All Things Conan Doyle & Holmes

[Steven Russell]

SS Friesland

In The Norwood Builder, Watson makes a passing reference to, "The shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland which so nearly cost us both our lives". This is one of Watson's teasers and is said to have taken place in the few months following Holmes' return after the great hiatus.

In another narrative associated with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World, mention is made of, "...the log of the SS Friesland, a Dutch-American liner". It seems that there was almost definitely a sighting from that ship of the pterodactyl captured by Professor Challenger and his party in South America. It will be remembered that the beast escaped after having been exhibited in London by the professor; the Friesland sighting marks its last known whereabouts.

What conclusions can be drawn from this? It seems unlikely that the two events were one and the same since TLW was published in 1912 - much too late to be contemporaneous with the months immediately preceding The Norwood Builder affair. However, I believe there is a strong possibility that the same vessel was being referred to on both occasions. We know that Sir ACD had seafaring connections. Perhaps he was acquainted with the crew of this singularly ill-fated ship. Or perhaps it is just a fascinating coincidence. Either way, the Friesland enjoys the rare distinction of having been involved in the affairs of both Sherlock Holmes and Professor Challenger.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[c.d.]

I watched "The Man With The Twisted Lip" the other night. There is one scene where Watson goes into an opium den to search for the husband of one of his lady friends. In order to avoid breathing in the opium fumes he covers his nose and mouth with a hanky. And guess what? The hanky was RED. Hmmmmmm.

c.d.

[Dark Ali]

The petition has already gone in, I think the way they are working is to leave comments on their page and they pass these on when they appeal against the granted planning.

[Dark Ali]

I will go and have a search

[Archaic]

Is There A Direct Link To A "Save Undershaw" Petition?

Hi Ali. Thanks so much for that link. I watched the short video, and I'm shocked that so lovely a home has been allowed to decay like that. In the US homes of famous authors are sometimes declared Literary Landmarks and protected. What the developers are planning to do -chop that lovely house up into three separate residences- is absolutely dreadful.

A while back I posted a link to an excellent documentary about Conan Doyle, and it featured photos and film images of Undershaw in its heyday. I'll see if I can locate it, and re-post the link.

Ali, I looked at the website your link connected to, and saw that it had links for feedback, but do you know if there is a direct link to an actual petition we can sign?

I saw there was a link to Facebook, but I don't do Facebook, so if you or anyone can post a direct petition link, that would be great. (I'll check the website over again just in case I missed it.)

By the way, on that website is some info about saving Edgar Allen Poe's house too... I'm amazed that it's in any danger, as I can't imagine Baltimore without it!
But apparently Baltimore is planning to close the Poe House & Museum in 2012 due to lack of funding.

SAVE THE POE HOUSE & MUSEUM: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/sav...-in-baltimore/

I hope both Undershaw and the Poe House & Museum can be saved. Thanks again Ali for bringing this to our attention.

Best regards,
Archaic

[Dark Ali]

Help save Undershaw

Undershaw, home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is under threat, please visit the Save Undershaw website or join the Facebook campaign here.
Thanks
Ali

[c.d.]

He probably had to resort to solitary vices.

c.d.

[Graham]

I did an internet search regarding the death of Watson's wife. It appears that Conan Doyle never stated the cause of her death. Interestingly though my research indicated that there is a debate as to whether or not Watson married more than once.

Quoting from memory, in The Empty House, Watson discovers that Holmes didn't finish up dead at the bottom of the Reichenbach Falls, and also finds out that Holmes already knows, probably via Mycroft, of his own sad loss (or words to that effect). This is naturally taken to be the death of Mary. I don't think in any subsequent story does Watson (or Holmes) make any reference to his, Watson's, remarrying. I wonder what he did for nookie?

Graham

[Nothing to see]

Jeremy Brett could be a bit eccentric in his performance but I think he's the best Holmes ever on film

No one has mentioned the fabulous BBC series Murder Rooms with Charles Edwards as Conan Doyle and Ian Richards as Dr Joseph Bell.

[caz]

Parachutes? Utter nonsense. She got in the way while Jeremy Brett and Benedict Cumberbund were having a staring contest... Christopher Lee won.

I thought it was Benedict Cucumberpatch.

As it happens, I can think of worse places for a woman to land after a parachute jump.

Or were you thinking of Benedict Cummerbund, distantly related to Basil Bathrobe?

Love,

Caz
X

[c.d.]

I think the obvious answer is that it is a dog. In the story "A Study in Scarlett", when Holmes and Watson are contemplating moving in together, Holmes lists his shortcomings and asks Watson what he has to confess. Watson answers that he keeps a bull-pup. Since they are confessing bad habits and eccentricities or anything that might annoy or cause tension between them, the bull-pup would only make sense if it were a dog.

c.d.

[TomTomKent]

Some time ago we had a discussion regarding Dr. Watson's bull pup. Was it a dog, a gun, or what?

In Thank You, Jeeves, (1934), Bertie Wooster says, "... remorse gnawed me like a bull pup worrying a rubber bone..." So clearly "bull pup" was a phrase used to mean a young bulldog. Of course, this doesn't prove that Watson's bull pup was a dog but I believe it is another piece of evidence swaying the scales in favour of the most obvious explanation.

And Maurice: you keep mentioning Baring-Gould as if he is the ultimate court of appeal in all things Holmseian. Is this the same fellow who suggests that Nero Wolfe is the lovechild of Holmes and Irene Adler? If so, I suggest your hero worship may be misplaced.

Best wishes,
Steve.

Bullpup can also refer to a type of pistol grip. In the context I always read it as the service revolver (Webleys in that time I think of the top of my head with out checking) that Watson seemed to have with him on occassion.

[Steven Russell]

Bertie Wooster's bull pup.

Some time ago we had a discussion regarding Dr. Watson's bull pup. Was it a dog, a gun, or what?

In Thank You, Jeeves, (1934), Bertie Wooster says, "... remorse gnawed me like a bull pup worrying a rubber bone..." So clearly "bull pup" was a phrase used to mean a young bulldog. Of course, this doesn't prove that Watson's bull pup was a dog but I believe it is another piece of evidence swaying the scales in favour of the most obvious explanation.

And Maurice: you keep mentioning Baring-Gould as if he is the ultimate court of appeal in all things Holmseian. Is this the same fellow who suggests that Nero Wolfe is the lovechild of Holmes and Irene Adler? If so, I suggest your hero worship may be misplaced.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[c.d.]

I did an internet search regarding the death of Watson's wife. It appears that Conan Doyle never stated the cause of her death. Interestingly though my research indicated that there is a debate as to whether or not Watson married more than once.

Parachute huh? You had me going there for about half a second. I wanted to believe it but it required to great a leap of faith. Leap...get it? I threw that one in just for jolly.

c.d.

[miss marple]

I volunteer in Highgate cemetery. I saw the grave of ' Moriarty' the other week It is Adam Worth aka The Napoleon of Crime, so named by Sir Robert Anderson.He was an international criminal who died in 1902.
He was the inspiration for Moriarty. and is buried in a pauper' grave, there is a small Tombstone, erected much later, between the giant graves.
Miss Marple