# Why did 24 of 129 men die aboard Erebus and Terror before April 1848, when other Arctic expeditions lost few? · Franklin expedition (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror) > Four answers have been proposed. Scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews. leads, with evidence 2 for… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZ3Y4S45/why-did-24-of-129-men-die-aboard-erebus-and-terror-before Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:28+00:00 --- **0** # Why did 24 of 129 men die aboard Erebus and Terror before April 1848, when other Arctic expeditions lost few? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters The death rate before the desertion is what turned a hard voyage into a catastrophe, and it is far higher than on comparable expeditions that stayed longer⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJDP1W9W/use-your-best-endeavours-to-discover-a-sheltered-and-safe). Each explanation predicts something measurable in the remains. ## Answers 4 [**Scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K1A814R3/scurvy-and-malnutrition-as-the-provisions-lost-their-value) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**Something particular to these ships (provisions, conditions, disease) rather than the Arctic itself caused…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K21P7WNJ/something-particular-to-these-ships-provisions-conditions) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K0B06ECJ/lead-from-the-solder-of-the-tinned-food-or-from-the-ships) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K2HA1W9X/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1991[Kowal et al. puts forward: lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JNV25W71/source-identification-of-lead-found-in-tissues-of-sailors) 1. 1991[Kowal et al.: lead isotope ratios in Beechey Island sailors matched the solder of the expedition's tins.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JNV25W71/source-identification-of-lead-found-in-tissues-of-sailors)For: Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews. 1. 1997[Keenleyside et al. puts forward: scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JN3M37TJ/the-final-days-of-the-franklin-expedition-new-skeletal) 1. 1997[Keenleyside et al.: high lead levels in the Erebus Bay bones.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JN3M37TJ/the-final-days-of-the-franklin-expedition-new-skeletal)For: Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews. 1. 1997[Keenleyside et al.: signs of scurvy in the Erebus Bay remains.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JN3M37TJ/the-final-days-of-the-franklin-expedition-new-skeletal)For: Scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews. 1. 2017[Millar & Bowman: thumbnail element series of a Beechey sailor bears on his nutrition in his last months.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JPAP1FBP/hartnells-time-machine-reprise-further-implications-of-zinc)For: Scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews. 1. 2018[Swanston et al.: lead was similar at Beechey and King William Island, not markedly raised near death, and not high relative to…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JP2W0Z70/franklin-expedition-lead-exposure-new-insights-from-high)Against: Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews. 1. 2019[Park & Stenton puts forward: something particular to these ships (provisions, conditions, disease) rather than the Arctic itself caused…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJDP1W9W/use-your-best-endeavours-to-discover-a-sheltered-and-safe) 1. 2019[Park & Stenton: mortality on other contemporary Arctic expeditions matched Royal Navy rates worldwide.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJDP1W9W/use-your-best-endeavours-to-discover-a-sheltered-and-safe)For: Something particular to these ships (provisions, conditions, disease) rather than the Arctic itself caused… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZ3Y4S45/why-did-24-of-129-men-die-aboard-erebus-and-terror-before%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZ3Y4S45/why-did-24-of-129-men-die-aboard-erebus-and-terror-before%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZ3Y4S45/why-did-24-of-129-men-die-aboard-erebus-and-terror-before%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZ3Y4S45/why-did-24-of-129-men-die-aboard-erebus-and-terror-before%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZ3Y4S45/why-did-24-of-129-men-die-aboard-erebus-and-terror-before%23add-source) Where it fits Franklin expedition (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror) **Why did 24 of 129 men die aboard Erebus and Terror before April 1848, when other Arctic expeditions lost few?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]