NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Transcription of Worsley's Log
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2009 Mar 25, 18:14 -0700
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2009 Mar 25, 18:14 -0700
Gentlemen First, a public apology to George. I used his name on-list without consulting him. I won't do it again. I thought, from our off-list conversations, we agreed that while Point Wild (and Wild Camp) was the clearly obvious location for the observation, we could never be 100% certain. Even if such agreement was to be had off list, it was not a matter for public consumption. Again, George, my apologies. As to the overland journey to Cape Belsham: HA! If any member of the list thinks this would have been a simple jaunt in the park, one only has to read the first hand accounts of any antarctic land journey during this era. What adversity to face under such incredibly grueling conditions. Very, very unlikely. George has rendered an exquisite description of what that undertaking might be. I thought I said that in the earlier post too, just not nearly as eloquently. As to my use of the word "all", I seem to be in error again. What I was saying is that any given person looks at a chart and sees a labeled location. That is where the label is, so that is where the location is. Simple. Okay, not "all", but the generic "everyman" or maybe even just "Brad". To Frank's question about the departure, the text in the transcript is the text in the log. It doesn't sound like the text you have requested. I have held nothing back in the transcription. To save effort,it states: "No obs for Lat cd be obtained + long of Cape Belsham being only opportunity knowing it is, allow 1 minute + 4 sec more slow = 11min55sec" And just down a line or two "Took departure from Wild Camp in 'James Caird' at 11 / 12. Steered NNE 8m then E1m to a break in the stream ice here being E+W." As to the Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, that description fits Cape Valentine on the modern chart. Thanks for that Frank, it lends some support to my current tentative hypothesis. Where oh where is Cape Belsham? Further, there are three small peninsulas (capes, points, etc) in that small region of Elephant Island. The map from the 1970's expedition, recently on the list, has Cape Belsham in the middle of the three, with Point Wild to the east. I note that Chart 29104 has Cape Belsham on the westernmost of the three, with Point Wild in the middle. I just noticed this, in my review of the maps for this post. Henry's memory was correct, there is modern disagreement over the locations and positions. So, really, just where is Cape Belsham? Cape Belsham appears to be located precisely in the eye of the beholder. Best Regards Brad --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc To post, email NavList@fer3.com To , email NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---