I’m postponing the story that I wrote earlier today so that I can share some breaking news. Yes, there is breaking news for historical stories, and yes, this one is a big deal.
Back in December 2015 I wrote a post titled “Mystery (Mostly) Solved” about the 1845 Franklin expedition to map the Northwest Passage. Both ships, the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror, along with 129 men, disappeared.
I watched a show on PBS NOVA called “Arctic Ghost Ship” which told the story of how the HMS Erebus was finally found in 2014. Although it was a huge discovery, finding the ship didn’t answer all the questions about the disappearance, but the ship hadn’t yet been explored, so there was hope.
The Guardian reported yesterday that the HMS Terror has been found. At least they’re almost positive it’s the HMS Terror, judging by what is known of the architecture of that lost ship. It was found about 60 miles from where experts believed it to be, in a bay called Terror Bay. I’m not sure when the bay got that name, but did read somewhere that the name predates the expedition.
HMS Terror : view of the Port side of the ship with an effect of sunrise in February 1837 and shewing the state of the snow walls at that time. Artist William Smyth (1800-1877). Photo via Wikimedia Commons
The reason this find may change history is because the condition of the ship shows that events may have happened differently than previously believed. And that’s how history works. Each new discovery, large or small, adds to what we already know, allowing for changes in interpretation.
I highly recommend you read The Guardian story as it includes some great photos and maps. And maybe read my original post again, because this is a really good story.