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Alright polar Twitter, who wants a New Years party? By which I mean, James Clark Rossâs party in the ice, 1842!
Thread below for details.
Thread below for details.
For New Years 1842, Ross and Crozier found their ships temporarily frozen in. The tradition of polar theatrics was relatively new, but well established, and as experienced veterans, the captains threw a full holiday ball on the ice. This involved games, costumes, a tavern, etc..
and the now-infamous (but certainly not shocking for those who knew him then) incident of âMiss Ross.â Ross was no stranger to playing a woman, having done so several times in performances under Edward Parry in the Arctic. Although 41, he did it again in the Antarctic.
Terror officer J. E. Davis wrote of the evening, that when the dancing commenced, âof course Captain Crozier and Miss Ross opened the ball with a quadrille.â Now whether he was in full womenâs getup is open to speculation (under Parry, costumes had truly been ladiesâ cast-offs...
but since no image exists, itâs possible Davis meant Ross was simply the following partner, or he had a makeshift costume.) But I have taken the liberty of drawing the scene, and now you all can color it!
Artists, have fun. Make a more fashionable dress and/or hairstyle. Add accessories. Draw the ships in the background or sailors having fun doing... whatever sailors do! Add more partners (JD Hooker in a dress?) â whatever. Share on New Years!
I will be finishing the drawing myself, but as I only draw in monochrome and am dreadfully slow, Iâd love to see other peopleâs interpretation! Just tag me too :)
(Oh, and big shoutout to the anonymous WWII soldier and sailor who were the reference picture for my sketch)
For those who want details on the party, it appears on pages 12-15 of this published letter from Davis. Davisâs drawing of the pre- or post-dancing festivities is the image in my first tweet. http://www.antarctic-circle.org/davis.pdf
