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[The Personal Diary of Dr. Clawbonny] April 30th 1860

From: Harry Hayfield <harryhayfield~at~googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:17:04 -0700 (PDT)
To: jvf~at~gilead.org.il

Considering that we were under direct instructions to reach Cape
Farewell ten days ago, the person who issued those orders has been
conspicuous by his absence. A point that the crew had also started to
cotton on to. That was until today when, yes, you've guessed it, we got
a letter from him. Now, nothing unusual about that you might say and
indeed getting communications from the Captain is not that odd, however
there is something you have to bear in mind though. We are currently
located off the town of Holsteinborg in the middle of the Davis Strait
with no means of communication at all. A fact that the Commander found
stunning and summoned myself, Wall and Johnson to hear the latest
communication
/
"To the Commander, RICHARD SHANDON, On board the 'Forward,' Baffin's
Sea. COMMANDER,— The captain of the Forward is pleased with the
coolness, skill, and courage that your men, your officers, and yourself
have shown on the late occasions, and begs you to give evidence of his
gratitude to the crew. Have the goodness to take a northerly direction
towards Melville Bay, and from thence try and penetrate into Smith's
Straits. The Captain OF The Forward, K. Z. Monday, April 30th, Abreast
of Cape Walsingham."/
Which naturally prompted the question "How on earth did he manage to get
a letter on board?", to which I answered "Because he is here already!"
After a very heated discussion we decided that he had given all these
instructions to a crewman who was told to send communications from KZ
when the ship was in the right place. This brought up the issue of
Melville Bay and Smith's Straits.
"Yes, Smith's Straits," replied Shandon, "that's the route the American
Kane followed in 1853, and at the price of what dangers! For a long time
he was thought to be lost in those dreadful latitudes! However, as we
must go, go we must. But where? how far? To the Pole?". "And why not?" I
asked. That question was promptly ignored but it was decided we would
keep KZ's method of communications a secret from the rest of the crew
"Because all that mystery tends to discourage the men: they are already
very anxious about the fate of our expedition, and if the supernatural
side of it is increased it may produce very serious results, and in a
critical moment we could not rely upon them" according to Johnson, a
concept we all agreed with

--
Posted By Harry Hayfield to The Personal Diary of Dr. Clawbonny on
3/22/2011 10:15:00 PM

Received on Wed 23 Mar 2011 - 00:17:11 IST

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