PICTURE GALLERY
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT STARLIGHT
Myth #1
Starlight's real name has been stated in some places as being Frank Simpson. This is without doubt untrue and simply a result of journalist error. More than thirty years after Starlight’s death, a journalist at The Daily News (28 July, 1934, p.18) inaccurately transcribed Patrick Pelly’s letter to the Coroner, reporting that ‘his proper name was Frank Simpson’. In fact a look at the original letter will reveal that Pelly never mentioned the name Simpson; his words were actually ‘his proper name was Frank Pearson’. This error has been widely reproduced in books and other material on Captain Starlight.
Myth #2
It is also widely reported that Starlight's sentence at St Helena was served under the alias of 'Walter Gordon'. This is untrue and it may be helpful to understand how the misinformation arose. In Patrick McCarthy's excellent book 'Starlight: the man and the myth' (Hawthorne Press, 1972), he surmises that Starlight may have been imprisoned under the name of Walter Gordon at St Helena, because he was unable to find the gaol record of Frank Gordon, one of the names under which he was operating in QLD. He did, however, find the record of an inmate named Walter Gordon who was imprisoned there at a similar (but not exactly the same) time. It is important to note that in his book, McCarthy presented this as a theory but unfortunately his theory has been widely adopted as fact. It is without doubt incorrect because:
Myth #3
He was discharged from St Helena in 1891. This is incorrect; he was discharged in 1888. The error arose as a result of myth #2. The person discharged in 1891 was Walter Gordon, not Frank.
Myth #4
Starlight was the inspiration for the fictional hero of Robbery Under Arms. The author himself denied this; he claimed never to have even heard of Frank Pearson when he wrote the novel. See 'The OTHER Captain Starlight' for more information.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT STARLIGHT
Myth #1
Starlight's real name has been stated in some places as being Frank Simpson. This is without doubt untrue and simply a result of journalist error. More than thirty years after Starlight’s death, a journalist at The Daily News (28 July, 1934, p.18) inaccurately transcribed Patrick Pelly’s letter to the Coroner, reporting that ‘his proper name was Frank Simpson’. In fact a look at the original letter will reveal that Pelly never mentioned the name Simpson; his words were actually ‘his proper name was Frank Pearson’. This error has been widely reproduced in books and other material on Captain Starlight.
Myth #2
It is also widely reported that Starlight's sentence at St Helena was served under the alias of 'Walter Gordon'. This is untrue and it may be helpful to understand how the misinformation arose. In Patrick McCarthy's excellent book 'Starlight: the man and the myth' (Hawthorne Press, 1972), he surmises that Starlight may have been imprisoned under the name of Walter Gordon at St Helena, because he was unable to find the gaol record of Frank Gordon, one of the names under which he was operating in QLD. He did, however, find the record of an inmate named Walter Gordon who was imprisoned there at a similar (but not exactly the same) time. It is important to note that in his book, McCarthy presented this as a theory but unfortunately his theory has been widely adopted as fact. It is without doubt incorrect because:
- all the newspapers at the time reported the trial of Frank Gordon - no mention of Walter then or at any other time
- his discharge from gaol was reported in the QLD Police Gazettes as Frank Gordon
- the physical description of Walter Gordon in the gaol record does not match
- he was tried again in 1888 (as Frank Gordon) while Walter was still in gaol; and the final proof:
- I did find an entry for Frank Gordon in the St Helena records. Admittedly it took several visits and the assistance of my son's keen vision!
Myth #3
He was discharged from St Helena in 1891. This is incorrect; he was discharged in 1888. The error arose as a result of myth #2. The person discharged in 1891 was Walter Gordon, not Frank.
Myth #4
Starlight was the inspiration for the fictional hero of Robbery Under Arms. The author himself denied this; he claimed never to have even heard of Frank Pearson when he wrote the novel. See 'The OTHER Captain Starlight' for more information.
PICTURE GALLERY
The paintings below are believed to have been done by Captain Starlight (as 'Major Pelly') while staying at Yarawa (near Mingindi) in 1890, when he was flood-bound for several months. Shared with permission of Allan Harding.
Here I am at the grave of 'Captain Starlight' in Perth's Karrakatta Cemetery.
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The lovely Karrakatta Cemetery where Starlight is buried under the name of 'Patrick Pelly'. The white noticeboard marks his grave.
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This is the plaque marking Captain Starlight's grave. Note that it contains some errors! See myths 2. 3 and 4 above!
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The Wesleyan Church in Perth where Starlight sought (and received) assistance.
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Inside the Wesleyan Church.
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The 'Old Perth Boys' School' on St George's Terrace in Perth. The Geological Survey of WA was housed in this building when 'Pelly' worked there as an accountant.
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This was the Chapel at the Darlinghurst Gaol (now the National Art School). Frank Pearson helped to make the stained glass window in the chapel.
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This is the window in the chapel, believed to have been made by Frank Pearson and fellow inmate of Darlinghurst Gaol, Henry Louis Bertrand, in about 1873.
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Another view of the Chapel
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Below are some pictures of St Helena Island as it is today. The graveyard (centre) is the prisoners' cemetery.
The children of the warders (top left) were buried in a separate cemetery.
The children of the warders (top left) were buried in a separate cemetery.
These paintings were done by Captain Starlight (under the alias of Waller) and given to his host at Apis Creek, Aimee Augusta Wilsone in 1887. Source: MS 9347. Captain Starlight. Papers ca.1887. Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria
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Source: MS 9347. Captain Starlight. Papers ca.1887. Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria
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