Block sheave

A relic of Sir John Franklin's last expedition 1845-8 recovered by Charles Francis Hall (1821-71). A fragment of a hardwood block sheave marked with a broad arrow. Possibly from the ship driven ashore a Grant Point. Schwatka was told by the Inuit of the Adelaide Peninsula that they had found a ship near the shore in this area. It was abandoned except for the body of a European. The Inuit removed anything useful and the vessel subsequently sank. They also reported finding the footprints of the four last crew members on the shore. Hall was told a similar story except that the ship was said to have sunk near O'Reilly Island. Illustrated in a plate entitles :' Relics found by Captain Hall in his recent Arctic exploring expedition' published in 'Harper's weekly' in 1869.

Object Details

ID: AAA2329
Collection: Polar Equipment and Relics
Type: Block sheave
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Events: Arctic Exploration: Franklin's Last Expedition, 1845-1848; Arctic Exploration: Franklin Search Expedition, Hall, 1864-1869
Date made: circa 1845
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Royal United Service Institution Collection
Measurements: Overall: 30 x 137 x 76 mm