Very valid point Hardluck, why did it take so long to come out? I get the feeling this was one of those war stories one of the crew was telling in a pub 13 years after and some newshound overheard and decided it would be a good fill story. Or someone just made it up for whatever reason...
The man definitely made some enemies on his way up as people in power always seem to do.
Since I couldn't find much about the incident researching early Kichener history, I decided to dig into the boat. Perhaps there is a log notation or another version?
The first thing I noticed was a discrepancy in the bow art and superstructure of the two ships pictured as the Melik. That seemed fishy and I am not at all sure it's really the Melik at the Blue Nile Club. Or it is and the historic picture is another boat?
The documentation I found on the Melik says that it wasn't floated till 1896 so clearly this wasn't the alleged gold dumper anyway.
Melik, Sheik, and Sultan were single screw driven, Zafir, Fatah, and Nazir were sternwheelers. All were built in 1896. So these boats were all about a decade to late to be our gunboat apparently.
I find it funny that there is more data floating about on pirate crews from the 1600s than Nile gunboats from the 1800s it seems.
Four boats were built in 1884. The Tamai, Hafir, Metemmeh, and Abu Klea. They were Sternwheelers.
I also found reference to the Ibis, el Teb, Bordein, and Talahawiya. The Bordein and Talahawiya supposedly were part of the Gordon relief mission.
So which boat was our culprit?
Still poking about but I thought I would toss this out for now in case anyone's looking.
Linkback: You are not allowed to view links.
Please Register or Login
http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,35120.msg215828.html#msg215828
|
« Last Edit: March 08, 2012, 07:18:22 pm by Idaho Jones »
|
Logged
|
|