# What did the survivors do after leaving the ships in April 1848? · Franklin expedition (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror) > Four answers have been proposed. Some men returned to the ships, and one or both were sailed or drifted south with men aboard. leads, with evidence 2… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZBR0PFJ/what-did-the-survivors-do-after-leaving-the-ships-in-april Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:28+00:00 --- **0** # What did the survivors do after leaving the ships in April 1848? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: some men returned to the ships, and one or both were sailed or drifted south with men aboard** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Some men returned to the ships, and one or both were sailed or drifted south with men aboard. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the three narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The Victory Point record gives a plan, not an outcome⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJNG3QYJ/new-dna-analysis-identifies-more-members-of-the-ill-fated). Erebus was found far south of where the ships were deserted, and Inuit testimony describes people on a ship later⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JH6M6CJV/discoveries-wrecks-of-hms-erebus-and-hms-terror-national)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JPJG4QSK/unravelling-the-franklin-mystery-inuit-testimony). The answer decides where the remaining dead and papers lie. ## Answers 4 [**Some men returned to the ships, and one or both were sailed or drifted south with men aboard.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K3GJ331F/some-men-returned-to-the-ships-and-one-or-both-were-sailed) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K4QM6W3B/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The two crews travelled separately, by design or by accident.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K4806Z8F/the-two-crews-travelled-separately-by-design-or-by-accident) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**The whole party set out together for the Back River and died along the way; the ships drifted south unmanned.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/answers/ANS0D59K2S43XR6/the-whole-party-set-out-together-for-the-back-river-and-died) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 1991[Woodman puts forward: some men returned to the ships, and one or both were sailed or drifted south with men aboard.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JPJG4QSK/unravelling-the-franklin-mystery-inuit-testimony) 1. 1991[Woodman: inuit testimony describes a ship with people and later a dead man aboard.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JPJG4QSK/unravelling-the-franklin-mystery-inuit-testimony)For: Some men returned to the ships, and one or both were sailed or drifted south with men aboard. 1. 2023[Parks Canada: erebus lies far south of where the ships were abandoned.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JH6M6CJV/discoveries-wrecks-of-hms-erebus-and-hms-terror-national)For: Some men returned to the ships, and one or both were sailed or drifted south with men aboard. 1. 2026[Stenton puts forward: the whole party set out together for the Back River and died along the way; the ships drifted south unmanned.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJNG3QYJ/new-dna-analysis-identifies-more-members-of-the-ill-fated) 1. 2026[Stenton puts forward: the two crews travelled separately, by design or by accident.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJNG3QYJ/new-dna-analysis-identifies-more-members-of-the-ill-fated) 1. 2026[Stenton: the five identified men near Erebus Bay are all from Erebus.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJNG3QYJ/new-dna-analysis-identifies-more-members-of-the-ill-fated)Against: The whole party set out together for the Back River and died along the way; the ships drifted south unmanned. 1. 2026[Stenton: the 1848 record states the intention to start for Back's Fish River on 26 April.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJNG3QYJ/new-dna-analysis-identifies-more-members-of-the-ill-fated)For: The whole party set out together for the Back River and died along the way; the ships drifted south unmanned. 1. 2026[Stenton: all five identified men who died near Erebus Bay served on Erebus; Peglar of Terror died near Gladman Point.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D59JJNG3QYJ/new-dna-analysis-identifies-more-members-of-the-ill-fated)For: The two crews travelled separately, by design or by accident. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZBR0PFJ/what-did-the-survivors-do-after-leaving-the-ships-in-april%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/QST0D59JZBR0PFJ/what-did-the-survivors-do-after-leaving-the-ships-in-april%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/QST0D59JZBR0PFJ/what-did-the-survivors-do-after-leaving-the-ships-in-april%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/QST0D59JZBR0PFJ/what-did-the-survivors-do-after-leaving-the-ships-in-april%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/QST0D59JZBR0PFJ/what-did-the-survivors-do-after-leaving-the-ships-in-april%23add-source) Where it fits Franklin expedition (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror) **What did the survivors do after leaving the ships in April 1848?** Key question · you're here [How widespread was cannibalism in the last stage of the retreat?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59K0363YTH/how-widespread-was-cannibalism-in-the-last-stage-of-the)Most likely · it occurred among the last survivors at a few sites, such as Erebus Bay [When and how did Erebus and Terror sink?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZKJ4RQZ/when-and-how-did-erebus-and-terror-sink)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [Who are the dead on King William Island?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/franklin-expedition/questions/QST0D59JZVC26S9/who-are-the-dead-on-king-william-island)Most likely · most can be identified by matching archaeological DNA to descendants traced by genealogy [ Ask a question under this one ]