Relics of the Franklin Expedition: Discovering Artifacts from the Doomed Arctic Voyage of 1845 by Garth Walpole & Russell Potter

Relics of the Franklin Expedition: Discovering Artifacts from the Doomed Arctic Voyage of 1845 by Garth Walpole & Russell Potter

Author:Garth Walpole & Russell Potter
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: McFarland
Published: 2017-01-10T21:00:00+00:00


Figure 19: Irving’s grave as depicted in “Overland to Starvation Cove” (Barr 1987: 83) (author’s collection).

Schwatka stated the skull was found outside the grave’s broken walls but appeared to immediately contradict himself, stating that “the skull and a few other bones were found in, and nearby the grave” (Stackpole 1965: 82; emphasis mine). Gilder (2006: 82) made exactly the same observation, in fact, if not for one word (only), both quotes were the same. It is hard to know who was quoting whom. Given that Klutschak would have discussed this and other details relating to Irving’s grave with both Gilder and Schwatka, one wonders what relationship, if any, existed between Klutschak and Gilder and/or Schwatka. Frank Melms, for example, is barely by mentioned by Schwatka and Gilder unless it is in relation to Klutschak.

The accounts give various descriptions of the items found within the grave, in one form or another. The silk handkerchief was alternatively described as a “colored” (Stackpole 1965: 82; Barr 1987: 83) or “figured” (Gilder 2006: 82). Gilder additionally described it as “pocket” sized (82). Its state of preservation was assessed as “fair” (Stackpole 1965: 82); “remarkable” (Gilder 2006: 82) or “remarkably good” (Barr 1987: 83) The difference between “fair” and “remarkable,” as Gilder suggested, had more to do with the handkerchief’s colors and pattern” than its actual condition. As it had originally been “neatly folded” and the grave covered, this would have helped in its preservation (Gilder 2006: 82). Both Schwatka (1965: 82) and Gilder (2006: 82) said it was found “under the head.” Technically, as the skull was found outside, the handkerchief would not have been under the head, at that time. Klutschak was more precise, saying it lay at the “head end” (Barr 1987: 83).

Aside from the handkerchief, Klutschak barely commented on the other items, save for the “luxuriant growth of moss65 flourishing on some remnants of blue cloth which judging by the buttons and the fine texture,” Klutschak believed had “once belonged to an English officer’s uniform” (Barr 1987: 83). Klutschak does not indicate how he came to conclude an officer had been buried there. Gilder (2006: 81) and Schwatka (Stackpole 1965: 82) recorded that these buttons were made of gilt. In addition Schwatka added that they were “stamped with an anchor and surmounted by a crown” (82).

Schwatka and Gilder appeared to have differing opinions about the cloth found in the grave but nevertheless arrived at the same conclusion. Although Gilder couldn’t ascertain between the two types of cloth he saw, he posited the blue cloth had originated from a heavy overcoat that had partially been wrapped round the body. He also noticed that there was a large amount of canvas in and about the grave and concluded from the “coarse stitching through it and the cloth” that the body had been encased in it (Gilder 2006: 81). Schwatka did not specifically allude to the coat but from the “many pieces of coarsely stitched canvas” in the grave assumed that Irving had probably



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