Death of John Hawkins (1885 in Southsea)

Simply put, Arthur Conan Doyle says that he met Louise (Touie) Hawkins when her brother was under his care and died. As Arthur wrote in Memories and Adventures:

In the year 1885 my brother left me to go to a public school in Yorkshire. Shortly afterwards I was married. A lady named Mrs. Hawkins, a widow of a Gloucestershire family, had come to Southsea with her son and daughter, the latter a very gentle and amiable girl. I was brought into contact with them through the illness of the son, which was of a sudden[Pg 65] and violent nature, arising from cerebral meningitis. As the mother was very awkwardly situated in lodgings, I volunteered to furnish an extra bedroom in my house and give the poor lad, who was in the utmost danger, my personal attention. His case was a mortal one, and in spite of all I could do he passed away a few days later. Such a death under my own roof naturally involved me in a good deal of anxiety and trouble—indeed, if I had not had the foresight to ask a medical friend to see him with me on the day before he passed away, I should have been in a difficult position. The funeral was from my house. The family were naturally grieved at the worry to which they had quite innocently exposed me, and so our relations became intimate and sympathetic, which ended in the daughter consenting to share my fortunes. 

It is pointed out in some biographical writings that a complaint was made against Doyle following Hawkins' death, and that the police visited Doyle. I must confess I don't fully understand what the concern would be - surely many doctors regularly had a 'resident patient'? And surely Doyle would have financially benefited from John Hawkins being a patient for weeks, not days? One suggestion is that the 'speed' at which the funeral/burial took place was suspicious (as if to cover something up related to malpractice).

I decided I wanted to look at the Death Certificate (death registration, really) to see whether Doyle was named on it. Indeed he is.

John Hawkins Death Certificate

District: Portsea, Volume: 2b, Page: 363

Superintendent Registrar's District Portsea Island

Registrars Sub-District Landport

1885 DEATHS in the Sub-District of Landport in the County of Southampton

No: 491

When and where died: 25th March 1885, 1 Bush Villas, Southsea

Name and surname: John Hawkins

Sex: Male

Age: 25 years

Rank or profession: Gentleman

Cause of death: Meningitis, Certified by A. Conan Doyle M.B.C.M.

Signature, Description, and Residence of Informant: Emily Hawkins, Mother, In attendance, 2 Queens Gate, Southsea

When registered: 26th March 1885

Signature of registrar: James P. Lancaster, Deputy Registrar

John's death was registered the day after his decease, which may seem fast but the Act required registration of death within 5 days.

I can find no announcement of his death in papers either in the Portsmouth area, or in his home town. I am spoilt but Australian papers of the time with very detailed death and funeral notices.

John was buried in the Highland Road Cemetery. The 'Friends' web page has information on John and his relationship to Conan Doyle, and thankfully includes a relatively low-resolution photograph of the headstone below.

In loving memory of

John Hawkins

Who entered into rest

March 25th 1885

Aged 25 years

I do not have access to burial records - but would like to as it would help understand the 

-------

I also looked at published 'Visitors Lists' for Southsea, where those holidaying or visiting friends would enter their presence and address so that others in the town could find them. Very useful record! The Visitors Book was a record of 'all fashionable movements' and could be filled out at 'Messrs Mills and Sons' - a nice strategy to get customers through the door!

Here are some examples of their visits entered. The '*' (asterisk) no the entry for 24 October 1884 shows that this was when Mrs Emily Hawkins and "the misses" began their off-season stay in Southsea - and were at the same address of 2 Queen's Gate, Southsea, up till when John died in late March, and at least a month later also. 

Hampshire Post and Southsea Observer - Friday 24 October 1884

Hampshire Post and Southsea Observer - Friday 31 October 1884

Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette - Wednesday 18 March 1885

Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 28 March 1885

Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 25 April 1885

Biographies also state John was staying in the lodgings - but we do not see this in the published Visitor's Lists. It is possible he was not entered in the visitors book. There is one example (not shown above) where a Mr Hawkins is also entered.

Either way, for Mrs Hawkins and Louisa her daughter that's a stay of five months at the time John stayed, and they didn't live far apart (a 10 minute walk) - see the map below. It is stated that Hawkins was referred to Doyle by Dr. Royston Pike, who also practiced on Elm Grove. It has been suggested Doyle had met the Hawkins prior to John's medical episode.

Dorothy Bowers' resting place

I've spent quite a bit of energy putting together the information I can on the novelist Dorothy Bowers (1902-1948). I have a listing of most of the information I've managed to track down in a biography with sourcing, as well as transcribed the only short story found so far - The Spy at Chateau Bas, and a post describing all her novels.

In my biographical post, I note that "I have found little biographical information on Dorothy’s life, and as far as I can ascertain, no photo of Dorothy is known to exist." 

Thankfully I found the below photo. The photograph was taken around 1938, when Dorothy was 36 at the time of the publication of her first book. It makes me realize that the Hodder & Stoughton archives might hold a photo of Dorothy in their files.

For now it remains the only one. I was recently notified that this was likely a scan of a microfilm, and that the original newspaper scan would provide a better photo - so that's my next challenge!

Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 24 August 1938

What became of George Budd's family

My last post was on George Budd in Plymouth. So what happened to George Budd's wife and children after his untimely death?

In the 1881census, George, 26 and his wife Kate were already living at 1 Durnford St in Stonehouse (one of the 'three towns' in the Plymouth area. Budd was a Physician born in Bristol, and Kate was 20, being born in 'Surrey Windsor' - Windsor is in Berkshire but we'll get back to where she was from later.

Margaret was born on November 12 1881, and baptised at Saint Andrew, West Kensington (Hammersmith and Fulham - the London area). The parish book states the birth date (very helpful rector!), and that the parent live at Elliott House, Plymouth - George a medical doctor. The CIVIL registration appears to be in district East Stonehouse (which checks out), Vol 5b page 312.

On 17 May 1884, two children Iolanthe and Diana were baptised at Christ Church, Norwood (Lambeth - the London area). The parish book doesn't note that the children were twins (which it sometimes does), and does not state and earlier birth date (which it sometimes does when those being baptised aren't new-born).

The CIVIL registration for Diana is early 1883 at Plymouth Vol 5b page 292.

The CIVIL registration for Iolanthe is early 1884 at East Stonehouse Vol 5b page 305.

In late 1885 a Kate Budd appears in the CIVIL registration, district East Stonehouse, Vol 5b page 297, with here death being register in 1885 also at East Stonehouse. 

On 14 Sep 1887, daughter Mildred was also baptised at Christ Church, Norwood. CIVIL registration for Mildred is East Stonehouse Vol 5b page 297

Finally, in 1888 a William Budd appears in the CIVIL registration, district East Stonehouse, Vol 5b page 302,  with his death being register in 1888 also at East Stonehouse. 

Why were the children baptised in the London area and not in Plymouth? It's possible there was a family connection for Kate to the area?

Let's trace Kate.

The 1891 census shows that the relavtively recently widowed Kate was still living 'on own means' at the family home of 1 Durnford St. With Kate are three daughters, Margaret (9), Iolanthe (7) and Mildred (3). Mildred must have been just a baby when George died. All were born in Plymouth. The family also had a servant named Alice Harris.

By 1901, Kate had moved the family to Lee in Southeast London. Living with Kate (still on her own means and born in 'Berks Windsor') were two daughters Margaret (19) and Mildred (13).

In 1911 Kate was now 50, and still living at Lee (17 Southbrook Rd). With her is her daughter Mildred, living on independent means, along with a general servant. Note that in response to the new question of how many children she'd had, Kate states "10 children born alive, 4 children still living" :( 

The 1921 is the most recent census available - and Kate has moved to Sidney House, Minnis Road, Birchington, Kent, right on the eastern tip of Kent by the English Channel. Kate's unmarried daughter Mildred (34) is still living with her, along. There is a very useful tip about Kate's origins - she lists her birth-place as Englefield Green, 'near Windsor' - which it certainly is, but in Surrey. This resolves some confusing earlier birthplace statements.

While the 1921 census is the most recent available, in 1939 as war broke out, a register was conducted that was effectively a census. There we find Kate and daughter Mildred living at a house named 'Devon' in Canute Rd in Birchington - very pleasant and right at the water. 

Mildred was listed as an 'invalid'. Just months after this census, daughter Mildred died  in early 1940 aged about 53. 

Kate lived through the war, and died in Kent in 1946 aged 84. It must have been horrifying living next to the coast where the Germans were expected to invade at any moment, and just a few miles from an airfield where Spitfires and Hurricanes rose to meet the enemy during the Battle of Britain. 

I am surprised that I can't find a grave/burial for Mildred or Kate.

One other point - in Memories and Adventures, Doyle stated that "I fear that he lived up to his great income and left his wife but poorly off." The evidence from the records is that Kate was able to live a long life on her own means - perhaps thanks to family, (her mother lived into the 1920s) or perhaps thanks to George.

To the children in the 1891 census, two are untraced: Iolanthe and Margaret. In brief:

Iolanthe Budd was living with her mother in 1891, but cannot be traced in the 1901 census. In 1911, Iolanthe appears living at University College Hospital, Gower Street, London as a 27-year-old unmarried hospital nurse. In 1919, Iolanthe married Arthur William REYNOLDS, an New Zealander who served for the full four years of World War 1 - their marriage was registered in Kent. In 1928, Iolanthe sailed on the Tamaroa for New Zealand (but they had moved there earlier), where she lived with her husband at Masterton, Wellington, and died there in 1969 with a stated age of 79. They had at least two children: the birth Joyce Iolanthe Reynolds was registered in NZ in 1920 and living with her parents in the 1960s, and Arthur Russell Reynolds was a member of the RNZAF and killed in Singapore in January 1942 (birth not identified yet). 

Margaret Budd was living with her mother in 1891 and 1901, and in 1906 married Roland Cunard BENTLEY in the Kent/London area. In 1911, Roland and Margaret were living in Bexleyheath, Kent with two children: Caroline Margaret, and Hugh Roland Budd. Roland served in the First World War, and was killed in the Western Front in 1917. In 1921 the widowed Margaret was still living at Bexleyheath (Oaklands Rd) with her two children, and in the 1939 register Margaret was in the same house, with her unmarried son still living at home. Margaret died in 1950, and her probate states she was also living on Canute-Road Birchington, like her mother. Her daughter at death was a spinster - and I cannot determined whether Margaret has descendants.

As such, it is possible that George Budd has no living descendants, but I have a feeling that he has descendants in New Zealand.

George Budd in Plymouth

In early 1882, Doyle spent a crazy six weeks or so working for the eccentric and deceptive George Budd in his practice in Plymouth. In Doyle's 'Memories and Adventures', he wrote:

In a book written some years afterwards called “The Stark Munro Letters,” I drew in very close detail the events of the next few years, and there the curious reader will find them more clearly and fully set out than would be to scale in these pages. I would only remark, should any reader reconstruct me or my career from that book, that there are some few incidents there which are imaginary, and that, especially, the whole incident of the case of a lunatic and of Lord Saltire in Chapter IV occurred to a friend and not to myself. Otherwise the whole history of my association with the man whom I called Cullingworth, his extraordinary character, our parting and the way in which I was left to what seemed certain ruin, were all as depicted. I will here simply give the essentials of the story, and retain the fictitious name.

Budd was the true name of that doctor. Budd was a fellow Edinburgh medical student of Doyle, a rambunctious rugby player, and hBudd had eloped with an underage woman (i.e., without permission) and brought her from London to Edinburgh in disguise. After completion of studies, Budd went to Bristol to practice (his father was a well-known physician) but it failed. Budd convinced his creditors to give him time to repay them, and moved on to Plymouth.

I thought I'd take a look at Budd's time in Plymouth, and identify some newspaper articles that captured his time there. 

Part of Budd's business practice was to offer free consultations, but dramatically prescribe and over-prescribe medications, that he himself sold. This questionable practice led to dramatic success, and Budd convinced Doyle to join him there, against the advice of others. 

The newspaper articles for 1881 announce Budd's arrival, demonstrate that his qualifications were questioned by more conventional practitioners (perhaps concerned at the loss of business), and also show that in late 1881 the Budd's welcomed a daughter into the family.

Western Morning News - Wednesday 30 March 1881

Dr. Budd may be consulted free at his residence, 1. Durnford-street, from 11 am to 1 pm daily.

Western Morning News - Saturday 03 September 1881

SEVERAL Medical Practitioners in the Three Towns having thought it their business to assert that I am not a properly qualified Medical Man, I beg to state that I hold Two Degrees, the one. in Medicine, the other in Surgery. These Degrees I took at Edinburgh University upon the 2nd of August, 1880, and those who have had their doubts on the subject may inspect the said Degrees at my residence, at Twelve a.m., from the 12th to the 20th of this month.

GEORGE BUDD, 1, Durnford-street, Stonehouse, September 1st, 1881. 

Western Morning News - Wednesday 19 October 1881

WANTED, on a lease a farm of about 30 acres, within 5 miles of Plymouth. - Apply Dr. Budd, 1, Durnford-street, Plymouth.

Exeter Flying Post - Wednesday 16 November 1881

BIRTHS. November 12 at Durnford-street, Stonehouse, the wife of Dr George Budd, a daughter.

In 1882, when Doyle had joined Budd for 6 weeks, Budd appeared in the papers writing letters to the editor with grievances over the market inspector and some dodgy pork he had purchased, continuing to advertise his 'gratis days' , and complaining that he was insulted by the tax collector (did he protest too much or was he experiencing financial trouble?). 

Western Morning News - Monday 23 January 1882

WANTED, a woman servant, in a farm near Plymouth to milk a cow, and make butter. Dr. Budd, 1, Durnford street, Stonehouse.

Western Morning News - Thursday 06 April 1882

THE DUTIES OF MARKET INSPECTOR.

Sir - To-day my servant purchased of W. H. Ross, in the Plymouth Market, a piece of pork. It smelt, and sharing the somewhat common opinion that smelling meat is not a desirable commodity I sent it back to the shop. They refused to take it, Whereupon seeing that the meat, both in appearance and odour, was in an evident state of decomposition. I decided to push the matter further. Imagine my surprise when Mr Julian, the inspector of the Plymouth Market, told me that be knew nothing about meat, as he was not a butcher. If he is prepared to make a similar declaration with regard to vegetables and the rest, he is certainly an inspector in the same sense as Mr. Pecksniff was a surveyor. Mr. Peeksniff, be it remembered, surveyed the country from his window. Mr. Julian seems simply to inspect the market. Mr. Julian sent for two neighbouring butchers, who pronounced the meat to be sour but eatable. Such evidence may be taken for what it is worth. It is a curious fact that all the persons other than butchers who, at my request, smelt the meat without exception said that they should be very sorry to eat it. These were some nine in number. If ever the post of inspector for the Plymouth market should fall vacant I would suggest that a person chosen who possesses some knowledge of provisions and their condition.

GEORGE BUDD, 6, Eliiott-terrace, Plymouth, April 5th.

Western Morning News - Monday 10 April 1882

THE GREAT PORK MYSTERY. 

Sir, The ways of the inspector of the Plymouth Market appear more mysterious than ever.

The piece of pork to which I have alluded was in my presence cut up while under examination (by the two butchers) in the market. Some needy and apparently greedy persons in the crowd said they would like to try it. I thereupon distributed the portions among them, hoping that indigestion might punish their temerity. How these pieces of pork have re-collected themselves and found their way into Mr. Julian's hands will perhaps remain for ever a mystery. In the meantime I beg to  question the identity of the pork which Mr. Julian sold at petty sessions yesterday had been examined by Dr. Greenway, and pronounced sound.

Yours truly, GEORGE BUDD. 

6 Elliott-terrace, Plymouth, April 9th, 1882. 

Western Morning News - Tuesday 11 April 1882

To lighten my work on GRATIS DAYS during the summer months I will see patients FREE from nine to ten a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (other hours as before.)

GEORGE BUDD

1, Durnford-street, Stonehouse, April 7th, 1882

Western Morning News - Friday 11 August 1882

INCOME-TAX COLLECTION

This month I received a demand- the Ist of th A foot. note for income-ta: appended thereto stated that the office was at 29, Union-street Stonehouse, and that the duties would be received there between the hours of two and four o’clock on Wednesdays, and six and eight on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The notice added that “the collector is required to call once only.” This demand-note was presented to me for the first time upon August 1st and during the few days which have since elapsed the collector, Charles Davis, has called at my house no fewer than five times. To-day he brought matters to a climax by calling at my house in my professional hours and refusing to leave my study. I sent for a policeman, and this energetic collector thereupon departed, calling oat in a loud voice that he would immediately, put a man in possession, This happened within the hearing of many of my patients. Now, the demand-note stated that the tax could be paid at the office on Wednesdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, the plural number implying that no immediate payment was required. Yet within eight days from the first presentation of the note the collector called, and threatens to put a man in possession. I may add that I had, when the collector called, promised to send the money to the office as the note requested. I write to you in the public interest, for I see no reason why a heavily-taxed community should be subjected to unnecessary insult.— Yours truly, G. BUDD, 1, Durnford-street, Stonehouse, August 10th. 

In 1883, Budd appears to again experience financial rumors, and has to deny that he is bankrupt Budd had his practice at Elliott-terrace, and removed his practice to his home at Durnford-street. On the other hand, an advertisement appeared stating that three years after leaving Clifton (Bristol) Budd had settled his debts with his creditors from those days. 

Western Morning News - Tuesday 10 April 1883

Whereas certain malicious persons have thought it their business to invent and propagate a malicious slander concerning me, to wit that I had gone Bankrupt and left Plymouth I hereby offer a REWARD of 50 pounds to anyone who shall give evidence that shall lead to the conviction of the same.

The truth of the matter is that I am removing to 1, Durnford-street, and am disposing of some of my surplus furniture. 

I have treated over 90 Patients at my residence to-day.

GEORGE BUDD, Bachelor of Medicine, 1 Durnford-street 

Western Morning News - Tuesday 18 September 1883

We hereby state that Dr. GEORGE BUDD, formerly of Clifton, but now of 1, Durnford-street, Plymough, has honourably and of his own free will DISCHARGED HIS DEBTS to us, though he was not legally bound to do so. 

(Signed) Samuel Shirley; Hancock and Co.; James Wise; John Cordeux, Sons and Were.

Clifton, Bristol, Sept 14th.

In 1884, onwards, Budd was selling his blood tonic preparation. The advertisement mentions the tonic was used in "the remarkable cure of Dropsy effected by him in September 1881, which was classed in the Three Towns Almanack as one of the chief local events of the year". I haven't been able to find this publication yet to read the account - but it lines up with the tales Doyle told of getting the town talking as the best alternative to advertising (which was not allowed).

Western Morning News - Tuesday 06 May 1884

Dr. Budd's BLOOD TONIC

The medicine is prepared from a prescription designed by Dr. Budd, of Plymouth.

It possesses extraordinary power in renovating the Blood and is clearing it from impurities.

It is identical  medicine prescribed by him in the remarkable cure of Dropsy effected by him in September, 1881, which was classed in the Three Towns Almanack as one of the chief local events of the year.

A bottle containing twenty doses forwarded to any address (carriage paid) on receipt of Post-office order for Three Shillings and Threepence, payable to

Dr. George Budd

1, Durnford Street, Plymouth

In 1888, the Budd family lost a new-born son, and the next year Budd died. 

London Evening Standard - Friday 11 May 1888

DEATHS

BUDD - May 5. at 1. Durnford-street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, William, the infant son of Dr. George Budd, aged five days.

Bristol Times and Mirror - Monday 04 March 1889

Death of Dr. Budd, of Stonehouse - The medical profession will with regret of the death of Dr. George Budd, of Stonehouse. For seven or eight months Dr. Budd has been in indifferent health, but continued to see his patients as late as Saturday week. Overwork brought on congestion of the brain, and he died on Thursday night at the early age of 34 years. The deceased came to Stonehouse about seven or eight years since, and took up his residence at 1, Durnford-street. Son of Dr. Wm. Budd, of Bristol, and nephew to the well- known Dr. John Budd, of Plymouth, he acquired a large private practice, but held no public appointments. From time to time his signature appearedin the local on a great variety ot subjects, and many valuable suggestions in regard to hygiene came from bis pen. Among his con letters on Counter viritants for will be remembered. was an M.B. and Master of Su y at Edinburgh University, and his pathological knowledge was held in much repute. He wrote several les for the medical papers. » the most noteworthy being ‘* Amyloid which appeared in the British Journal, and was afterwards re-published in Brathwait’s Retro- left a widow ana tour children.’’ spects of Medicine,’’ 1879. aNp C.irron 

George Turnavine Budd was buried in Ford Park Cemetery in Plymouth, with a beautiful headstone marking the burial place of Budd and his son William (who died at approximately a week old). The ceramic tile placed in the middle of the headstone is not something I recall seeing before.

George Turnavine Budd

Bornd 3rd November 1855

Died 28th February 1889

Also his son

William 

Born 30th April 1888

Died 5th May 1888

What happened to Budd's wife and children? I'll have a post on that next.

Doylean bucket list

Just imagine you were visiting the UK, and you decided to let your Doylean interests guide the places you visited... what would those places be?

I'd like to collect suggestions, and add them onto this list for that dreamed-of exploration. If someone was driving all over the UK - what are those places worth visiting both obscure and popular?

My preference is to minimize Sherlock things on this list to the most important ones (or perhaps non-London ones), because that is such well-covered territory.

Literary locations - looking for non-Sherlock sites

Brambletye Hotel, Wealden, East Sussex - the hotel Holmes and Watson stay at in Black Peter (and Doyle stayed here too).

Castleton, Derbyshire, and the Blue John Cavern - the village associated with 'The Terror of Blue John Gap'.

Dartmoor, Devon - Hiking across the moor, the setting for The Hound of the Baskervilles and Silver Blaze, featuring various spots that inspired the moody, atmospheric setting. This would include Buckfastleigh parish graveyard where the Cabell tomb. 

Doyle's life 

The ACD Encyclopedia has a list of places Doyle lived that is very useful. I highlighted one or two I'm very interested in: .

Masongill, Yorkshire - Where Doyle's mother lived on the estate of Bryan Charles Waller, and Doyle visited regularly.

Minstead, New Forest District, Hampshire - the grave of Arthur Conan Doyle

Picardy Place, Edinburgh - The birthplace of Conan Doyle. The original building is gone, a statue of Sherlock Holmes stands nearby.

Ruyton-XI-Towns, Shropshire - Doyle lived here for four months in 1878 as a medical student.

Sherlock in Boulder 1903-1904

I have written about the 'Dancing Miners' of Lakeside (part of the Boulder/Kalgoorlie): 

- about the photograph of the LAKESIDE 'miners' and its photographer, which can be read here

- finding an original photograph in Switzerland, and confirming the 'Lakeside Official Staff' in the photo: which can be read here

The Dancing Miners photograph was taken in early 1904 after the story appeared in the January 1904 Strand (December 1903 in the UK). I wanted to look at evidence for Sherlock Holmes around this goldfield city in 1903/1904. Were these miners able to access the Strand Magazine easily? Does newspapers in the area give us a clue to whether Sherlock's popularity entered the local cultural scene?

Yes, it's a deep dive....

Where could you buy the Strand Magazine in the area? In January 1903 an aricle describes Orr's Emporium in Boulder selling magazines, including Strand Magazine. 

The Evening Star (Boulder, WA )  
Tue 10 Feb 1903

NEW MAGAZINES
By yesterday's mail a number of new magazines arrived at Orr's Emporium.

"The Adventures of Etienne Gerard" are continued in 'The "Strand" magazine
as are the stories of the "Sorceress of the Strand." Special articles include one of great interest to footballers on the illegalities of the game, an interesting disclosure of magical illusions and fifty years of the Lyceum Theatre. The illustrated interview this month, is a particularly interesting one, the subject being Mr. F. C. Gould, whose cartoons will teach history to future generations.

Henry Grose himself took photographs for Orr's Emporium for a publication. The Emporium stands today and there are lots of photographs so we know exactly what it looked like:

Orr's Emporium, Boulder, offering newspapers and magazines

The Dancing Men appeared in the UK December 1903 edition, and Robert Veld's work shows that Australian editions appeared one month later. Nevertheless we see the Christmas issue (that contained Dancing Men) described right at the start of 1904 in Kalgoorlie:

The Kalgoorlie Miner
Fri 1 Jan 1904 

CHRISTMAS 'MAGAZINES.

Always possessed ' of features that command popularity the ''Strand Magazine" comes in a particularly acceptable form for its 1903 'Christmas double' number. From the admirably colored front cover to the pretty Pears' soap picture on the back cover , the bulky number is full of good things in fiction, narrative and picture, and holiday needs are specially met by sets of clever original puzzles. In the fiction
department Sherlock Holmes reappears and amazes as of yore.

The Christmas edition with the Dancing Men story was available at Orr's Emporiu  in January 1904:

The Evening Star
Sat 9 Jan 1904

The Christmas numbers of English magazines now, at Orr's, Burt-street, are
of the usual popular standard, and those desirous of securing copies should not delay, for there appears to be a rapid run on them. The "Strand" has for
its special feature another exploit of Sherlock Holmes, for which, by the way,
an American magazine is paying something like four shillings a word. There is plenty of fiction and special articles, but the advertisement competition now procceding in connection with this magazine makes the proportion of business
notices appear too large. Pearson's Xmas effort is a most attractive number. There is some beautiful colored printing and illustrations, some of them of value by reason of their topical nature. The number is decidedly the best special number that has yet appeared.

Along with access to the Strand, there was entertainment. In October 1903, Kalgoorlie hosted William Gillette's spectacular play "Sherlock Holmes". The American actor Cuyler Hastings playing a Sherlock Holmes in the Australian desert is a remarkable thought. The play was of course well-received.

The Kalgoorlie Miner

Mon 19 Oct 1903 

The Kalgoorlie Miner 

Tue 20 Oct 1903 

Under the direction of Mr. J. C. Williamson. Business Manager, Richard Stewart: Touring Manager, J. Farrell.

THE 'SHERLOCK HOLMES'' BOOM.

Brilliant and Emphatic Success of the Clever Young American Actor, MR. CUYLER, HASTINGS, In his 'Masterly interpretation of the Great Detective, Supported by the Full Strength of MR. J. C. WILLIAMSON'S 'SHERLOCK HOLMES' COMPANY.

The Management is delighted to record that a Magnificent Triumph was achieved last evening, when the most successful of all dramas, William Gillette's sensational success,

'SHERLOCK HOLMES '

was presented for the first time before a crowded and delighted audience, who watched this remarkable majestic play with the greatest enthusiasm. The universal opinion : '-The greatest dramatic treat ever witnessed in Kalgoorlie.' Still, in order to carry out the original arrangements of presenting the company's complete repertoire, the management reluctantly announce— The Last Night But One ! The Last Night But One of Mr. Cuyler Hastings as the Great Defective.

The Evening Star (Boulder, WA)
Sat 17 Oct 1903

    

AMUSEMENTS.

"SHERLOCK HOLMES"

Everything is now in readiness for the opening of Mr. J. Williamson's dramatic season in Her Majesy's Theartre, Kalgoorlie, on Monday next. The piece selected for the first night is William Gillette's famous detective drama "Sherlock Holmes," in which Mr. Hastings, who has been lauded by the press, takes the leading part. The season, is strictly limited to 12 nights, and gives evidence of being a great success.  During their short stay the company will appear in six of the leading dramas produced during recent years. The box plan for Sherlock Holmes is now open at Nicholson's and at Hocking and Co.'s Boulder City. Tickets for other parts of the house may be obtained at A. Bressler's, tobacconist, Harmon-street.

The North Coolgardie Herald and Miners Daily News 

Sat 31 Oct 1903 

THE KALGOORLIE SEASON.

KALGOORLIE, October 30.

The Williamson Dramatic Company's season in Kalgoorlie has been a splendid success. Playgoers have been delighted with each successive production, and the company is undoubtedly one of the best that Mr. Williamson has ever got together. The repertoire is such as gives extraordinary scope to all the leading artists. Mr. Cuyler Hastings' interpretation of Gillette's great creation, "Sherlock Holmes," stamps him immediately as one of the finest actors Australia has seen. His performance is in every way a memorable one As Louis Dumont in "Secret Service," John Storm in "The Christian" and Claude Melnotte in "The Lady of Lyons," he has fully mainlained the high opinion created by his acting in the initial production.

So, in this tiny city in the desert, these miners had the same Sherlock entertainment and reading as London. Granted, on a smaller scale, but the Dancing Miners photograph was probably taken four months after the play, and the Strand Magazine was hitting the shelves of Orr's Emporium shortly after readers in England could access it.