In my on-going
reading of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, I came upon an interesting chapter,
with the lead character, M. Arronax discussing the fate of a particular voyage,
where captain, crew and ships
disappeared. He mentions the ships’ names, and that they were dispatched
to complete the voyages and discoveries of James Cook. I started to think this
must be a real historic account dropped into the novel. Aha! It was true.
Jean Francois de
Galaup, the comte de Laperouse was a French naval officer/explorer. He lived
from 1741 to 1788. In 1785 he was appointed by Louis XVI to lead a world
exploration. He set off with a 114 man crew that included scientists, an
astronomer, a mathematician, a geologist, botanist, physicist, naturalists,
illustrators, a couple chaplains. The aim of the voyage would help complete
mapping of the Pacific, establish trade, open new maritime routes, and collect
scientific data.
Laperouse wrote journals and maps,
and in March he sent them back to France by the British ship, the Sirius. And
it was a good thing, too, because after obtaining fuel and water, Laperouse
moved on for New Caledonia and the southern coasts of Australia. Though he was
expected back home by June 1789, but he was never heard from again! Much later,
after his death was known, the important journals were published. 
In 1826, an Irish captain, Peter
Dillon, found evidence to support the tragedy. Swords said to have belonged to
Laperouse and his officers were found in Tikopia, one of the Santa Cruz Islands.
He made further inquiries and found the ships remains near Vanikoro, along with
cannon balls, anchors, and other items. The ships were found in waters between
coral reefs. Dillon brought back the items to France. The reason the ships went
down is not completely clear, though the area experiences rough waters, and
coral reefs add to the danger. Today there is a memorial on Vanikoro to Laperouse.
Had it not been for Jules Verne’s 20,000 League escape, I
would not know this part of maritime history.
Pays to read, and have an inquiring mind!
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