Explorer’s relative welcomes find as possible ‘closure’ to mystery

A distant relative of ill-fated Banbridge explorer Captain Francis Crozier says the discovery of the wrecked vesselcould finally bring “closure” to the age-old mystery.
The Crozier Monument, Banbridge.The Crozier Monument, Banbridge.
The Crozier Monument, Banbridge.

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper announced on Tuesday that scientists had found one of two ships lost in 1848 off the far north of the country.

None of the sailors on board survived long enough to make it back to civilization and historian Jason Diamond said only four of their bodies were ever found.

They did not include Banbridge’s Captain Crozier.

Rawden Crozier, a 57-year-old quantity surveyor from Banbridge, who is a distant relative of the captain, said he had heard 12 months ago a discovery might be afoot.

He said the discovery might mean “one of the great unsolved mysteries is starting to unravel and we’ll get final closure on the thing”.

He added that he was eagerly awaiting confirmation that the find was 100 per cent certain, and that the correct ship had been identified.

“In Canada,” he said, “it’s a very significant thing in the culture; they even teach it in schools about the north-west passage expedition.

“You go through Banbridge, people don’t know much about it.”

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