illuminator newsletter #33
FIVE NEW HMS EREBUS ARTIFACTS
16 August 2024
Parks Canada today published five new Erebus artifacts recovered during the 2022 season, including a watercolour palette from the (presumed) Captain’s Steward’s pantry, the first of the fossils found in the (presumed) Fairholme cabin, and the single eyeglass found in the (presumed) Le Vesconte cabin. A small stoneware beaker (above) comes from the seaman’s chest in the forecastle.
The leather folio, from the (presumed) Captain’s Steward’s pantry, is shown to feature an embossed depiction of birds amidst foliage.
Regarding the fossil, Parks Canada comments that they “… and the GSC are working together to attempt to determine the geographic provenance of this and other geological samples which could shed light on the expedition’s route and activities.” This would be extraordinary — if a fossil collection helped recreate part of the expedition’s route. [Additional fossils were found in the same location during the 2023 season.]
SINCE THE LAST ISSUE
R.V. David Thompson has now reached Iqaluit.
11 August 2024
Captain Crozier in Ireland: Locations and Connections. By Olga Kimmins.
Olga Kimmins has created a detailed guide for touring Francis Crozier’s life in Banbridge and Dublin — a definitive source for those who want to see more than just the statue. The guide is accompanied by Kimmins’ own excellent photography, as well as her ability to correct errors in the published Crozier biographies along the way.