Every year, thousands of people go missing around the world. Those that public usually know nothing about but when someone famous disappears, then it brings a lot of questions and conspiracy theories about what happened.
[Henry Hudson. Image Source]
Massive ice floes loudly hit against the hull of the ship that had sailed for the search of the northerly route between the Atlantic Ocean and Asia. Anxious captain looks around unwelcoming lands and gives orders. The ship is having difficulties getting through the frozen sea and the sailors have become uneasy. There are rumours that part of the crew that is unwilling to continue the journey has been planning a mutiny. The renowned explorer Henry Hudson has found out about the plans and offers the disgruntled sailors an agreement - they will search for the Arctic passage to Asia on the opposite side, along the coast of America. Few months later the boat is first to reach the famous bay in northeastern Canada, but Hudson has not escaped his fate. He doesn't come back from the voyage, same as his son.
[A replica of "Halve Maen" which was Henry Hudson's ship used for exploration of Delaware Bay. Image Source]
The case of Henry Hudson
Name: Henry Hudson
The date of disappearance: June 22nd 1611.
The circumstances: After the mutiny he was set a drift with few other members in a small shallop.
400 years have passed since English explorer Henry Hudson drew the maps of northeastern coast of America. For his times he was he was truly a visionary, convinced that these new lands are the future of Europe, and that it is necessary to carefully explore them regardless of the serious risks.
After his first successful journey in 1609, the East India Company decided to fund Hudson and gifted him with the ship called "Discovery", and then sent him on another journey. However, when the ship returned back in the end of 1611, the captain and part of the crew was missing.
[Hudson Bay. Image Source]
So what happened?
According to American historian Peter Mancall (born in 1959) there are documents that say that blood stains were found on the ship. In addition, the survivors admitted of having a fierce dispute with the captain. Also, after his disappearance, most of his property vanished and some evidence of the mutiny was covered up.
[Hudson Bay. Image Source]
Living between the natives?
Following the most popular explanation, part of the crew rebelled against Hudson and set him, his son and some other sailors adrift in small boat, in desolate and inhospitable environment of Northern Canada. But the question remains about what happened to him after that. Many researchers believe that he died from exposure. The guesswork about his survival intensified in 1959, when near town of Chalk River a road worker found a stone with the mysterious engraving "HH Captive 1612" carved on it. According to one hypothesis, the captain was captured by the natives from one of the local tribes.
We can only guess about what happened after.
Was he killed by the natives, or maybe he joined their tribe?
[The stone with "HH Captive 1612" markings. Image Source]
-logic
Other sources used but not included under hyperlinks:
Ian Chadwick - "Henry Hudson's Fourth Voyage 1610: The Northwest Passage".
Biography.com - "Henry Hudson Biography".
YouTube - "The Four Voyages of Henry Hudson".
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