Well Dear Reader your patience has been rewarded! There is news on Captain Darling and his absence from the Blogosphere may soon end!
It has come to light that recently three glass photographic plates wrapped in period broadsheets and identified as being from Stump & Co have surfaced in Cape Town, South Africa. It was known that a photographer from Stump & Co was in the retinue of Captain Darling’s 1890 foray to Africa. The images on the plates purportedly show the good Captain and members from his infamous ‘Lost Expedition’ of 1890! These plates were quickly dispatched to Adelaide, South Australia where the Antipodean Explorers Club had them printed, what was revealed was amazing and has resulted in a follow up Safari to be organised to retrace his steps and locate him and his loyal band!
It has been quite a time since our intrepid Hero departed South Australia from Port Adelaide accompanied by his good lady, Kathryn and a small group of like minded Explorers aboard the iron hulled steamship Marlborough. He intended to lead his small band on a Safari into the deepest depths of the Dark Continent in search of Adventure, Fame and Treasure (not necessarily in that order). The Expedition was to commence their trek into the impenetrable jungles of Central Africa after disembarking at docks of Mombasa, a native contingent had been arranged to meet them in advance via cable.
Unfortunately since leaving the shores of South Australia there has been no word from Captain Darling nor from the iron hulled steamship the Marlborough. Interestingly though the prearranged native contingent was seen by eye witnesses accompanied by Westeners leaving Mombasa! The identities of these ‘Westeners’ has not been confirmed!
We will wait with baited breath on news from the new Relief Expedition!
This is the second of the photographs developed and this version was included in the South Australian broadsheet, The Adelaide Tribune. It appears to show Captain Darling’s good lady, Kathryn in a perilous situation in the hands of savage natives…
The copy of The Adelaide Tribune featuring this photograph!
Below are the actual photographs commissioned by the Antipodean Explorers Club…
The first photographs in the series includes Captain Darling, Kathryn and a part of the Native Contingent in a campsite dealing with a Native Chieftain, everything appears to be peaceful and there are no signs of any trouble or dangers…or is there!
This photograph is a section of the second plate, the full version was printed by The Adelaide Tribune. This version clearly shows a female resembling Captain Darling’s partner Kathryn along with some decidedly unfriendly looking Savages and their masked Priest!
The last of the three plates when printed revealed an act of derring-do! It portrays Captain Darling leaping into action and dispatching the local savages and rescuing Kathryn from her perilous situation…
Going to try and get back on track with Blogging in 2026, both this and the TSOG Blogs will be brought up to speed so stay tuned! Below are a couple of the original diorama type pictures used in the above narrative!
Can I just finally wish all my Readers a Joyous Festive Season and a Happy start to the Year 2026!
Next Time; Something astounding no doubt!
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