Dr Watson - Letter from Peter A. Lorimer regarding the Andrew Hume expedition of 1874, 1908

B 155

fonds

1874, 1908

Textual Records, Photographs

433063

1 volume - 0.01 Meters
Textual Records - (manuscript)
Photographs - 1 cabinet photograph - 16.4 x 10.7 cm.

Among several expeditions that searched for the graves and possessions of Ludwig Leichhardt's exploration party of 1848, the most notorious was that of Andrew ("The Black Prince") Hume, Timothy O'Hea, and Lewis Thompson in 1874. Hume was a bush wanderer who, whilst in Parramatta jail serving a ten-year sentence for robbery, disclosed that he had met Adolph Classen, Leichhardt's deputy, living among the Aborigines. Hume suggested he should return to the area to obtain Leichhardt's relics and find Classen, the "wild white man", and to this end, was released in 1871 returning without proof in 1873. In July 1874, Hume embarked on a second attempt to find Classen setting out from Nocka-tunga Station in outback Queensland but subsequently perished with "O'Shea" from thirst. -- Reference: The Australian Encyclopaedia, Vol.3, Sydney: The Grolier Society of Australia, 1977

PHOTOGRAPH
"Hume the Explorer" beneath image. Handwritten on reverse of image; "Hume gave me this photograph / in July 1874 prior to his unintentional / end in Warrego district where he / perished through thirst while leading / the Leichardt [i.e. Leichhardt] search party / Peter A. Lorimer / 16th Janry 1908". Signed at lower right on back of photograph, "J.W .. Watson". Photographer's name on reverse, "A. Tronier / Photo Artist / 410 George Street / Sydney"
LETTER
4 Feb. 1908; Lorimer writes to Dr. Watson to explain his role in the transportation of cattle and sheep under the superintendence of F.E. Nash and through his work in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Queensland he encountered several expeditions in search of Leichhardt's party, including McIntyre (1866) and Hume (1874). Lorimer relates his belief that there are no remains of Leichhardt in the Gulf of Carpentaria and that a shipwrecked sailor, Morrell, who lived among Aborigines in the Port Denison region (Bowen), would have found evidence. The majority of the correspondence discusses [Andrew] Hume's exploits in relation to finding Leichhardt's relics, Hume's interactions with Aborigines, and the fate of Glasson [i.e. Classen] and Leichhardt.

A pencil notation in the margin reads, "30.10.11 [i.e. 1911] (Don) Dr Watson"
D.S. Mitchell bookplate inside front cover.

Photographer's signature on reverse of photograph.