Author: Chips

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That First Foray

No Sherlockian information recorded for this date so how about a Tid Bit from Jim Coffin to ponder?

Who can forget that first reading of an adventure of Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. Watson? Our first foray from Baker Street, in a fog, a hansom or
a cab dashing for Victoria Station, not worrying about the date of the
story, mother or aunt, one wound or two.

Posted by Chips.

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“221b (1887-1987)”

“221b (1887-1987)”, from Baker Street Miscellanea, 1987

Coin of ours can never ransom
Years now prisoners to Time;
Roars the bus, where once the hansom
Trotted on the trail of crime.

Found in Quotations from Baker Street, a wonderful booklet edited by
Christopher Redmond, JHWS “Buster”

Posted by Chips, I hope you all who read this enjoy.

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On October 19th…

October 19, 1889: The Red-Headed League was dissolved. [REDH]
October 19, 1889: Holmes captured John Clay. [REDH]
October 19, 1900: Holmes and Watson shot and killed the Hound of the Baskervilles. [HOUN]
October 19, 1900: Jack Stapleton perished in the Grimpen Mire

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On October 14th…

October 14, 1900: Selden was chased across the moor by Watson and Sir Henry. [HOUN]
October 14, 1900: Watson and Sir Henry saw Holmes’s outline against the moor. [HOUN]
October 14, 1900: Sir Henry learned that Selden was Mrs Barrymore’s brother. [HOUN]

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On October 13th…

October 13, 1900: At 2 a.m., Watson watched Barrymore signal to Selden. [HOUN]
October 13, 1900: Watson watched the meeting on the moor of Sir Henry and Beryl Stapleton. [HOUN]
October 13, 1900: Watson wrote his first report to Holmes. [HOUN]

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An Army Tid Bit, Courtesy of Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients

No activity recorded for today, so here is a little known fact unearthed from a Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients past event.

A question came up at Ron Lies’ presentation of The Sign of the Four at the September 2006 meeting as to whether British Army at the time were all volunteers at that time or were they conscripted. The Staff Surgeon (Stan Moskal) researched this question and found the answer on page 80 of Mr. Kipling’s Army: All the Queen’s Men, by Byron Farwell:

It was and had always been an army of volunteers; not until the middle of the First World War (January 1916) did Britain resort to conscription. From 1783 until 1806 men enlisted for life; then for a twenty-three-year, enlistments were seven years for the infantry, ten years for the cavalry and twelve years for sappers and gunners. In 1829 Parliament restored the life engagement; in 1847 this was changed to twenty-one years- which was much the same thing. In 1870 ‘short service’ was introduced. Men enlisted for twelve years, but spent only three to seven years with the colours and the remainder in reserve.

See the original post on the Dr Watson’s Neglected Patients site: Some Random Notes.

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The Hound and the Bittern: A Sherlockian Sonnet by William S Dorn

I found a Sherlockian sonnet written by William S Dorn, BSI, DWNP, who is so talented in his writings. A member of our local society and a man who does me the high honor of calling me his friend. I am sure after you read this you will agree with me as to the high quality of his work.

The Hound and the Bittern

In the days of yore the old tales tell,
Of a spectral hound Sir Hugo much did dread.
It followed him till last he fell,
Then tore at his throat until he was quite dead.

Anon Sir Charles by the moor he did wait.
Next morn the gentle man’s remains were found.
He laid face down quite near a lonely gate,
Beside him prints of a gigantic hound.

Then Watson came to Baskerville, the Hall,
He strolled the moor and heard a frightening noise.
One man did say it was a bittern’s call,
So fierce it was the doctor lost his poise.

Alas it was the massive hound that glows,
In phosphor spread in globs from jowls to nose.