February 4, 1875: McMurdo arrived in Vermissa Valley. [VALL]
February 4, 1886: Arthur Holder asked his father for money for the first time. [BERY]
On February 3rd…
February 3, 1825: The birth of General Edward Mounier Boxer, Inventor of the Boxer Cartridge which by all sources was a definite improvement in 19th Century ammunition.
The cartridges were used by Holmes when he “in one of his queer humours would sit in an armchair, with his hair-trigger and a hundred Boxer cartridges, and proceed to adorn the opposite wall with a patriotic V.R. done in bullet-pocks” [MUSG].
This information as well as the previous two days’ posts came from a new and great informational book, A CURIOUS COLLECTION OF DATES by Leah Guinn, JHWS “Amber”, and Jaime Mahoney, JHWS “Tressa”, two talented and dedicated researchers who have created a great reference material volume that all will enjoy. Leah has graciously given me permission to reprint information from this volume for our enjoyment.
Posted by The Game is Afoot.
On February 2nd…
February 2, 1894: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes first published in the United States by Harper & Brothers.
On February 1st…
Something a little different today: rather than a Canonical happening, an event in the Sherlockian world 71 years ago today.
February 1, 1946: The world premiere of the film Terror by Night, the thirteenth film (of fourteen) in the Sherlock Holmes series starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.
The film borrowed elements from Canonical stories, including poisoned darts from THE SIGN OF FOUR. The film also borrowed from “THE ADVENTURE OF THE EMPTY HOUSE” with the introduction of Colonel Sebastian Moran and the full name of the murdered first victim. The film lastly borrowed from “THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LADY OF FRANCES CARFAX” with the use of an oversized coffin that fits two people stacked up.
Watson was played in typical Bruce style, unfortunately. I liked the film – how about the rest of the Watsonians?
On January 23rd…
January 23, 1891: Holmes “incommoded” Moriarty. [FINA]
On January 22nd…
January 22, 1897: Holmes allowed Captain Croker to go free by the British Gentleman’s Code of Ethics. [ABBE]
On January 21st…
January 21, 1897: Sir Eustace Brackenstall was killed by Captain James Croker. [ABBE]
January 21, 1897: Theresa Wright, Lady Brackenstall’s maid, said she saw three men in the moonlight. [ABBE]
On January 18th…
January 18, 1886: Lady Eva Blackwell married the Earl of Dovercourt. [CHAS]
On January 13th…
January 13, 1886: Sherlock Holmes became engaged to Milverton’s house maid. [CHAS]
January 13, 1886: Holmes and Watson burglarized Milverton’s house. [CHAS]
January 13, 1886: Charles Augustus Milverton was murdered. [CHAS]
On January 12th…
January 12, 1903: Sir James Saunders diagnosed Godfrey Emsworth’s disease as pseudo-leprosy. [BLAN]
On January 10th…
January 10, 1885: Joseph Openshaw was killed by a fall into a chalk pit. [FIVE]
On January 8th…
January 8, 1885: Joseph Openshaw visited Major Freebody. [FIVE]
January 8, 1888: Cecil Barker fished Ted Baldwin’s clothes from the moat. [VALL]
January 8, 1888: Jack Douglas confessed to killing Ted Baldwin. [VALL]
On January 7th…
January 7, 1886: Milverton sent an incriminating note to the husband of one of his blackmailees. [CHAS]
January 7, 1888: Holmes received an encoded message from Porlock. [VALL]
January 7, 1903: James Dodd left Old Tuxbury for London, where he consulted Sherlock Holmes. [BLAN]
On January 6th…
January 6, 1886: Charles Augustus Milverton called upon Holmes at 221B Baker Street. [CHAS]
January 6, 1888: Jack Douglas shot and killed Ted Baldwin. [VALL]
January 6, 1903: Colonel Emsworth told James Dodd that he must leave Tuxsbury Old Park the next morning. [BLAN]
And the most IMPORTANT:
Friday, January 6, 1854: Sherlock Holmes was born!
On January 5th…
January 5, 1903: James Dodd traveled from London to Bedford and thence to Tuxbury Old Place. [BLAN]
January 5, 1903: James Dodd saw the face of Godfrey Emsworth at his bedroom window. [BLAN]
On January 4th…
January 4, 1885: Joseph Openshaw received five orange pips. [FIVE]
January 4, 1891: Holmes crossed Moriarty’ s path. [FINA]
On January 3rd…
January 3, 1881: Holmes moved into 221B Baker Street. [STUD]
January 3, 1903: James Dodd received an amicable reply to his letter from Mrs. Emsworth. [BLAN]
On January 2nd…
January 2, 1881: Watson moved into 221B Baker Street. [STUD]
On December 31st…
December 31, 1902: James Dodd’s letter arrived at Tuxbury Old Park. [BLAN]
On December 30th…
December 30, 1902: James Dodd wrote a letter to Godfrey Emsworth’s mother. [BLAN]