A fragment of clay pipe stem
A fragment of clay pipe stem from the 1845 Northwest Passage Expedition led by Sir John Franklin.
This is one of eleven clay pipe fragments recovered by the US expedition under Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka between 1878-1880. They are described as either 'Item 87. Various small articles from Cape Felix' or 'Item 90. Small articles found at Cape Felix' in the 1881 catalogue of items that he sent back to Britain in 1881 [TNA, ADM 1/6600]. However, neither list specifies what is contained in each grouping.
Schwatka's expedition visited Cape Felix between 3 and 7 July 1879. Gilder recounted '...three miles south of Cape Felix, was what appeared to be a torn-down cairn, and a quantity of canvas and course red woollen stuff, pieces of blue cloth, broken bottles...showing that there had been a permanent camping place.' [Gilder, page 133]. This was the same site that McClintock had visited in 1859 and recorded that the material found but not taken away contained 'piece of tobacco and broken pipe' [McClintock, page 369]. This site is believed to have been occupied by twelve officers and men from the Franklin expedition in the summer of 1847.
The fragments of clay pipe were displayed at the Royal Naval Museum, Greenwich, in a group in 'Case 7, No. 8. 'Pieces of china, clay pipes &c'.
This is one of eleven clay pipe fragments recovered by the US expedition under Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka between 1878-1880. They are described as either 'Item 87. Various small articles from Cape Felix' or 'Item 90. Small articles found at Cape Felix' in the 1881 catalogue of items that he sent back to Britain in 1881 [TNA, ADM 1/6600]. However, neither list specifies what is contained in each grouping.
Schwatka's expedition visited Cape Felix between 3 and 7 July 1879. Gilder recounted '...three miles south of Cape Felix, was what appeared to be a torn-down cairn, and a quantity of canvas and course red woollen stuff, pieces of blue cloth, broken bottles...showing that there had been a permanent camping place.' [Gilder, page 133]. This was the same site that McClintock had visited in 1859 and recorded that the material found but not taken away contained 'piece of tobacco and broken pipe' [McClintock, page 369]. This site is believed to have been occupied by twelve officers and men from the Franklin expedition in the summer of 1847.
The fragments of clay pipe were displayed at the Royal Naval Museum, Greenwich, in a group in 'Case 7, No. 8. 'Pieces of china, clay pipes &c'.