Contest: guess what is happening in this illustration

Today at the N.M.Museum library I didn't get back to the book I had been reading on Saturday but I will get back to it on Wednesday. I still leave you with the confusing illustration: So here begins the contest!
If you wish to play, relook at the last drawing (from Saturday's post) and offer your guess as to what is occurring. So far my sister is winning. 'Post' your story on the message board.





This illustration precisely sets the stage for the reading I did today. Flowery language about the scary arctic, and Franklin as its humble victim. The book was titled 'Arctic Regions' and gave accounts of many arctic expeditions though
Franklin's was the highlight. Also a nice section about the wildlife at the back.


At the back was an advertisement! for canned potatoes! And with a three pages of personal anecdotes about how wonderful the potatoes are to eat. Even Captain Inglefield gives his opinion!


Map from A.G. Findlay's pamphlet on Franklin's probable route. It wasn't too exciting but the map was great!






King William 'Land' which is actually an island. The place where the Franklin men abandoned ship


Today I read through the account Professor Lambert had referenced to me written by Sherard Osborn, one of the many Captains during this time in 1857. The book is completely hilarious because at one point, Osborn goes into his own version of what happened on Franklin's ships during those two years, complete with dialogue and I emotions. The brilliance of it, in terms of creating a soap opera for the public! It is full of melodrama and triumphant phrases, and also the book that clinched Franklin into the fictionalized fame of 'discoverer of the Northwest Passage'. The next few drawings are from the book.




A drawing depicting the first time Franklin saw and fell in love with the sea! (Osborn's book)


Sir John Franklin's Funeral or what it was imagined to have looked like! (Osborn's book)


The two ships presumably near Cape Felix. (fictional drawing from Osborn's book)


I left the N.M.M. library a bit early today in order to jet over to the Royal Naval Chapel before it closed. The chapel was first built in 1752, burnt down and then rebuilt in 1779-1789 by James Stewert, an architect/designer.


Panel outside the chapel alluding to Franklin...need to get more information about what this is about...a donation made in his name perhaps?


Motifs along the balcony railings


Franklin Memorial, hidden in the Royal Navy Chapel behind the apse that was built later on.


It is actually a tomb, where bones of a supposed officer is buried. Two crewmembers came back to England. The one identified by name is John Irving who is buried outside of London. And then this fellow.