The Belgica & Beyond


amateur translations, scans, & assorted research by m.w.
actively under construction.

WRITTEN FROM THE BELGICA 1897-1899

  1. Racovitza’s cartoons 
  2. Racovitza’s shipboard diary
  3. Racovitza’s letters home
  4. Lecointe’s meeting notes

CORRESPONDENCE

  1. before
  2. after

    NEWS OF THE BELGICA 1896-1900

    1. coverage in the Belgian press, translated
    2. coverage in the British press
    3. coverage in the American press
    4. scientific lectures, translated
    5. list of Expedition publications
      6.        a) Lecointe on Danco’s contributions

    QUELQUES EXPÉDITIONS SUIVANTES

    1. de Gerlache & Charcot (the Français)
    2. de Gerlache & the Duke of Orléans (the Belgica in the Arctic)
    3. the failed Second Belgian Antarctic Expedition (Arctowski & Lecointe)
    4. the successful Second Belgian Antarctic Expedition (Gaston de Gerlache)
    5.  the Royal Belgian Observatory
    6. Georges Lecointe’s 20th Century

      MARRIAGES & OTHER LIFE EVENTS

      1. Lecointe Family
      2. Arctowski
      3. de Gerlache
      4. Racovitza
      5. van Mirlo
      6. van Rysselberghe

      ASSORTED BELGICA RESOURCES

      1. bibliography
      2. associated persons
      3. contemporary photographs


      the sailors of the Belgica performing a “starlight concert” on Sept. 26, 1897, from Johan Koren’s diary

      contact: packloafertranslations@gmail.com
      To: Adrien de Gerlache
      From: Gheorghe Racovitza


      Jassy, the 12th of April, 1899
      Sir Commander,
          
          We joyously received the news of the Belgica’s return to Punta Arenas, it has been a great relief for the parents whose only son undertook such a perilous voyage.

          In Brussels, we are still lacking edification as to your intentions, to return to the icy southern seas for further explorations, or to return to Europe.

          We are inclined to believe that you will continue researching in the icy environs surrounding the South Pole and this, for us, would cause new concerns, if our son Emile Racovitza were to persist in taking part in a new campaign of exploration.

          We consented to having our son take part in the voyage you organized with the understanding that he would not be among the people overwintering in the ice.

         Circumstance must have changed the original plan and I assure you that during the 15 months that we were deprived of news, we were in a state of mind so tormented that we would not be able to withstand it if that state of affairs were to be repeated.

          It is under the weight of these miserable worries through which we have just passed, that we plead with you, at once, Sir Commander, do not ask our only son to carry on this bold voyage of exploration that you may intend to take.

          I ask a thousand apologies for addressing this prayer to you but the heart of a father does not have any limits when it comes to acting for the protection of his only son.

          Sir Commander, I hope you will accept my highest congratulations, a good return, and, my most distinguished sentiments to you,

          G. Racovitza
          Mr. Racovita’s father

      Monsieur Le Commandant,

          Nous avons reçu avec bonheur la nouvelle du retour de la       Belgica à Punta-Arenas, c’était un
      grand soulagement pour des parents dont l’unique fils a entrepris un voyage aussi périlleux.

         À Bruxelles on n’est pas encore édifié sur l’intention que vous avez de retourner dans les mers
      glaciales du Sud pour une nouvelle campagne d’exploration, ou de rentrer en Europe.

         On penche plus-tôt à croire que vous allez continuer les recherches dans les autres parages
      environnant les glaces du Pol-Sud et cela serait pour nous des motifs de nouvelles inquiétudes si
      notre fils Emile Racovitza s’obstinerait à faire partie d’une nouvelle campagne d’exploration.

         Nous avons consenti à ce que notre fils fasse partie de l’Expédition que vous avez organisée,
      avec la croyance qu’il ne fera partie des personnes qui devraient hiverner dans les glaces.

          Les circonstances ont dû changer le programme primitif et je vous assure que pendant les 15
      mois que nous avons été privés des nouvelles, nous étions dans un état d’esprit tellement
      tourmenté que nous ne pourrions plus résister si cet état des choses se renouvelait.

          C’était sous l’impression de ces douloureuses inquiétudes par les quelles nous venons de passer, que nous vous prions instamment Monsieur le Commandant de ne plus engager notre unique fils à continuer ce hardi voyage d’exploration que vous avez peut-être l’intention de faire.

         Je vous demande mille excuses de m’adresser à vous avec cette prière mais le cœur d’un père n’a
      pas des limites pour agir à la conservation de l’unique fils.

         Je vous prie Monsieur le Commandant d’agréer avec les vives félicitations, de la bonne réussite,
      l’expression de mes sentiments les plus distingués,

             G Racovitza
             M. Racovita père


      One of the most interesting things about this letter is M. Racovita’s usage of “notre unique fils.” Technically, the correct phrase would be “notre fils unique,” with the adjective following the noun; M. Racovita has switched the order to place as much emphasis as possible on Emile’s lack of siblings. He does not mention it here, and it is unclear whether de Gerlache was aware of this, but Emile was not simply his parents’ only child, he was their only living child. Gheorghe and his wife Eufrosina lost their first son, Alexandru, to illness the same year that Emile was born. In 1886, they lost their daughter (Emile’s younger sister) Margareta to another illness. That same year, the 18-year-old Emile was finishing his first degree and setting off for Paris. Though they accompanied him on the journey, Gheorghe and Eufrosina were devastated to be saying goodbye to their only surviving child so soon after losing their youngest. As Gheorghe mentions above, Emile was not originally meant to spend the winter in Antarctica with the Belgica expedition: the Racovitzas had approved his participation in this madcap plan with the explicit condition that their beloved son would be back in Europe (and thus somewhere they could physically see him) within a year. With all of this in mind, it is quite understandable that M. Racovita felt compelled to write de Gerlache such an emotional letter. In some ways, I find it impressive that he stopped short of accusing him of outright abduction.