer of meaning to what you’re doing!

[@canadablake]

I was in high school in Edmonton when scientists from the University of Alberta found the bodies. It was big news. John Torrington’s frozen face was on the front page of every newspaper across Canada. As an aside, the Iron Maiden song, Stranger In A Strange Land is about the Franklin Expedition.

[@Fregulus5]

The Erebus and Terror were bombardment ships in Nelson's Navy, which meant that they had the highest rated mortars onboard, as opposed to cannon. Therefore, their hulls had to be especially strong and reinforced to withstand the recoil. This made them especially well-suited for arctic exploration, as the reinforced hulls could get through the ice better than other ships.

[@SarahSoLovelyXo]

"Nah, leave the canned goods and give me a hand with this desk"

[@Henners1991]

To be fair, said canned goods were tainted and actively poisoning the crew.

[@johnstevenson9956]

And the curtain rods. Gotta have curtain rods.

[@asteroses]

@@johnstevenson9956 Maybe the rods could at least be used as bludgeons or to pitch tents? The desk was definitely just plain foolish, though.

[@dorisfromage2349]

@Ruthanne D'Antuono Or use it to write out your last will and testament.

[@absolutelyalice1754]

@@johnstevenson9956 Maybe they were looking to trade it or use it as makeshift rods for pitching tents or ice fishing?

[@CorollaLvr2000]

SURPRISE MUMMY PHOTOS!!! My favorite kind.

[@deeelmore4560]

CharmingLiberalScum gotta love those unintentional jumpscares... causes more by my neurosis than anyone's editing...

[@heathercameron1485]

Was not prepared for those! Aaagh! I have accidentally seen the first one before when google imaging the mummy diva (from one of Caitlin's other videos). I assumed it was a recently deceased person so I guess it's nice to know the context behind it. But seriously, unexpected mummy is creepy.

[@Scorpia161]

I first learned about the Franklin expedition in grade school from a book (im pretty sure it was assigned to us or in our class bookshelf?), full color mummy pictures included. A little too much even as a kinda morbid 10-11 year old lol.

[@j.whiteoak6408]

There's an excellent upload on KZbin with that very thumbnail .. They dig up both of the "Johns" and autopsy them - ON FILM.

[@deeelmore4560]

Johnell Whiteoak now i'm curious... gonna regret this, but can you link it?

[@TheSquirter]

The HMS Terror was actually found in a place that happened to be called Terror Bay

[@shaemusdirtymoccasins6564]

Or was it called Terror Bay BECAUSE that is where they found Her? That happens fairly frequently. Then again, the Locals may also have named it, because THEY ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT WAS SITTING THERE. Just nobody bothered to ASK until recently...

[@Caenei]

@@shaemusdirtymoccasins6564 It was given the name 'Terror Bay' in 1910 because it was close to where the two ships had disappeared. The wreck of HMS Terror was found much later, in 2014. Terror Bay was not actually the place where the ships got stuck and were later abandoned, opening up theories about a handful of crew going back and sailing her further down at some point later, or that it 'ghosted' further down when it got free of the pack or moved with parts of it. Erebus was found in an entirely different spot altogether.

[@mariakelly1059]

@@shaemusdirtymoccasins6564 Cue the Classic "The Twilight Zone" Theme!.....

[@TheWhore2culture]

Always fascinated by this subject : my Great ,great uncle was an officer on the ill fated expedition and one of the many lost. We have a Victorian Artic Medal (issued posthumously by Queen Victoria) ,inside the case is a silver fork with the family crest.This was found on one of many attempted rescue trips. My father fought,various historians and fiction writers over "fictional & factional accounts" which named my relative a cannibal. As technically there is zero evidence to prove that hypothesis - he could have been a victim of it,or just died a natural death - it does seem unfair that for a bit of spice in their books snd documentaries,he's accused of so henious a crime. As a result he was expunged from the most ressent tv dramatiisation.....It's strange to see photos of him ,before he left,dressed in his uniform and see the similarities to both my brother & his son! There's a part of me that would love to visit the new museum. As always another excellent video,kudos.

[@JH-zs6vh]

TheWhore2culture Its horrible to think about the cannibalism of officers on the franklin expedition and how many of the corpses with marks of having chunks of meat harvested off them with knives were the bodies of officers. Also there is very little knowledge of what exactly happened to the officers, most of the bodies found were low ranking crew so the theory is a mutiny took place. Stories from inuit tribes passed down from generations also suggest that. I mean all they know is the date Franklin died not even where his body was buried or how he died.

[@marcuswardle3180]

J H According to some Inuit some sailors returned to one of the ships and remained on board for a long period of time and drifted in pack ice until it finally went down. Perhaps these were some of the officers?

[@TheWhore2culture]

THANK YOU ALL,for your interest & replies. Am sure you'll respect my privacy, if I don't name him,but,you might guess,when you visit the exhibition. Amazing the power this story has ,there is obviously a traveling gene within the family,his ,his brother, my great great grandfather was one of the first 200 Europeans on the Missouri trail in 1840 & also one of the first Europeans to travel extensively, buy, land - named after him - in Australia & then return to Europe. Somehow his American journal got lost stolen and has now been published by someone with zero connection to the family,which I find sad. If I found a personal journal; I would have done everything within my power to return it the "lost " family!? There are mountain ranges ,rivers,Islands and other features named after my family,including wolf pack in Canada! And most of us - younger generation - have travelled - having grown up in Yemen,Africa & Oman. My hobby is seriously ancient history,which has taken me, from the UK & Ireland, through Europe, the Mediterranean islands, Greece, Egypt,Africa(various parts including Timbuktu),Tibet ,too many to name. I hope to vist Göbekli Tepe & it's surroundings. I've found my self in foreign prisons and palaces ,both ancient & new,i feel my ancestors would have felt I've done my bit?! My brother lives in Canada and was consulted and contributed to the new museum. I hope to visit, when the craziness, allows. For now,again - thank you & VERY best wishes to you & yours👋🌟✌ps. My only GREAT shame is an even older grandfather,with no discernable training - he litteraly MADE IT UP!!! Has had his quasi scientific/religious books co-opted by the insane 'creationalist' movement,in thevUSA and is now seen as on of their 'heroes', if there were anything I could do to debunk,fight for rights to his work and undo the mad interpretation, both by him & these lunatics,I'd love to, any lawyer who might be INTERESTED, in a no win ,no fee - it's the principle and to sow discord,that i would chase this, then,please be in touch. Very best wishes to anyone who's kindly read this far👋🌟✌

[@Rasmos]

@@TheWhore2culture Gobleki Tepe is cool as hell. You should definitely go!

[@derfvcderfvc7317]

Why would you care so much if your relative from 200 years ago was a cannibal, especially if it was in a desperate survival situation.

[@xingcat]

I always forget how terrifying it must have been to be someone exploring areas that hadn't been crossed before.

[@flamingfury5917]

xingcat There is literally so much ancient stuff we have no idea what is where really like stories of expeditions monsters and stuff of that nature freak me out but intrigue me a lot lol

[@thebluevoyage8897]

I am going to sail there this summer! but on a small boat

[@arkhykatenka]

That reminds me -- have you heard of Dyatlov Pass incident? It involved unexplaned deaths of 9 ski hikers in Ural mountains. A lot of theories about it, but no definite answer.

[@lonlycelt]

Yes Please !

[@user-qr8ki8ue4i]

I was just going to say the same thing! That one is very weird.

[@trnobles]

Екатерина Архангельская ah yes that's what it's called! I thought of that one too but couldn't remember the name.. There was a really good segment about it on the Mysterious Universe podcast

[@julietfischer5056]

They were orange.

[@AshtaraSilunar]

The 'orange' and 'burned from inside' bits were late additions to the story, and afaik not supported by the original documents.

[@chrisserrific]

Caitlin: it was found that they died of tuberculosis. Me: Oh, yeah, sometimes it just be like that. Caitlin: lots of lead though! Me: 😱

[@catsforchaos5834]

The Terror has a very interesting take on what happened to the expedition, with a bit more involvement in inuit mythology. And throughout the video I have been quietly singing "Northwest Passage" by Stan Rodgers.

[@Ysckemia]

a book that was adapted in a good series. kudos to the makeup team, the marks of diseases were awfully reallistic. the suffering of those men was palpable. it made me want to read the book for further details in the story.

[@Kitunae]

History Buffs did great video about the TV adaptation of the book. It's very interesting and led me to purchase and read the book for myself. 10/10

[@poisonsumc7426]

Pentangle sang 'Lord Franklin' traditional song also known as Lady Franklin's Lament

[@bigwendigo2253]

I was about to bring that show up! The first season was incredible, the second season (a different story) was decent

[@nicolelee4800]

Your voice is so pleasing to the ear, you make a fantastic narrator/storyteller.

[@wsearp]

Those lips of hers mesmerize me....

[@prepperpov5852]

I would like to say that my great-grandma and I just had a death talk! It was amazing! She was telling me about how she “must” be embalmed because “it’s the law”. “NO! ASK A MORTICIAN SAYS DIFFERENTLY”! LOL, thank you for the awesome content.

[@AskAMortician]

GREAT-GRANDMA YOU GO OUT LIKE YOU WANT.

[@prepperpov5852]

Ask A Mortician Isn’t it awesome how I told her about your KZbin channel yesterday and then today (literally minutes before you uploaded) we had a death talk! YES, GRANDMA! That’s what I said!

[@aliciacartrette6293]

What about the whole "left foot" mystery on the shores in California and Canada? Where left feet keep washing ashore. Never right feet only left.

[@raydahlquist4293]

they talk about this in the podcast, death in the afternoon. I think it's in season one.

[@Ball1501]

Can't really tell you why the feet kept washing ashore, but it's obvious that whoever removed them kept the right feet. The others were left. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[@danicatanner7698]

Not feet. Foot shaped (mannequin feet) for shoes to hold shape. Lost cargo during shipping.

[@feleciawalberg646]

@@danicatanner7698 Nope, actual feet. They keep washing up on the part of the Washington shoreline that's on the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Apparently the sneakers protect them and keep them intact?

[@wormwood8352]

First of all, it is not exclusive to left feet. Second of all, many of the feet belong to people who unfortunately committed suicide or otherwise drowned or died in the water. The feet are protected by the shoes and make it back to shore due to ocean currents.

[@Theturtleowl]

If I ever get to name a ship, it will come down to something like: We have insurance in case anything goes wrong!

[@matty2422]

Watch out for pesky iceburgs jumping infront of you for a damage claim. Technically titanic assaulted the iceburg but you dont hear of it getting any legal reperations lol

[@spindelyshankz671]

HEY!!! I live in the house than John Franklin was BORN IN!! He was from a tiny town in Lincolnshire called Spilsby, We have a statue of him in our town centre and there's a plaque on my wall saying he was born here (funny, its now an apartment and a bakery, not quite as grand as you would expect)

[@kpopisthewaypop9992]

Wow. I went to the secondary school he went to in Lincolnshire, he has one of the schools four competitive houses named after him. The houses are Smith, Tennyson, Hobart and Franklin, after all the renowned students of the school

[@elephunk5555]

Not too far from me :)

[@jesuschrist788]

Yay lincolnshire!

[@jesuschrist788]

Also why we got so much f ing cabbage here?!

[@elephunk5555]

Idk I'm in it for the nice sausages

[@marisathebibliophile1519]

Dyatlov’s Pass! (I think I spelled that right)

[@archive9796]

I dunno if you spelled it right but I totally agree, with the Franklin expedition we kinda know but we have no idea at all with the Pass indecent

[@arkhykatenka]

Oh, you were first, I didn't notice =) It's Dyatlov's, but close enough =)

[@Ladyofdeath777Weaversoftheweb]

Actually I think she already did one on Dyatlov's Pass.

[@Ladyofdeath777Weaversoftheweb]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4aWdqyVo5qWbJI It was mentioned in passing, but I found it!!!

[@Ladyofdeath777Weaversoftheweb]

No problem!

[@tuesday1672]

I’ve learned more history on this channel than I do in history class

[@DrCuriensapprentice]

I used to be creeped out, had nightmares about John Torrington but now as an adult I have an appreciation for him and his men, such young men

[@kikinoir8083]

I've ran out of videos of yours to watch and now I'm sad.

[@ameliahart2898]

Kiki Noir just keep rewatching them, that’s what I do :)

[@Lauraphoid]

Now you have to wait with the rest of us!

[@sinandcyanide7505]

Ditto. I've moved on to strange missing persons cases.

[@valeriekesslerangeliclizar1386]

Kiki Noir I feel you. I adore Caitlin

[@kikinoir8083]

I probably will be doing that. 😋

[@archive9796]

I’d like to have a video on the Paris Catacombs or the Plague Pits of the London Underground, oh holy death mother

[@OceanbornAngel]

I am obsessed with this case. The Terror, the series based on this expedition, is wonderfully atmospheric and spooky.

[@kayleestephens6774]

Just realized I’ve been binging this channel for like 3 hours haha you rock and you’re and amazing storyteller. Love it!

[@jasonsteele6920]

I see a lot of people saying to do the Dyatlov Pass case and I just wanted to chime in with my support -- it's terribly fascinating.

[@DravenGal]

That's the Russian one? Yes, that's very interesting! I agree.

[@sterlingfink2810]

I second this, uh, seconding.

[@prismstudios001]

Yeah, a REAL Scientific analysis would be nice. Lots of guesses put out there as theories......And, that damned YETI hypothesis! Heard a gentleman on late night radio (yeah, it was C.to C. don`t judge me) who claimed to know the whole story, but who wouldn`t tell on air because he was working on a scientific documentary where all would be revealed......later.....much later, said "documentary " aired, which describes how all of those students were killed by a YETI.....Gee thanks, Discovery network....

[@helenadasilva9371]

I was not prepared for the creepy bodies of the sailors at 11 o'clock in the night before going to sleep... Thanks Caitlin...

[@kylehubick6589]

I had nightmares about those bodies for years after learning about them in school. Instantly brought me back and I’ll have trouble sleeping again lol

[@Kolbjornelenano]

"I don't want to travel on a ship named Terror" "oh, don't worry, you'll go in the one named after the greek god of eternal darkens"

[@teal_panda_8434]

Right? When she said that I was like um.... the other ships name is not any better.

[@blushmuffin5259]

I do enjoy that you do these videos without looping super creepy music throughout the thick of it. It will be interesting to see your take on the The Dyatlov Pass Case or Roanoke.

[@monochromaticaddict311]

I second both of these

[@Laurennn]

I literally wouldn't mind watching ads on your videos. I'd be happy knowing the ad revenue went to a GREAT cause. 💖

[@amandamfds]

Lauren A Yes! I would not even skip them!

[@ameliahart2898]

Same I wouldn’t even skip them because I know that they money is going to Caitlin and towards videos!

[@mortizya666]

She doesn’t want to have ads in this channel! She said that! Will be bad taste!

[@Laurennn]

TinaReviewToys informational videos aren't bad taste in my opinion. I was just saying that if she did have ads I would watch them.

[@emmaperkins6844]

I'd say KZbin's ad policies would cause a lot of her videos to get demonitized anyways :/

[@gsmith4679]

Great video of the Franklin Expedition. I did not know they had a water distillation system aboard the ships. I worked in the central Arctic in the late 80’s and saw a number of the Franklin Expedition member’s graves on King William Island and have followed the story since then. Fascination tale of human exploration and death. Keep up the good work!

[@vintagedirtbiker5489]

I'd like to see your expertise on HH Holmes. Thank you so much.

[@PunkyJessie]

Have you ever performed services on a body and didn't agree with the autopsy technicians cause of death?

[@user-df8hl4zx2l]

I'm pretty interested in this subject too

[@beingcharliebray3681]

PunkyJessie that's a really good question

[@j.whiteoak6408]

Hmmmm .. that's a great question. I hope Caitlin answers it!!

[@julietfischer5056]

Autopsies involve taking samples and cutting open bodies to determine causes of death. Morticians are tasked with ensuring that bodies look pretty for viewings and that all applicable regulations are met. It seems to me that it would require a staggering level of incompetence to allow a mortician to find the true cause of someone's death. (I think it might also be too late to bear on the case, depending on when the body was released and the trial was held.)

[@PunkyJessie]

Juliet Fischer Not that it would be accurate as a cause of death or carry any weight on the decision, just curious if she ever experienced this.

[@Kamihana]

Hey Caitlin! An episode about spontaneous human combustion would be great!

[@wolfcat1998]

Kamihana That sounds hot.

[@deborahgate965]

Yes please

[@marleybjornstad2985]

Wait, that’s a thing? Never mind, don’t answer that.

[@carlcrow5990]

i would like for caitlin to do an episode of a man taking a large dong in his rear orifice

[@samuel-zb4qn]

Excuse me *w h a t*

[@JosephFuller]

Could you do a video on the mutiny aboard the HMS Bounty? They were still digging up the bodies, from over 200 years ago, as recently as 2018 so I think it would perfectly fit the idea of the series.

[@mickey05491]

Totally recommend the AMC show the Terror that details this expedition, such a good show

[@mediumsizedmagician]

Ikr? It's an amazing show!

[@shanonfreek]

My grandmother sent my sister and I a book on the Franklin expedition. The pictures of the mummies are fried into my brain along with the scent memory of fresh industrial ink. Whenever I smell that ink smell, I instantly go back to those pictures. Pretty frightening given she sent that book when I was 5, my sister 11.

[@mildredchester]

When you said, "speaking of British people," I was hoping to hear you mention Jeremy Bentham, who's coming to New York this year. I don't know if his head is accompanying him.

[@peterdavy6110]

When Dr John Rae of the Hudson's Bay Co brought back the first news of the expedition, based on what the Inuit told him - including the stories of cannibalism - he was subjected to all sorts of abuse because the public at the time refused to believe it possible. The leader of the outcry against him was the author Charles Dickens (who ironically was living in Doughty Street, London at the time).

[@victoriadiesattheend.8478]

Accurate!!! The money promised to anyone who could bring back proof of what happened to the crew was grudgingly (and very quietly) paid out to Dr. Rae, though not until after the government attempted to stiff him. Dr. Rae threatened legal action, and so was paid his money. However, it is often incorrectly asserted that he did not receive it.

[@weliveinasociety4629]

Been staying up until 2am to work on am art project these last few days and the content of the videos I put on to listen to are getting slowly darker and more morbid each night. Much love 😁🙌🏻

[@ro14p8]

Morbid mystery: Flying Dutchman

[@sarahb1862]

How can their eyes be so well preserved?

[@blushmuffin5259]

Probably due to the low temperatures and how dry it is. Educated guess.

[@davemonhomme]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmqlqKxjhd9qgKsm18s

[@QuyNguyen-xo2gf]

Kklara Zprand you basically just restated what he said....

[@sarahb1862]

That's crazy... I guess I assumed that with how much moisture is in the eye, they'd rupture or heavily disfigure in cold temperatures. Yeeeeah I don't know what I'm talking about lol

[@joshtaylor9884]

Random thought: Any mention of cannibalism makes me think of the "Wendigo".

[@liofotia5806]

When she first showed pictures of the preserved corpses I got a heart attack cause it was sudden but then I was like “oooh cool”

[@treetopy]

There's lots of known information, but I'd love to hear you talk about the Donner Party!

[@susie_xowie]

treetoppy I SECOND THAT!

[@justme-on7bn]

I third that!

[@MyPantsAreSassy]

OH YEAH! This would be awesome

[@cherengland3905]

YES, and other pioneer tales. There are a lot but the Donner's are more notorious.

[@turtlecozies2403]

omg THANK YOU. I was going nuts trying to remember what that group was called because I couldn't remember enough details to google.

[@caseyeade6896]

Gotta love those Victorians. Can't escape consumption or lead poisoning even in the middle of the Arctic. (Fantastic video, as usual!)

[@greenspiraldragon]

A breakthrough was made in September 2014 when an expedition led by Parks Canada discovered the wreck of HMS Erebus, in the south of King William Island. The terror was found nearby 2 years later, both were mostly intact.

[@neowuwei7851]

I just started watching your series Caitlin and find them amazing and informative. You are such a great and emotive speaker, lol. Keep up the good work.

[@3katfox]

Morbid Mystery Suggestion: The Mummified Hand of The Haunch of Venison pub in Salisbury England!!

[@MonkeyKing000]

Great episode. Loved it. How about the Donner Party.

[@ryleymadisonkennedy2334]

Mark Tomlinson yeah the donner party is something I would also like to know about

[@SamanthaPortUkulele]

Ooh, I'd enjoy that! I'm actually related to one of the survivors. Crazy, right?

[@Draculady123]

If you guys are interested, I just watched an amazing documentary on the Donner Party, filled with diary entries and letters from those on the trip. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZi3nmdmgdmioqc

[@sarabee1983]

Donner! Party of 50!

[@leighjob5011]

Ooooh yes

[@Itried20takennames]

I saw one source that said that all the items the crew brought while attempting to walk out had a decent reason behind them. For instance, metal was so scarce that the Inuit would often break open Signal Cairns to reach the copper tube holding British papers inside, so the crew could have traded the light metal curtain rods for food.

[@slumdogjay]

Just started reading your book, From Here To Eternity. 10 pages in and I’m hooked. Laughed out loud a couple of times too. Going to be a hard one to put down. Looking forward to reading the following 2 books after this one. Fascinating stuff even in the first few pages. Great work, Caitlin. 👍

[@phantasm.x.]

I enjoyed this so much, hail morbid mysteries! I would love your take on the Dyatlov Pass incident. Cheers!

[@MrElysamarie]

YES! i was just about to comment this myself

[@samanthag4649]

Yay! My suggestion was used :) I always loved the idea that sailors attempting to survive in the arctic ice would consider a writing desk super necessary to bring. You never know when you want to write a letter home I guess....except wait, no post office.

[@MichiruEll]

I'm kinda wondering if they took it as wood for a fire, but then never managed to light it on fire? Maybe that's wrong, maybe they left actual firewood behind, but that's what came to my mind immediately.

[@samanthag4649]

MichiruEll I always saw it as a sign of their madness, along with the curtain rods. We will never know for sure and that makes it more intriguing!

[@dave1135]

Samantha G i wonder why they had curtain rods on a ship, not many ships have Windows. 🤔

[@samanthag4649]

dave1135 Maybe Franklin's quarters did...They were often quite fancy

[@AshtaraSilunar]

Yeah, firewood and perhaps makeshift walking sticks/ice testing sticks?

[@RichadTheLionHeat]

Again, I truly enjoy your high quality programs. Keep them coming.

[@dorisfromage2349]

You're rockin' a Dita von Teese vibe, and I'm *LOVING* that fabbo mid-century 3-dial clock thingie above your right shoulder! Carry on.

[@sinandcyanide7505]

I also vote for Dyatlov Pass and for the Donner Party.

[@Strega_del_Corvo]

Don't forget to drink your Cyanide Yeeessss! Dyotlov!!!

[@taylornezovich7552]

YESSS THE PASS!!!

[@fengy5629]

holy shit, caitlin doing the dyatlov pass would be a dream come true!!!

[@TheCassandraStryffe]

really glad I checked the comment because I was just about to ask for the Dyatlov Pass!

[@sinandcyanide7505]

cassandra Stryffe tell her anyway! The more requests she gets for it, the more likely she'll actually do it!

[@yoursisterfromanothermiste6696]

The deaths throughout the years at Yellowstone.

[@margaretjoppa7225]

There is a book, _Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park_ by Lee H Whittlesey. Highly recommended! I read it out loud to my family on our roadtrip there! lol.

[@lobo3928]

I would love to see your take on Carl Tanzler and his “corpse” bride. Your channel is fantastic btw :)

[@grandmabea6471]

Hope you already found the video. ^_^

[@BuieKR]

I saw these graves (as well as those of two scientists who were later buried alongside them) when I was on that island in the late 90s! Loving your shows! Keep up the good work!

[@knghtcmdr]

One more thing; if you want a morbid mystery, the identity of Jack the Ripper.

[@Teobi1]

JTR squad!

[@amandamfds]

meh, nothing new about that

[@Teobi1]

Who was he then

[@kaiseyf4945]

I personally think it was H.H. Holmes. There's a lot of evidence that supports the claim, though no one can ever know for sure!

[@ZimVader-0017]

Patricia Cornwell, an author of police mysteries, wrote an investigative book called "Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper Case Closed" where she travelled to Britain, researched old Scotland Yard files and added another suspect to the list: Walter Richard Sickert. He was an artist, apprentice of Whistler, who drew very unsettling sketches that bared similarities to the Jack the Ripper murders, and who apparently had an odd fascination with the cases. Of course, he could have just been one of those weird fanatics that idolize serial killers. The book is very interesting. It includes real photographs of the crime scenes, though, so if you want to read it you have to be able to stomach that. The only thing I'm not so sure about it is her conviction that Sickert is indeed the killer since no one really knows for sure, and again he could have just been another weirdo, but it really is well researched. Stephen Knight also brought fourth the theory that it was in fact a group of 3 men who did the killings.

[@minnak5413]

So I got the notification immediatly after I closed your second book.. Coincidence? I think not. I am onto your tricks! (Cover to cover in one day! Didn't want to put it down. Yasss)

[@VEttariPEPC]

I love the comment that their Graves were a moment and testimony to "the folly of man's ego". Very fitting.

[@CassySoSassy]

Wicked. Had to come back for a rewatch. Thanks for all you do!

[@raemoore658]

My cat Erebus looked up as you said his name. Lol ♡

[@AleisterCrowleyMagus]

Great name for the kitteh!

[@neuralmute]

Please tell me you have another feline around named Terror...

[@raemoore658]

Close, my female had a red undercoat under black fur that made her fuzzy like a rotten peach so her name is Momo.

[@neuralmute]

Awww! Sweet! My feline overlords are Lady Molly David Hadfield-Renfield, the Dutchess of Fuzzbutt, and Shinji "Bastard" Mordor. Her Ladyship is a spoiled little spotted tabby with wonky Bowie eyes, and the Bastard is a jet black Murderbeast. They are unfailingly entertaining, and strangely affectionate. Catlove rocks!

[@PurgatorysPlaces]

Great topic. Years ago, there was a show called Nova that broadcast an episode documenting the exhumation of the bodies on Beechey Island. It was such a brilliant piece that I wrote away for the transcript. The theory was that the lead poisoning had affected the sailor's decision-making, resulting in them trying to carry a desk on what was supposed to be a 1000 mile trek back to civilization. My favorite book on the subject of the search for the northwest passage is called "The Arctic Grail" by Pierre Berton. A great read if you can get a copy and the topic interests you. There's also a haunting song called "Lady Franklin's Lament" written about the seven failed expeditions she sponsored to try and find her husband.

[@angiethinksuramazing8132]

I'm bingeing your videos tonight. Thank you for such great content.

[@Deedee0007]

I honestly have no idea how I got to your videos (literally, no clue. I just opened my KZbin, and there was one of your videos open. Maybe I accidentally clicked on one while falling asleep?) but I have watched at least 5 of your posts. Very interesting and informative. An interesting find indeed :) You have a great way of explaining things and keep your viewers (at least me) intrigued. Great job! :)

[@WhatAboutTheBee]

The whaling expedition that inspired Moby Dick was the Good ship Essex out of Nantucket. Essex was indeed rammed by a whale (Good on ye whale!) and sunk. The crew then set out on the remaining little boats, but swiftly ran out of provisions. Only a few of the crew were ever recovered, and when they were, they were clutching the bones of their (former) crew matesfor sustenance. Well documented case of cannibalism

[@Draculady123]

That is so fascinating. I'd never heard of this. Hmm... something to research since I am snowed in right now. lol

[@deborahgate965]

Yes please

[@strixmel]

You need to see the movie In the Heart of the Sea, which tells this story. Came out in 2015.

[@SirThinks2Much]

strixmel same title as the book about the same incident. Good read, if obviously depressing

[@waywardwillard]

An oldie but goodie: Roanoke Island.

[@SJ_WomenAgainstPredators]

I was just about to say that!

[@theoriginalsache]

Isn't it generally accepted that the colony's survivors merged with the local tribe of natives, though? Whether that's because of something weather/food related or a skirmish with said natives that ended poorly for the colonists is up for grabs, but I'm not sure that Caitlin could add anything to the story that most of us don't already know.

[@Sarah-Sunshine95]

It’s generally accepted that they moved to a nearby island named Croatoan/Croatoa and merged with the natives. Artifacts from the time period can be found on the island

[@gloriastroedecke2717]

I am curious about Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar. Is it a myth that he was put in a rum barrel to be preserved until he could be buried in Britain and then the crew started drinking the rum he was preserved in?

[@bleachsanchoblastk]

But without Kathy Bates and her wack ass accent lol

[@emmafranzen5844]

’I will capture the north-west passage to restore my honor!’ - franklin

[@cmm4449]

I want bangs like yours but how could anyone reach the same perfection? Awesome video, my style icon!

[@mmurray1983]

I would absolutely nominate John Torrington for a future "Iconic Corpse" feature. I still remember the first time I saw a picture of those three men in a book in my elementary school library. 1845 seemed so distant and remote, but to be looking into the face of someone who had lived then seemed incredible. And now also to realize how young they were when they set out, and when they died.

[@Cadwaladr]

I've heard that the First Nations people up in Canada had known where the ships were for a long time, but the whites never listened to them.

[@missmoxie9188]

Cadwaladr you heard correctly

[@Monada79]

Always the case.

[@beth4489]

Not exactly. The Inuit people (Basically the First Nations of the arctic) had "records" (read: stories) showing that they had interacted with the crew members of the Erebus and the Terror and they had a general idea of maybe where the ships were. But Terror Bay where the ships were found (coincidence) is notoriously difficult to get to, and to be able to get the technology there to find the ships is incredibly expensive. So although maybe 50 years ago when the Inuit were first telling the white people about it nobody was listening, but as time went on they stopped telling and nobody thought to ask them. So yeah, They had a general idea of where the ships MAY have been, but it 100+ year old stories they were telling and there wasn't any reason for the ships to be in the out-of-the-way bay so they were ignored for the most part, until funding and interest sparked the search for the ships again and the Inuit were consulted and we found the ships in 2014 and 2016. The interesting part of all of this is the British government is claiming ownership over the ships and wants them return to England, however they are forcing the Canadian government to foot the bill (we're talking millions of dollars) with the vague promise to maybe allow Canada to display the ships in the future. The Inuit are claiming that the ships belong to them, even though no crew members were inuit, the ships were never there to help the Inuit and basically other than being found in the Canadian Arctic have little to no connection to the Inuit. Politics are weird.

[@LemonJellyJ]

Bethany Madsen thank you for being a voice of reason

[@LadyLunarSatine]

I think my favorite anecdote of the whole mess is that the Inuit people's name for the island where one of the ships sank translates as "The place where the boat sank."

[@thefloatingpiano]

i love your videos and i really appreciate the handwritten captions!!

[@johnshoosmith]

You explained the WHOLE DISASTER really really well!

[@madisonmcknight2591]

I think I read in an BBC article that the discovery of one of the ships was due to help from oral history passed down by Inuit !

[@Lindsay1581]

madison mcknight I read the same thing!

[@leomcg7951]

It's not the cough that carries you off, Its the coffin they carry you off in.

[@stefanp.4094]

Nice summary. Well done! The reason why the mission failed: They had food for three years but for the route they chose they better had food for five years. Franklin was heading for Peel Strait which was frozen in 45/46 and that's why he wintered on Bleechey Island. In the summer of 46 the strait was free of ice and he sailed Peel Strait. So far, so good. According to Woodman (2015) Franklin was heading east of King William Island (which indeed is the correct way of the southern nordwest passage that later Amundsen used in 1903) but he couldn't go further because the ships were too big (Amundsen had a comparably small boat). After that Franklin was going back and heading west of King William Island which was a major fault! But the only alternative would have been to sail back to England which may have been no alternative for Sir John. West of King William Island they got stuck in the ice in 46/47 and waited for the summer, but there was no melting. In 47/48 they were still in the ice and this means the food was running out. According to the captain of the "Terror", Crozier, Franklin died in summer of 48 which is perfectcly three years after the mission began and which was planned for the whole yourney. To me it was a mission impossible. The only way to save the crew was to sail back, but this was nothing the admirality and the public expected.

[@mariakelly1059]

Cue the "Mission Impossible" Theme....

[@TheRenoReviews]

We learned about this in extensive detail when I was in high school (UK) and it was absolutely fascinating!

[@sonja_jade]

Morbid Mystery- how about the LaLaurie mansion fire or maybe H. H. Holmes' murder house?

[@skepticalbadger]

Excellent summary. I actually think you would do a great one on Jack the Ripper; what we actually know & how "Jack" was largely a media creation.

[@msmurder81]

JonMacFhearghuis I would love it if Caitlin did a series on Jack the Ripper... Hey great excuse for a vacation no? Jack was my first serial killer obsession when I found a book as a wean. Set me up for a life time of love and joy derived from all things dark, creepy and morbid.

[@skepticalbadger]

Allison Lewis It's a bit of a morbid rabbit hole, but she would do a great job of keeping it grounded & historical.

[@msmurder81]

JonMacFhearghuis I agree she would do a lovely job. Would also love to see her go to Belfast City Cemetery. One of my favourite places to visit.

[@easytrips3448]

The fact that the ship wasn't turned to splinters from ice flow is astonishing. The crew was also eating canned food which was also giving them lead poisoning. Inuit were regarded as savages, and they told searchers that the ship was in shallow water. The discovering of the ship PROVES that Inuit oral history is indeed extremely accurate.

[@oldnewbie47]

Did you see the TV dramatization of the Franklin Expedition? It was called "The Terror". In it a supernatural native monster killed off most of the crew. But it indeed addressed the problem of lead and that many men were going mad because if it.

[@styxferryman1714]

What about the Donner Party? Or the Roanoake Colony?