Samuel Hearne's overland expedition, 1770–72
| Dates | Explorer | Ships | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1770–72 | Samuel Hearne | N/A | Walked to the Arctic and did not cross or see any body of water that might form part of the Passage, adding to the argument that if the Passage existed it must surely lie much further north |
Indian investigations
Indian reports of an open strait of water far to the north-west continued to reach the Hudson Bay Company. Curious, Moses Norton, chief factor at the company’s Churchill base sent two Indians Idotliaze and (possibly) Mantonabbee to investigate and report back. They were gone for five years, but the wait seemed well worth it – for they returned with a deerskin map covering a huge area of the interior including a river with three copper mines. Crucially their map did not show Repulse Bay – which Christopher Middleton had concluded blocked any westward passage in that area. Instead the map seemed to suggest that a ship could sail clear from the north-west of the bay to the mines.
Hearne's task
Following criticism that it was not fulfilling its charter responsibilities to explore, and with potentially compelling evidence of commercial opportunities in the offing, the Hudson Bay Company authorized an overland journey by Samuel Hearne. He was tasked with locating the rumoured copper mines and to find out if there was a passage from Hudson Bay through to the Pacific. Hearne was young (25), fit and experienced in snowshoeing.
After a couple of false starts when Norton insisted on the choice of Indian guides (who either abandoned Hearne or got lost) Hearne chose his own guide, Mantonabbee – a leader amongst the Chipeweyan Indians. Hearne joined Mantonabbee's troupe (which included his six wives) and third expedition left in December 1770.
Massacre at Bloody Falls
After a long and arduous journey Hearne, following the seasonal movements of buffalo and caribou (their only source of food), reached the Coppermine River in July 1771. To Hearne it was clear that the river could not form any navigable part of the passage. Fifteen kilometres above the mouth of the river Hearne witnessed the bloody massacre of over twenty Inuits by Mantonabbee’s troupe which greatly traumatized him and led to him to name the site Bloody Falls.
Outcomes
Hearne continued his survey of the river until he arrived at the Arctic Ocean, becoming the first European to do so overland. On their way back Mantonabbee took Hearne to a copper mine, which yielded little of value.
Whilst Hearne’s journey provided almost nothing in the way of commercial opportunities its significance to the search for the North-West Passage was profound. During the 32 months of his expedition Hearne had walked from Hudson Bay to the Arctic Ocean and back, and not crossed or seen any body of water that might form part of the passage. If the Passage existed it must surely lie much further north.
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