January 11, 1934

Mr. Winston Willbond
41512 Woodstyn Ave.
St. Imber, USA

This website was created by the Seawright Historical Society. All documents have been generously provided by the foundation and its donors. Best experienced on desktop.

Photograph and note authored by Winston Willbond. January 11, 1934.

• You have one unread telegram!

Telegraph sent from Martha to Winston. January 22, 1934.

WARNING! YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED ARCHIVES. CONTENTS MAY BE DISTURBING FOR SOME VIEWERS.

• GO FORTH AND SEEK THE TRUTH
• CONTENT WARNINGS

OUR MISSION

The same story can be told in a multitude of ways. Likewise, history is a narrative that's constantly rewritten.The Seawright Historical Society (SHS) is a dedicated circle of historians and associates based at Westcote University and other leading research institutions. After the Seawright Line disappeared in the 1920s, most information about its fleets and the individuals involved in the company were lost. Rival companies, such as the Northeast Atlantic Line completely bought out the shares of the SL by 1929. Alongside the company's liquidation, much of its documents and history were either destroyed or hidden.With a number of competitors and allies alike, remaining media reveals conflicting views on the endeavors of the Seawright Line, the Seawright family, and those involved in the disaster- particularly in Westcote University's home base of St. Imber. Our aim is to obtain a wide variety of resources in order to provide a critical, unbiased view of history to preserve the legacy of this once great, yet enigmatic shipping empire.

Due to the previously classified nature of the content that the SHS publishes, many contributors have decided to remain anonymous. Credits will be given when applicable.
With that being said, the current chairman of the foundation, Charles Vinfrank, has agreed to be the public face of the SHS. All communications will be managed by Mr. Vinfrank and his team of teaching assistants on behalf of the foundation.The Seawright Historical Society is available for communications through our email and social media.
Special thanks to the Westcote University computer science department for creating interactive modules on this site.

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ABOUT "DEAR CLARENT"

In the winter of 1934, two amateur sleuths, Winston Willbond and Martha Howick, embarked together to investigate the peculiar sinking of an ocean liner: the S.S. Clarent Rex of the Seawright Shipping Line. At the time, the story was known as a disaster caused by a faulty boiler explosion; however, the pair speculated that the tragedy may have been more than an accident.Like the Seawright Shipping Line, the duo's case strangely vanished alongside any trace of the company it pertained to. A supposed conclusion was reached, but documentation relating to the investigation was dispersed prior to the Second World War due to B̸̛̝̰̮̰̞͇̠͖̝̠̲͎̼͉̮͙͎̤̞̪͎̥̺̘͍̤̔̒̉͋̂̿͑͛̏̂̉͌̕̕͘͘͝͝͝ͅͅͅR̸̨̧̡̩̠͔͚͕̺̙͈̘̫̼̭̦̲̘͙̞̜̤̭̘̰̒̑̂͛͗͋̂̊͋́̉̏̊͊̽͐̈́̏͒͐̏̚̕͝͝E̴̤̭̋͐́́̌A̶̰͚̟̝͑̈́̊̊̏̍̎̃̿̓̂̐͌͘̕͠͝H̸̢̧͈͎͍̱̜̠̥͔͇̭̪̭͍͙̟̼͂͆̉̋̑̌͗̈́͊̚̚T̷̯̟̻̙̫̬̙̟̼̭̉̇͋̓̏̍̔̃̃͑̓̆͌̊͆͘̚͜͠Ȩ̶̛̛̛̛̻̙̳̤̺͍̹̻̥̓̉̐͒̀̈́̒̅̊̄͆͂̇̉̆̀̐̆͗̿͑̌͂͐̐͆̓̓̿́̚͘͘͝͠͠͝The Seawright Historical Society began organizing this collection after the discovery of Martha's intial letter to Winston. Individuals in possession of other items relating to the case were soon discovered, and agreed to contribute their inventory for the purpose of historical research and preservation.This is not the end, only the beginning.Truth always triumphs.

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SUPPORT THE PROJECT

The ambitious endeavors of the Seawright Historical Society are only possible due to the generous backing we receive from researchers, staff, donors, and guests.While we are not currently opening applications for staff positions, we do appreciate any support from the community.If you would like to be involved in the progress of this project, the SHS will soon be accepting items or information that may benefit our case. Anonymity is not a requirement, as we would like to credit those who externally aid the foundation. Contributors will be credited and acknowledged in our upcoming "Special Thanks" board. Our support & donor form will open shortly- stay tuned!Guests can also contribute by joining our discord community! Our friend, POSTIE, will deliver updates about the organization both to this website and right into your virtual mailbox. Just click on POSTIE to join!I AM 4ɭฬคץร г3ɭ1ค๒ɭ3!

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WHAT'S ON

"History is a set of lies agreed upon." I can't remember that liar who first said that, though. Maybe I should write it down for next time, can't tell the truth without citing your sources, am I right?

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COLLECTION

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IMAGES

View our collection of images here. All photographs and art have been generously provided by various donors. Click on any image to open or expand. Captions are visible on desktop.

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  Seawright Line Advertisement, 1909.

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  Isidore Seawright: Managing director of the Seawright Line. Circa 1888.

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  Sketch of Clarent Rex survivor, Percival Perkins. Created at the American inquiry.

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  Phineas Webrich: Survivor of the Clarent Rex disaster. Circa 1908.

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  Two unidentified figures at the New York inquiry, 1914.

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  Winston Willbond. January 20, 1934.

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  Portrait of an Opera Singer, 1906.

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  POLARIS

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  Portrait, presumably of Isidore Seawright

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  The Honest Man's Antichrist

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  Frank-Westcote Holloway in Egypt, 1909

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  Original promotional poster for the S.S. Clarent Rex, 1910.

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  A poster for Ms. Ruby's Red Parasol, 1885.

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  Percival Perkins refuses to speak further with the press at the Clarent Rex inquiry.

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  Webrich Villas Advertisement, c. 1884

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MORE

BERNAUER-HOLLOWAY COLLECTION

A collection of selected correspondence between Bernard Bernauer and Frank Westcote-Holloway.Proverbs 21:6-8.

DECEMBER 11, 1887

APRIL 1, 1895

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ARTICLES

View articles written by historians involved with Dear Clarent.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SEAWRIGHT LINE

By Charles Vinfrank

Transatlantic travel has been a core part of history in the last half millenia. Millions have braved the ocean to search for treasures, flee from religious oppression, or conquer land for their rulers. Yet, the Atlantic ocean in its vastness is perilous- many challenges would be faced when taking a transatlantic voyage. There were always the risks of diseases, storms, icebergs, and fire. In general, such a trip would have been extremely unpleasant. That was simply an unfortunate given until the dawn of one company to rule the waves: the Seawright Line. While mostly remembered today for the tragedies that it faced, this line once sailed proudly as the highest standard for passenger comfort, luxury, and elegance.The Seawright family had been involved in seafaring and shipbuilding since the late sixteenth century. While they would not formally establish a line until 1756, the Seawright lineage first gained notability and acclaim when Captain Elizeus Seawright of the HMS Arthur Conrad transported Puritans to the New World in 1660. After landing, a group of passengers from this particular voyage would find themselves stranded from the main colony after a snowstorm disrupted their travels. Without their settlement in sight, they could only follow the vast river that lay before them. They would later settle northwest of the Arthur Conrad's landing and establish what is known today as the city of St. Imber in 1682.Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the line would continue to produce primarily wooden cargo ships with their partner, Farnaby Ironworks & Shipbuilding. This was not to say that vessels intended for wartime were not a secondary focus. In fact, the Seawright Line would partner with the Royal Navy during the American Revolution. The eldest son in each generation of the Seawrights would typically pursue a naval career while a favored younger brother would assume management of the family business. Through great militaristic and economic achievements, the Seawrights would solidify their status as members of the upper class.Their aristocratic status would prove to be their greatest asset as the line established itself as the highest tier of luxury one could experience on the seas. The company branded itself as “formal yet friendly”, building a client list that spanned from royals to the working class- yet, all classes were treated with utmost dignity and care. To become an employee of the Seawright Line was considered an honor in and of itself, as the selection and training process, even for a waiter, was rigorous and strict. A diary entry from a Seawright steward in 1844 reads: “Training was quite strict; we [the trainees] were instructed to remain awake for almost all hours of the day. Our managers would call upon us even in the dead of night. We had to always be spry and eager to attend to all sorts of requests. Handbooks were given so that we could learn how to clean all sorts of messes and stains- even blood. Many of us have been left queasy after each day of training. If our services were to be deemed unsatisfactory by our superiors, or if our manners were not on par, consequences would be dealt. Out of approximately eighty or so who attempted to complete training, less than thirty ‘survived’ until our last test today.”While training was harsh, those who passed received wages much higher than average, connections to future employers, and those with unfortunate families received extra assistance in securing food and education. These progressive practices were greatly contrasted by the majority of brutal working conditions during the Victorian era. The Seawright Line would become known as the company “…where the common man could become a king.” Food was sourced from the finest farms, interiors were hand-carved by expert craftsmen, and officers were the highest caliber of gentlemen. Furthermore, the Seawright Line funded researchers and artists in all disciplines, paying for their worldwide travel (most notably the 1909 Egyptologist sponsorship). The Seawright fleets would carry thousands of artifacts over the years which would be sold to independent collectors or donated to museums and expositions, including the ever-famous British Museum.Yet, despite these flashy displays of grandeur and intellectualism, the Seawright Line would eventually be synonymous with disaster. This “unlucky streak” is considered to have begun with the HMS Arachne disaster of 1859. In this, Captain Noah Seawright would find himself racing the RMS Angelina of the Northeast Atlantic Line. Through overexertion of the vessel, the SS Arachne would experience a catastrophic boiler explosion, killing at least two thirds of its passengers. A seemingly continuous string of similar tragedies would follow: the RMS Lady Persephone would mysteriously disappear after a storm in 1862, the SS Lord Isaac would capsize due to an arson attack in 1864, the SS Midas would be looted by its own frenzied passengers after being struck by HMS Aquarius of the Northeast Atlantic Line in 1877, and many more would sail this river to the underworld.Most notable, though, was the SS Clarent Rex tragedy of 1914. Carrying some of the most important American and British figures of the pre-war era, it was no surprise that the public reaction to this particular incident was filled with pure vitriol following a press release. While some journalists and detectives have speculated that the unusual circumstances surrounding the onboard fire could be attributed to sabotage, no formal investigations have ever been carried out. No concrete evidence has been obtained to determine whether the fire was due to arson or merely an accident. Either way, major global economic superpowers were lost: Evelyn Marlowe of Marlowe Defense, J. Clyde Lewis of the New American Bank, Lorelai Rickard of Rickard’s Emporium, and Arlo (Arnab) Dean of Dean & Decker Tea Co. The loss of such figures would signal an end to the lofty Edwardian era as further strife arose with The Great War looming on the near horizon. “Memories of morning gossip, fragrant tea, and frivolous shopping splendor at Rickard’s Emporium have become luxuries in their own right. The loss of our greatest luminaries will lead to dark times I suppose,” remarked socialite Lara Baynton during her own survival interview.Both new and old money darlings alike were lost, and so were the shipments that followed them on the voyage. Paintings were erased from memory, jewels were swallowed by the sea, and cargo became nothing but ash. The industrial city of St. Imber was most heavily affected by this loss of cargo, relying on manufacturing businesses such as Webrich Industries for employment. A loss of these companies’ supplies meant a loss of goods to produce, which then resulted in mass-layoffs and the city’s own “Great Depression.” To compensate for the economic damage, the Westcote-Holloway Foundation of St. Imber would initiate an artifact retrieval and auction mission. One thing that they would never be able to retrieve was the glory that the Seawright Line once possessed. Indeed, a singular sinking as the SS Clarent Rex singlehandedly scrapped the high-class reputation that the Seawright Line had carefully crafted over centuries. The Seawright empire burned alone with no musicians to fiddle a tune of mourning as its ships and belongings were bought out by rival lines. With such a global impact, citizens from both sides of the pond would need someone to blame for their anguish: Isidore Seawright.Isidore was the second-to-last owner of the Seawright Line. He was described by peers and family as “…an eager man who had a flair for the arts and could spin any situation to amuse himself.” The same people would also report that he was notably sensitive and fearful when faced with criticism. “He had a unique sadness in his eyes that one would more often see in a neglected child,” remarked his brother-in-law, Roland Gillis. Historian Beau Robbins wrote that Isidore Seawright’s volatile and indecisive nature greatly contrasted with the stern and uptight nature of his father, Noah Seawright. Marvyn Seawright (Captain of the S.S. Clarent Rex) was the younger son, favored for his “classically heroic” and upstanding nature. This would result in Isidore’s weaknesses being perceived as the cause of both the family and the business’ troubles. He was a moral man, but did not possess the “Seawright Virtues” that would bring him praise as opposed to scorn. It still is not known exactly why Marvyn did not inherit the family business as was Seawright custom for the younger son to do. Beau Robbins speculates that the custom was broken simply because Noah did not see Isidore to be formidable enough for a naval career. Noah would write to his wife that their son was “…a negligent fool who’s been spoiled by the good life. A faux-bohemian engrossed in pointless art.” Many claimed that it was Isidore’s supposed negligence that would result in the S.S. Clarent Rex fire. He was the dove in a family of falcons, a “weak successor” to the man known as the “King of the Atlantic.”Isidore Seawright was subjected to severe condemnation as the public would remember him as a coward, a selfish man who left his own wife to burn with the rest. While his intentions and thoughts from that night may never be uncovered, perhaps it is that while Isidore was not as “bad” as the press would claim, he was also not as “good” as he was portrayed in his obituary. He was simply a man whose worst mistake was that he made no “real” error. It is every man’s instinct to survive after all.Following the incident, Isidore would become a recluse aside from attending mandatory meetings and sending occasional letters to the few who would still listen to his words. Journalists would pressure him to speak up, to fill in the gaps from the unfinished inquiry. His son Morgan was soon educated privately by a tutor following harassment at school surrounding the reputation of the Seawright family. With Isidore being reported as missing in 1917 while his son was on the frontlines, the company would fall into steady ruin.The Northeast Atlantic Line would assume temporary ownership of the Seawright fleet until Morgan Seawright’s return from The Great War in 1918. Morgan would choose to sell the ships and collect his inheritance before moving to the United States. The ships would continue to be in service under new names until they were eventually scrapped during the Great Depression or sunk in the Second World War. The last of the original Seawright Line was the S.S. Roy Moody which was scrapped in 1945. The legacy of the Seawright Line would become as fractured as the perception of its final owner. What was once a dominating force on the waves was reduced to an example of hubris and misfortune. The king of transatlantic travel would find his end in a pauper’s grave.

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ARTIFACTS

ORIGINAL S. S. CLARENT REX PIANO

Aboard the ship, the passengers would listen to the beautiful melodies of this Summercliff Co. piano. Since 1912, it had been transferred across various Seawright liners before taking its final voyage on the S.S. Roy Moody. From 1946 to 2022, it was stored in collection of the Gillis family before its donation to the Seawright Historical society.

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DICTAPHONE OF NORMAN BRAILEY

This dictaphone was owned by Norman Brailey, musical virtuoso and friend of the Seawrights.
Many of his pieces would be performed on the S.S. Clarent Rex,
both those he composed specifically for the repertoire and others that
happened to be trending at the time. Brailey was an associate of inventor
Alexander Graham Bell and was one of the first proponents of the dictaphone.

const dictaphone = document.getElementById("dictaphone"); const cylinder = document.getElementById("cylinder"); const container = document.getElementById("container"); const audio = document.getElementById("audio"); let dropped = false; cylinder.addEventListener("dragstart", (event) => { event.target.classList.add("dragging"); }); cylinder.addEventListener("dragend", (event) => { event.target.classList.remove("dragging"); }); dictaphone.addEventListener("dragover", (event) => { event.preventDefault(); }); dictaphone.addEventListener("drop", (event) => { event.preventDefault(); if (!dropped) { dropped = true; cylinder.style.display = "none"; dictaphone.classList.add("dropped"); container.classList.add("dropped"); audio.play(); } });

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PROJECTOR OF LESLIE BAYNTON

THE ST. IMBER SPEAKEASY

Ah! The cat. It's been dead.Your friend,
Charles.

DOCUMENTS

Browse our collection of documents here. Click on a preview to read more. Provided and scanned by C. Vinfrank for your viewing convenience.

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  "Orpheus in the Underworld" ticket, 1906.

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  Piece of newspaper published by the Bernauer Bulletin, Jan. 18, 1914.

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  Sealed envelope obtained from [REDACTED] family collection.

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  Check

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Curiosity. It's a terrible thing. You would understand, right?Your friend,
Charles.

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DONTLOOKBACK.Your friend,
Charles.

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S.S. CLARENT SINKS, KILLING 2500 PASSENGERS. MANAGING DIRECTOR, ISIDORE SEAWRIGHT, PROVES HIMSELF TO BE A _ _ _ _ _ _ !

“Life is infinitely stranger than anything
which the mind of man could invent.”
-Arthur Conan Doyle

S.S. CLARENT SINKS, KILLING 2500 PASSENGERS. MANAGING DIRECTOR, ISIDORE SEAWRIGHT, PROVES HIMSELF TO BE A C _ _ _ _ _ !

“Life is infinitely stranger than anything
which the mind of man could invent.”
-Arthur Conan Doyle

S.S. CLARENT SINKS, KILLING 2500 PASSENGERS. MANAGING DIRECTOR, ISIDORE SEAWRIGHT, PROVES HIMSELF TO BE A CO_ _ _ _ !

“Life is infinitely stranger than anything
which the mind of man could invent.”
-Arthur Conan Doyle

S.S. CLARENT SINKS, KILLING 2500 PASSENGERS. MANAGING DIRECTOR, ISIDORE SEAWRIGHT, PROVES HIMSELF TO BE A COW _ _ _ !

“Life is infinitely stranger than anything
which the mind of man could invent.”
-Arthur Conan Doyle

S.S. CLARENT SINKS, KILLING 2500 PASSENGERS. MANAGING DIRECTOR, ISIDORE SEAWRIGHT, PROVES HIMSELF TO BE A COWA__!

“Life is infinitely stranger than anything
which the mind of man could invent.”
-Arthur Conan Doyle

S.S. CLARENT SINKS, KILLING 2500 PASSENGERS. MANAGING DIRECTOR, ISIDORE SEAWRIGHT, PROVES HIMSELF TO BE A COWAR_!

“Life is infinitely stranger than anything
which the mind of man could invent.”
-Arthur Conan Doyle

S.S. CLARENT SINKS, KILLING 2500 PASSENGERS. MANAGING DIRECTOR, ISIDORE SEAWRIGHT, PROVES HIMSELF TO BE A COWARD!

• You have one unread telegram!

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The more you learn, the less you want to remember.Your friend,
Charles.

CONTENT WARNINGS AND CONTEXT

Hello again! We at the Seawright Historical Society hope that this letter finds you well. “Dear Clarent” aims to recall the legacy of the Seawright Line, the S.S. Clarent Rex, and those whose lives were so inherently intertwined with them. Those of us in the modern day have the privilege of living in a more informed world, therefore this deep-dive into the past will contain potentially uncomfortable content that reflects the time period it originates from. Before you begin your voyage, here is a list of triggers that appear throughout the story:-Mental Health & Suicide
-Familial Abuse
-Sexism
-Colonialism & Imperialism
-Depictions of Injuries and Gore
-HomophobiaWe wish for you to know that when dealing with these in creating our story, the team always puts great effort into researching the subject matter. We employ research through research papers, books, speaking directly to experts, and more. If any content in Dear Clarent is greatly inaccurate or insensitive, please feel free to contact us anytime at [email protected]. We value thoroughly informing ourselves of the complexities and nuances of our content via consistent education on a range of perspectives in both modern and historical settings. To ensure well-rounded quality when dealing with heavier subjects, the Seawright Historical Society works with various volunteer sensitivity readers before each release. We do not wish to glorify or romanticize the triggers listed above, but they do appear in Dear Clarent and its extended universe as an expression of a grim historical reality through the means of a fictional narrative.CREATOR’S ADDITION:Thank you for your support of Dear Clarent. I want to share here my personal perspective on this story and my intentions when writing it.
I wish to start by adding onto the end of the main letter. I would like to make it clear that while I put time and care into each character that I’ve created, I do not necessarily condone their actions or beliefs. I write historical fiction based on real events and real people; many were very far from what we can consider “good” or “ideal”. In fact, many of my characters were created from my own studies of real life industrialists and political figures. I like to tell stories with vintage settings and contexts, but by no means do I support “vintage values”. I simply consider myself fascinated when exploring the topic of personal versus societal morality, and wish to do so through revisiting a popular and familiar, but unsettling past. Being informed of how far we have progressed is incredibly important. My intentions are simply to create an original story and world that viewers can explore while also learning even a little about the actual problems of that time. Of course I admire the glittering gold aesthetics of the Gilded Age from an artistic POV but the fact is that the glamor of the “Gilded” Age is merely a facade for the exploitation and sorrows that would enable such luxury. Likewise, Dear Clarent borrows aspects of design and culture for that time but always solely in a fictional/narrative sense.
Again, please accept my sincerest thanks for your support of Dear Clarent and for understanding the intention and dedication that went into its creation. I hope that this tale entertains and informs as it's presented!

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December 11, 1887

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April 1, 1895

THE SEAWRIGHT LETTERS

THE SEAWRIGHT LINE SONGBOOK

Daugerreologue

Evertheless

A Delightful Reverie

Rückkehrunruhe

Proposal

Harmonoia

Occhiolism

Eagre

Birth and Beloiter

Enoument

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The Seawright Line songbook is an anthology of pieces composed by Norman Brailey for contract musicians to perform on voyages. Brailey was a prolific songwriter and close friend of the Seawright family.

Click the songbok above for access to
copies of the sheet music free of charge.

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CARGO MANIFEST [INCOMPLETE]

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TELEPHONE

The telephone as we know it was invented in 1861 by Philipp Reiss, although it was first patented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. The telephone in our collection belonged to newspaper mogul Bernard Bernauer. Bernauer was fascinated with audio as a new medium for news, and thus experimented often with radio and recording his own calls.

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F.W-H. and B. Bernauer, April 1934

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There's a memory inside.

My dearest Phoebe,
Why leave so early?
Your voice leaves me feeling
My heart is yearning!And our secrets lie
beneath the tidesDear, let’s go sailing tonight---My dearest Phoebe,
Leaving so early.
No fire forgiving
Star-crossed souls burning!all secrets die
Beneath the tidesDear, we’ll be sailing tonight

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SURVIVOR REPORTS

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JOURNALS