In the 1999 book 'Endurance' by Caroline Alexander, there is this interesting quote:
A single material record of his (Vincent's) later life is known; an unexpectedly gracious letter that he wrote to Hudson's mother, assuring her that her son-whom he had last see utterly incapacitated by the exposure of frostbite on Elephant Island- was doing very well and had never failed to pull his weight
(Alexander, 1999)
At the beginning of the year I wrote to Caroline Alexander to ask who has possession of the letter and if I could see a copy.
After many months, and I had pretty much given up, but yesterday I received a reply!
As I had thought, the letter was owned by Hudson's son, Richard and she kindly gave me his address.. She also said she might have a copy and will have a look for me, which is very kind.
Sadly, I had already discovered a couple of weeks ago by another source that Richard died a few years ago.
Typical!
I'm hoping to meet more Endurance descendants next week, and fingers crossed one of Hudson's will be there and I'll be able to ask them.
Huberht Hudson was the navigator on the Endurance, and was incredibly ill, both mentally and physically on Elephant Island.
I wonder what it was that compelled Vincent to write to Hudson's mother? Had Hudson asked him to? Did she find his address and write to him? It is well publicized that he was living at 67 Bean Street, Hull at the time, so it is probably that she wrote first. Or did he write from South Georgia?
What ever the reason, a copy of this letter can go a long way to showing that Vincent wasn't wholly bad, just a shame that when he does do something nice, it is not elaborated on...
