The Stormy Petrels of BC will continue to meet, for the time being, via Zoom, to discuss “The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor” published in The Strand Magazine in April 1892.

According to The Oxford Sherlock Holmes (1993 – edited by Richard Lancelyn Green) explanatory notes: The Philadelphia Inquirer called it “The Story of the Missing Bride”, The St. Louis Dispatch called it “The Adventures of a Nobleman” and The Atlanta Constitution called it “Adventures of a Noble Bachelor”.

Find out what happened to the young, American heiress. What made her drop her bouquet as she walked down the aisle at the church? What happened at the wedding breakfast? Did the “Noble Bachelor” act nobly? What was in the black canvas bag which Lestrade brought to Baker Street?

This adventure mentions Dr. Watson’s wound. “…the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as a relic of my Afghan campaign…”

Which limb? “In The Sign of Four” Dr. Watson “Sat nursing my wounded leg.” In “Study in Scarlet” Sherlock Holmes notes that “His (Watson’s) left arm had been injured.” In “The Resident Patient” as well as “The Cardboard Box” Holmes notices “…your hand stole towards your own old wound.”

Was it his leg? After all, he did not accompany his friend on his afternoon stroll, but sat with his legs up, surrounded by a litter of newspapers.

Could the following demonstration depict how Dr. Watson was wounded in two separate limbs?

From “On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes” – Some Old Problems Solved” by Walter Shepherd

Do you agree that this adventure was “remarkable” as Dr. Watson said, or do you agree with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when he rated it “…about bottom of the list.”

Discussion will take place: Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)

BONUS QUESTIONS:

1. Mr. Moulton stayed at the Northumberland Hotel. Which other client of Sherlock Holmes also stayed there at one point?
2. Americans were referred to as ………. (two answers here)

If you would like more information, or have any questions, please contact Fran at: franziskah@shaw.ca

A mystery house! A murderous attack! A severed body part!

An injured man is brought to Dr. Watson who, in turn, takes him to Holmes. Bring out the brandy!

The adventure for May’ s discussion is “The Engineer’s Thumb” Which was originally printed in the Strand Magazine in Mach 1892. (And in the Baltimore Weekly Sun as “A Strange Adventure.”

From “The Adventure Of Arthur Conan Doyle – The Life of the Creator of Sherlock Holmes“, Charles Higham reports:

“In further letters, Robert Louis Stevenson expressed pleasure in ACD’s book The Refugees and revealed that he had held his native overseer Simale _⁽¹⁾ enthralled with “The Engineer’s Thumb“, which, he prayed to God to forgive him, he had narrated as though it were a true story.”

⁽¹) RLS was living in Samoa at this time

From Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Memories and Adventure” he wrote:

“…he (Robert Louis Stevenson) complained to me in a comical letter of the difficulty of telling a story when you had to halt every moment to explain what a railway was, what an engineer was, and so forth.”

At this time we are still meeting via Zoom. Sheldon will send the invitation link closer to the meeting date, along with his “Musings” and minutes of the previous meeting.

Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Rich Kriscunas will treat us to another of his interesting and insightful presentations.

Sheldon Goldfarb will read his musings on the adventure.

If you have any question, please contact Fran at: franziskah@shaw.ca

Here are the Bonus Questions:

(a) What was Sherlock Holmes reading when Dr. Watson brought Victor Hatherley to see him?

(b) What was Sherlock Holmes smoking? (Please be specific)

(c) What did Hatherley see on the round table when he first arrived and was shown into a room by Colonel Stark? (again, please be specific)

The adventure for discussion at the April meeting will be “The Speckled Band” Once again, we will meet via Zoom.

This case was first published in the Strand Magazine (UK) in February 1892 and in the US edition of the Strand in March 1892.

This case features what can be described as Gothic elements…Murder, terror, exotic animals roaming the grounds of an ancient manor house in the country, and a dastardly villain.

Dr. Watson: “It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business.”

Sherlock Holmes: ” Dark enough, and sinister enough.”

Arthur Conan Doyle was asked to write a list of his favourite 12 stories. (Not including the stories in The Casebook). In 1927 the Strand Magazine offered a prize to any reader who could match ACD’s list. The winner was Mr. R.T. Norman, who matched 10 out of 12.

Note: “The Speckled Band” was first on the list

Re: The successful stage play in 1910 at the Adelphi Theatre in London. It featured H.A. Saintsbury in the role of Sherlock Holmes. The play was to be called “The Stonor Case” but was changed back to it’s original name.

The following page can be found in “Sherlock Holmes in America” by Bill Blackbeard.

Several changes were made, including omitting the poker-bending scene, as “…no pliable prop could be found.” (from “Teller of Tales – the Life of Arthur Conan Doyle” by Daniel Stashower.

Daniel Stashower also reports that there were issues concerning the snake. An artificial snake was favoured by the cast and crew, but ACD insisted that they use the real thing. He imported a Rock Python. Conan Doyle finally admitted “…the snake made a poor actor.”

Mr. Richard Krisciunas will have a presentation for us.

Mr. Sheldon Goldfarb will read his Musings on the “Speckled Band“

Please join us on Tuesday April 6, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)

For more information, please contact Fran at: franziskah@shaw.ca

Bonus question: What were the two exotic animals which roamed the grounds at night at Stoke Moran?

Our March adventure was first published in the Strand Magazine in January 1892. Christopher Morley called it “A Christmas story without the slush.” When it was published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, an alternative title was used – “The Christmas Goose That Swallowed the Diamond.”

On Tuesday, March 2nd the Stormy Petrels will meet via Zoom to discuss “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle”

Find out what Dr. Watson learns as he visits his friend, Holmes, on the second day after Christmas.

What is a commissionaire?

Find out how a precious gem ended up in the “disjecta membra” of a foul.

What did Holmes deduce from the hat of Henry Baker and why did his wife force Baker the wear a scotch bonnet?

Holmes says it is “the season of forgiveness.” Was Holmes commuting a felony or saving a soul?

Bonus questions: 1. The blue carbuncle may have been based on which real-life gem? 2. Which American Novelist had a story published in 1851 titled “The Great Carbuncle” (in his collection of Twice-Told Tales) 3. In which other Sherlock Holmes adventure do we find an incident of vitriol throwing?

The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM (Pacific Time)

Listen to Sheldon Goldfarb read his musings on the story. Join the discussion.

For more info, please contact Fran at: franziskah@shaw.ca