| Description |
A relic of Sir John Franklin's last expedition 1845-48. A fragment of canvas weather cloth found in an abandoned boat at Erebus Bay, King William Island, in May 1859 by the McClintock Search Expedition 1857-59. A piece of linen canvas, consisting of the selvage edge with two sewn eyelet holes. It is marked with rust stains.
McClintock's party reached this site on 30 May and discovered that Hobson had been there a few days before. The boat was 28 foot long and mounted on a heavy sledge. McClintock found it just above high tide mark pointing back in the direction of the ships and containing a large quantity of abandoned personal possessions and two skeletons. The boat had been adapted for use in shallow water. 'She was fitted with a weather-cloth 9 inches inches high, battened down all round the gunwale, and supported by 24 iron stancheons, so placed as to serve likewise for rowing thowells'. |
