h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Elentari
I don't know if you've noticed, but the latest Stretcher challenge seems to have kicked off justifiable cannibalism as a topic for debate and indeed EG Entries.
I had a look for the Donner Party as one of the best-known examples, and of course it turns out to be your own very first Entry.
This is a bit of an improper question to put to a 50+ stalwart about a first Entry, but do you have any interest in an Update?
If not, would you mind if I had a go at the Forlorn Hope as a specific subtopic? Although the trouble with the latter course is that it would really need at least as much as your original Entry to even set the context.
While we're at it, belated apologies for nicking Jonathan Martin and the Minster fire, which with hindsight was probably your rightful topic too.
Pin

On the Jonathan Martin subject - that's certainly not a problem as I knew very little about it anyway. I have a feeling you wrote that before I even wrote my Minster entry, but I may be wrong and can't be bothered to check.

I hadn't had a chance the read this week's Post yet, but I have now looked at it.

Having also re-read the entry, it could probably do with an Update and some more info but it just about stands as it is. I may be being thick, but what do you mean by 'the Forlorn Hope'?

The Forlorn Hope were what the relief party called themselves. I think there were about 15 of them originally, and they set out from the encampment east of the mountains in mid-December on the day the first death from starvation occurred. Two men and all five women made it over the tops to Sutter's fort 100 miles west, and raised the alarm.

Were they? You obviously know more about it than I do!

As I say, it would certainly benefit from more info but who knows when or if I'll ever get around to it. If you want to update it yourself, do feel free.

Thinking about it, I have some time off over Easter so I could get some research done. Any help or info you have would be gratefully received; as I said, you obviously know a lot about it! We could make it a collaboration if you like.

I saw your posts on the Cannibalism PR thread; you needn't have worried. It is in real need of an update. Thank you for being concerned about being diplomatic though.

I'd be very happy to collaborate on something, but it's your call whether this should be the subject. My feeling is that it probably shouldn't be. The story is really harrowing, and I'd feel uncomfortable even about obliging you to research it.

If you decide that you want to read the definitive account, just open the Google books version of McGlashan's "History of the Donner Party". The story of the Forlorn Hope starts around page 82 and goes as far as 105, then resumes at 124 and ends at 132. I thought of telling just this part because it's (relatively) brief while being representative. It's very far from being the whole story, though.

If I wrote this Entry myself, I doubt it would be judged EG-fit. I prefer to write in a dramatic style and the Eds have a habit of judging such stuff to be fictionalised. The thing is, though, there's little point in a new Entry unless it captures the horror that McGlashan's account conveys, but there's no point in just paraphrasing McGlashan either.

Contrary to the totals in your Entry, incidentally, McGlashan's list of the dead numbers (you guessed it) 42.

Maybe we ought to do a York story instead? There are plenty still to go at, that's for sure. The best I've done so far isn't Jonathan Martin. It's this: A5680271

Well, I started having a look around last night and I've found several interesting avenues to research. Thanks for the McGlashan tip, I'll definitely read it.

How about, then, I take a stab at rewriting it for an update but before I submit it, you take a look and give me your opinion?

I remember reading your entry on John Hand some time ago; it's a very fine piece of work.

Did you have something in mind for a York entry?

I was thinking about the Civil War siege, leading to Marston Moor.
But I guess you know York a lot better than I do.

Well I don't live there anymore, so that wouldn't be any help.

My half-done update is on my entries list, if you want to take a look.

Wow. Looking like an extraordinary Entry in the making now.

This is an amazing tale, but it's one thay you have to go painfully deep into, before you discover the nobility of spirit that these men and women possessed.

You're going to bring that spirit to a new audience. Thanks!

Thanks.

Right, it's finished to my satisfaction for now, so it's in PR.