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.

Watson's Tin Box meeting summary - March 16, 2026

On the third Monday of each month, the Watson's Tin Box of Ellicott City scion meets. Normally that meeting is in person, however at the last moment a virtual meeting was organized......

And so over thirty gathered in storm (on Zoom) and it was a pleasant chance to see some of those occasional distant visitors! We had guests from New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Canada, and California.

Al Hafner became a fully-fledged member with his second meeting, and we welcomed Bill Hussar from Silver Spring for his first meeting!

The story of the meeting was 'The Bruce-Partington Plans'.... but we always start with toasts. And we had quite a few toasts!!

Micah Cover provided a toast to 'The Woman' (with artwork!):

 “Irene,” from the Greek, means "peace," and is also a name used for numerous saints. 

“Adler" is a German name - the perfect irony for besting a King of Germanic background.  It means “eagle,” and it symbolizes strength, courage, and nobility. 

She was a singer in the Imperial Opera of Warsaw but came from New Jersey.  The State Flower is known for seeking sunshine - Violet – and is a perfect nod to the number of times that name appears in the Canon.  

Therefore, she brings us peace.  The comfort knowing that she did the impossible - the Patron Saint of defeating the undefeatable.  Strong, brave, noble, and not just a heroine of the Canon - but of the world.  She symbolizes a light when we usually depend on The Great Detective to shine it.  And while she appears only once, like Violet, she reappears – if only in our imaginations.

My friends, to Irene Adler.

Liane Luini read a toast, originally written by April Curnow, and published in Irene’s Cabinet Volume 5, 2007:

Of all the women we may toast,
There’s none like Mrs. Hudson.
Irene’s cleverer than most,
And yet – ah, Mrs. Hudson.
She’s one we often overlook.
Yet Holmes called her a decent cook,
And she once got him off the hook,
The unsung Mrs. Hudson.

When first she met that dauntless pair
We know as Holmes and Watson,
She certainly was unaware
Of what she’d set her eyes on.
A moody sleuth, an Army doc.
How much could those two run amok?
It must have come as quite a shock
To peaceful Martha Hudson.

Yet valiantly she strove to please
And proved accommodating
To lodgers’ eccentricities
And sundry clients waiting.
She cooked the meals, tidied rooms,
Put up with shag tobacco fumes
And strange explosions, one assumes,
Long-suffering Mrs. Hudson.

When Holmes played sick,
she risked his ire
To summon Dr. Watson.
She feared the poor man might expire
Without such intervention.
He could be masterful and grim,
But she’d grown rather fond of him
And tolerated his every whim,
Soft-hearted Mrs. Hudson.

Holmes needed help to foil Moran.
His ally? Mrs. Hudson.
To outwit Moriarty’s man,
With vigilant attention.
Crawling beneath the window’s light
She turned Holmes’s bust eight times that night.
No fear of bullets put to flight
Intrepid Mrs. Hudson.

By these proofs we may well conclude
This paragon of women
Deserves our heartfelt gratitude
And special commendation:
A tribute in a magazine,
The finest roses ever seen,
Perhaps a medal from the Queen
And, “Well done, Mrs. Hudson.”

Former Gasogene John Sherwood delivered aa toast to Mary Morstan:

Whenever the constabulary

Was baffled by an adversary

And Holmes required a functionary

To apply his methods visionary,

Ah, Mary, you would never tarry

To send your husband off to harry

Cads and villains sanguinary.

Let the wastrels all be wary!

Holmes and Watson, loosed by Mary,

Conquer, capture, thrust and parry,

And verbs throughout the dictionary.

To you, then, wife extraordinary!

You’ve challenged my vocabulary!

Too bad you had that coronary.

Tom Fahres then delivered his traditional Haiku for the story:

Submarine plans. GONE!

Ride the underground for free

but only one time

We then moved on to Announcements 

• At this meeting, Liane Luini the editor of Irene's Cabinet showed off the new 2026 issue. It was to be ON SALE at the meeting, but Zoom doesn't work well for that. Liane acknowledged the wonderful contributions of Jacquelynn Morris and  Carla Coupe to helping bring Irene's Cabinet back to life for WTB. If you can't come to meetings, copies are available for $10 and we mail ! Just email Liane for details.

• I showed a copy of Steve Clarkson's book published in 1996, it includes a pile of WTB meeting quizzes including 60 (one for each story), and a number of the “Mycroft” quizzes too! Illustrations by Paul Churchill reside throughout. 

• Lauren Cercone announced she is creating a new Delaware-based scion: The Tide-waiters of Delaware. For more details or to get on the mailing list, contact Lauren! 
• Evy Herzog announced the the next meeting of the Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes in New York will be on 23rd May.
• Michah Clark announced that if members would like to watch a recording of the closing night of 'Last Case of Doctor Watson' they can get in touch and he can make a link available. "With the aid of the audience and the occult, Doctor Watson investigates the greatest Mystery of all time: Sherlock Holmes. This staged reading radio play invites guests to join Doctor John Watson during what is said to be his final lecture, where he publicly confronts the legacy — and enigma — of Sherlock Holmes. Through séance, deduction, and direct audience participation, Watson ventures into realms both intellectual and otherworldly." The production was written by Michae Clark, who also played the role of Dr. Watson!

  

Johanna Draper Carlson was our guest presenter for the evening originally planning  to be 'in the room', we were lucky that Johanna could Zoom in from Virginia where she was taking shelter. Johanna Draper Carlson is the President of the Notorious Canary-Trainers of Madison, Wisconsin; regularly contributes to Sherlock Holmes magazine; writes a yearly column in The Baker Street Almanac; and is one of the two new executive directors of 221B Con. Johanna established SherlockComics.com on February 21, 2022. She also runs ComicsWorthReading.com, the longest-running independent comic book review site on the internet, and has a Masters Degree in Popular Culture with a focus on fandom studies. Mycroft Holmes is her favorite fictional character. 

Johanna is a massive fan of MYCROFT, and gave a wonderful overview of how Mycroft has been portrayed in movies and comics, and how he has evolved over time, from a very large man to a younger and very lean person. 

 

We examined the evidence box for Bruce-Partington Plans before discussing the story. Given that we met virtually, I created a slide-deck of items - which I'm showing here. As a reminder you can look at all the items here in detail at the Watsons Tin Box website. Everyone loved the emerald tie-pin, and the jemmy, chisel, pistol, and lamp ensure this evidence box is particularly heavy.

  

And so to the discussion of the story. Johanna and I had a wonderful chance to prepare or this month's  story discussion. Last month, we both appeared with Ed Pettit to discuss this very story as part of the Rosenbach series. You can watch it here - and I share the evidence box : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq7fS2CcjAY&t=3944s

The story is one of my favorites in the canon - top 5 easily. Why? It has six of my favorite things in a story: Mycroft, it's a spy story, trains, upper class crime, it's set in London.... and in 1895 with all its swirling fog. The story opens with a slightly bored Holmes, bemoaning the poor state of crime. Before we know it, Sherlock receives a telegram from his brother Mycroft, who is on his way to brief Holmes on the Cadogan West. The man was found by the tracks, with some of the highly sensitive plans for building a submarine in his pocket. Holmes and Watson move through ELEVEN locations in the course of this short story, investigating, interviewing, housebreaking, solving the crime, and catching the crooks. This success results in a reward for Sherlock from a certain gracious lady - the original is shown above from the evidence box.

One of the fun things about this story is how specific the locations are, and true to the geography of London and surrounds. The house where Cadogan-West's body is deposited on top of a train is near the Gloucester street Station. Looking at Google maps, there's really only one small area of exposed rail, shown below, with a row of very large town houses on Cromwell Road backing on to the tracks:

Even better, Google Earth allows us to see the windows right over the tracks at the back of the building!

And finally, the quiz! Well, I don't have the quiz from Olivia yet - but it was a good one!

The First, Second, and Third Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories - from John Murray

I really love the John Murray editions of Arthur Conan Doyle stories, especially the Sherlock Holmes editions. Of course, I don't own any super-special or rare editions (first editions etc) but the great news is that because of their popularity, there are plenty left. I particularly like to buy books with their dustjackets - usually the editions I can buy aren't elite, so the dustjackets are rarely in brilliant condition, but the important point is that they are together and pretty.

Here are some examples of John Murray editions in dust jackets (or dust wrappers if you prefer) that I think are pretty (which is how I choose what I want to buy):

For some reason, I hadn't been aware of these three books shown below, aimed at younger readers:

It's possible I didn't notice them because I always look for books with dust-jackets. These books appear to be aimed at school-age readers, and were first published by John Murray in 1950 in a series of three:

• The First Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories
• The Second Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories
• The Third Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories

I have not seen one of these editions with a dustjacket - though books for the 'young adult' (as we would say now) experience a greater degree of physical abuse as they are carried in school bags, lent to friends, etc. The cover design is classical, with Holmes clearly wearing a dearstalker, smoking a calabash pipe, and examining a newspaper or magazine while Watson looks on. 

The stories included in each volume are as follows:

The First Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories

• Silver Blaze
• The Stockbroker's Clerk
• The Final Problem

The Second Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories

• The Empty House
• The Red-Headed League
• The Dying Detective
  

The Third Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories

• The Man with the Twisted Lip
• The Dancing Men
• His Last Bow
  

The stories are nicely arranged to capture the major milestones of Sherlock, with the first ending with the Final Problem, the second starting with Empty House, and the third closing with His Last Bow. None of the stories contain inferences to social (i.e., sexual) scandal are present, such as Scandal in Bohemia, Charles Augustus Milverton, or the Illustrious Client.

There are some other elements that the book contains that make the book useful as an educational tool.

All three books contain an identical introduction by H. M. King, B.A., Ph.D., Headmaster, Regent's Park Secondary School for Boys, Southampton. The school itself as a boys school appears to have ceased operating in that capacity around 1967, and the campus is now a Community College.

Remarkably, the author of the introduction who edited these stories was Horace Maybray King, later Baron Maybray-King. King (1901-1986). King was an English school teacher from the early 1920s onwards in Southampton, who completed a PhD part-time on the Shakespeare folios, and in the late 1940s became Headmaster of the Regent's Park Seconday School.  King became involved first in local politics, then was elected to Parliament in 1950 just as the John Murray books were being published. In 1965 he became Speaker of the House of Commons, and was made a Baron upon retirement in 1971. Pretty impressive accomplishments for Sherlockian! 

Along with the introductory material, the end of each story contains an explanation or definition of complex topics, and a small number of questions (perfect for stimulating discussion about a story at a scion meeting!).

Finally, there are about a dozen new illustrations across the three volumes (one is shown above), by an illustrator who signs as 'BEARDS'. Thanks to a comment from a reader, the illustrator is William Harold Beards (1895-1974), a popular mid-century British artist who did a lot of comic postcards.

J Edgar Hoover and the Six Napoleons

I recently acquired up an interesting pair of Sherlockian letters. The point of note was that one of the letters was signed by the former Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972), and I believe that his signature is collectable (though the man must have signed hundreds of thousands of documents). 

What grabbed my attention was the connection to the Six Napoleons of Baltimore. The first letter was received by Allen Robertson was in January 1947 from Hoover.  

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Washinton, D.C.

January 29, 1947

Mr. Allen Robertson

3963 Greenmount Avenue

Baltimore 18, Maryland 

Dear Mr. Robertson:

I have received the photographs issued by the Central office of Information, London, England, and pertaining to Scotland Yard's Criminal Investigation Department. It was indeed kind of you to send them to me and I want to personally thank you.

With best wishes and kind regards,

Sincerely yours, J. Edgar Hoover

Allen Robertson was an attorney working for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad who founded the Six Napoleons after a meeting with Edgar W. Smith. The group first met in September 1946 - with a membership of six. Proceedings of their meetings were reported regularly to the Baker Street Journal section 'The Scion Societies'. As originally conceived, the Six Napoleons was to have only six members.

In the third issue of the BSJ for 1947 we learn that a correspondence had been engaged between Allen Robertson and the Director of the FBI. We don't have any information on the original portfolio of Scotland Yard photographs presented by James T. Hyslop, but the correspondence with Hoover ended there.

Baker Street Journal, 1947, Vol 2 No 3

THE SIX NAPOLEONS OF BALTIMORE

OFFICERS: Paul S. Clarkson (Haker), Gasogene; Allen Robertson (Beppo), Tantalus; James T. Hyslop (Peterson), Commissionaire.
Our meeting was held at the University Club, and all Six of the Napoleons met at the Criterion Bar and raised the traditional toast at 6 pm.

The Tantalus read the correspondence he had had with the Hon. J. Edgar Hoover, who was delighted with the portfolio of Scotland Yard photographs presented by Commissionaire Hyslop.

A second letter to Allen Robertson was received from the Baltimore office of the FBI about six months later in June 1947. In this instance the letter is from someone whose name I cannot determine, declining to attend, but also providing ten copies of "The Story of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" for members, which had been published in 1945 and again in 1947.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Baltimore - 3, Maryland

June 12, 1947

Mr. Allen Robertson

3963 Greenmount Avenue

Baltimore - 18, Maryland

Dear Allen:

With reference to your letter of May 29, 1947, I am pleased to transmit herewith ten additional copies of "The Story of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." These are being transmitted to you in order that you might furnish them to other "Napoleons."

I have kept in mind your invitation for me to be present at the June 26th meeting, but I regret very much that a matter has arisen which will preclude the possibility of my attendance at this meeting.

I have carefully weighed the standing invitation for me to become a member of the group, but I have always taken the position that to be a member of an organization of this kind, the members should be in a position to attend with some degree of regularity, and because of the nature of my work and the fact that I cannot foresee being in a position to attend regularly your meetings, I think you will agree with me that it would not be advisable for me to join the organization at this time. I shall continue to bear in mind, however, my pleasant visit with you previously, and I hope that sometime in the future, I shall be able to be with you again.

With kindest personal regards, I am,

Sincerely,

?? Ha???

These letters are from the earliest days of the Six Napoleons of Baltimore. I'm intrigued at the interest of the scion in connecting with modern day law enforcement. Was Hoover the Lestrade of his time and place? 

For the second letter, the offer of membership shows that the Six Napoleons were very quickly realizing that six members was going to be a restriction. 

I do wonder if the portfolio of Scotland Yard photos is in the FBI archives somewhere.... some brief searching of online archives did not reveal and Sherlock connections sadly.