Jules Verne, Bracebridge Hemyng, AND Edward Stratemeyer:

A Case of Nineteenth-Century Plagiarism

©1995 by James D. Keeline
“Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.” The story was translated by Lewis Mercier
The Lacon, Charles Caleb Coltar (1780-1832) and published in England and the United
States in late-November 1872. The date on
Where do authors get their story ideas? the title pages for these editions was 1873. It
was one of several stories which became the
Jules Verne (1828-1905) is often cited as the inspiration to science fiction writers, in-
“father of science fiction,” a distinction cluding Five Weeks in a Balloon (1863;
sometimes shared by H.G. Wells (1866- 1869), Journey to the Centre of the Earth
1946). Biographers and scholars of Verne (1864; 1874), From the Earth to the Moon
have pointed out that he was not the first (1865, 1870; 1874), and Around the World
person to describe voyages to the moon or in Eighty Days (1873; 1873).
travel under the sea aboard a submarine.
However, his stories were the first to achieve So successful were these stories, that they
international acclaim and popularity. This made a permanent mark on the genre. For
same popularity served to popularize the example, few authors could write about a
ideas within the books as well. submarine voyage without closely parallel-
ing Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues
Verne’s “Vingt milles lieues sous les mers” Under the Seas (George M. Smith, 1873),
w a s f i r s t p u b l i s h e d i n t h e M a g a s i n even down to the obligatory giant squid at-
d’education et de recreation as a magazine tack. Some of these imitations were
serial (20 Mar 1869 - 20 Jun 1870). It was embarrassingly close to Verne’s story about
published in two volumes within Verne’s Captain Nemo’s Nautilus.
Voyages Extraordinares in 1870 and 1871.

[Jules Verne (1828-1905), age 25] [First American edition of Twenty Thousand Leagues
Under the Seas (George M. Smith, 1873)]

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 [Bracebridge Hemyng (1841-1901)] ["Dick Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace at Sea"
Frank Leslie's Boys of America (#6, Feb 1874)]

One early example of this type of imitation The Dick Lightheart story, like many of
was written by Bracebridge Hemyng (1841- Hemyng’s popular Jack Harkaway stories, is
1901), “Dick Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace part of a continuing narrative with only the
at Sea,” which was published in serial form slightest amount of transitional text to con-
in Young Men of Great Britain (260-?:1873) nect one story to the next. Thus, little
by Edwin J. Brett. It was immediately pi- explanation is given, initially, about how
rated in Boys of America (6-12: Feb 1874 - Dick Lightheart, his chum, Harry Messiter,
Aug 1874), a magazine published by Frank and servant, Teddy are on Captain Simpson’s
Leslie (1821-1880) that was closely pat- ship, the Indiana. However, we soon learn
terned after Brett’s Boys of England, in that they were picked up and the Captain and
which most of Hemyng’s stories first ap- his officers intend to impress Dick Lightheart
peared. American and British copies of and his friends into maritime service. To
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas this, Dick resists in his usual fashion. He
have been seen with 1872 inscriptions. Thus wins a fight against one member of the crew
when the Dick Lightheart story began to and earns their respect. In a later incident,
appear in 1873, it followed the English- Dick stops the captain from flogging one of
language publication of Verne’s story by the regular crew. Captain Simpson turns his
mere months. rage towards our hero. When he plans to
flog Dick Lightheart, the crew intercedes on
The Hemyng story was reprinted several his behalf.
times including a version without illustra-
tions in Frank Tousey’s Five Cent Wide As this incident concludes, a strange sail is
Awake Library (85-86: 22 Mar 1879 - 24 spotted on the horizon. This turns out to be
Mar 1879; 1257-1258: 6 Mar 1896 - 13 Mar the remains of a vessel with its only survi-
1896). It was published in book form in as vor, Professor Crawley Crab, who is the
The Scapegrace at Sea. The British version “Secretary to the Society for Exploration of
was advertised in Boys of England (11 Jul the Unknown Parts of the World.” He de-
1874). It was published in the United States mands food and fresh clothing while he tells
by the American News Company. how his ship, the General Johnstone, was
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destroyed by a sea monster. Naturally, this a quick survey of the situation suggests that
conversation does not go unnoticed by the they have little choice. If the craft were to
crew. When the monster appears, none of submerge, they would surely drown. Al-
the crew, save our heroes, will go in the though they try to kick the plate with their
small boat with Professor Crab to attempt to feet, there is no response from the occupants
harpoon it. Harry Messiter takes the place of of the submarine. After several hours of
Verne’s Ned Land as harpoonist, although uncertainty, a hatch opens and an unseen
this role is merely perfunctory. Dick person from the submarine drags in each
Lightheart’s other companion, Teddy, who member of the party, one at a time. They are
is analogous to Professor Arronax’s servent, locked in a small room.
Conseil, seems to be present solely to com-
plain and state “I know I’m only an odd boy After a long delay, they are fed upon dinner
but I’ve got feelings” every few dozen para- plates with a large letter “N” and the motto
graphs. “Dead to the World” inscribed upon them.
In time they meet the captain who listens to
From this point, Hemyng’s story simply lifts their story repeated in several languages
the adventure elements of Verne’s story, without response. Only on a later visit does
while adding some dime novel plot formu- Captain Nemo reveal that he speaks English
las. The monster attacks and sinks the as well as the other languages used. He
Indiana. Professor Crab and our heroes are explains that the survivors of the shipwreck
knocked out of their small boat into the can never be released, thus the submarine
water. They eventually regroup on the back Enigma will become their prison.
of the sea monster which has iron plates and
rivets hewn by hand. They soon realize that Captain Nemo of the Hemyng story, like his
this is a man-made submarine boat. Figur- Verne counterpart, is as enigmatic as the
ing the occupants to be pirates, they are name of his vessel. He also experiences the
uncertain as to whether they should alert the same manic-depressive mood swings char-
attention of the men in the vessel. However, acterized by the captain of the Nautilus. In

["Dick Lightheart at Sea" by Bracebridge Hemyng ["Dick Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace at Sea"
Five Cent Wide Awake Library (#1257, 6 Mar 1896)] Frank Leslie's Boys of America (#6, Feb 1874), p. 85.]

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Verne’s story, the motto on the dinner plate Hemyng’s style of characterizations. The
is “Mobilis in Mobili” (“movable in a mov- Hemyng version also includes several ex-
able element”). The crew of the Enigma amples of pronounced racism. When the
uses special rifles to hunt and kill undersea group tries to escape, they kill one of Cap-
game. Although these are not described in tain Nemo’s crew, one of Duggard’s former
the same detail as the ones in Verne’s story, slaves, who speaks in dialect. When
they are clearly the same devices. Both Lightheart learns what they have done, Teddy
stories include an underwater burial; the replies “it was only a nigger.”
captives attempted escape on to an island
which is filled with cannibals who are re- As was typical in the dime novel industry,
pelled by electricity; and an excursion into a this story was itself stolen by another writer.
oyster bed with a giant pearl in a place The theft in this case is nearly word for word
known only to Captain Nemo. There is even with the only changes being the character
a trip through a submarine tunnel between and vessel names. The beginning and end-
the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea in ing of this story are different and the
both versions. The Enigma is also trapped in characterizations softened but the essential
ice near the South Pole for a time. Of course, elements are identical to the Hemyng story
no submarine story would be complete with- already stolen from Verne.
out an attack by a giant squid or octopus.
This story was published in Young Sports of
As previously stated, this story contains all America (10 Aug 1895 - 14 Sep 1895) as
of the adventure elements of the Verne nar- “The Wizard of the Deep; or, the Search for
rative in a shameless plagiarization. There the Million Dollar Pearl” by “Theodore
is also a subtext added about why Hemyng’s Edison.” The story was published in hard-
Captain Nemo has abandoned the civilized cover as The Wizard of the Sea by the
world. As a soldier for the South in the Mershon Company in 1900. It was reprinted
American Civil War, his fiancée was con- by Chatterton-Peck around 1907 and later
vinced of his death by another suitor. She by A.L. Burt. The hardcover editions were
eventually marries him and leads an un- published using the “Roy Rockwood” pseud-
happy existence on his ship, the Belle of New onym.
Orleans. Nemo, whose real name is Harold
Duggard, has sworn vengance and sinks sev- Roy Rockwood was one of the principal
eral ships throughout the course of the story. pseudonyms used by Edward Stratemeyer
Strangely, none of the prisoners, save Dick (1862-1930) and his Stratemeyer Syndicate,
Lightheart, notice each time the Enigma col- an organization established around 1904 or
lides with and sinks a ship. The last portion 1905 which hired writers to complete manu-
of the story describes their escape and res- scripts based upon story outlines created by
cue by Captain Crawley (Hemyng must have Stratemeyer. Through this organization,
been fond of this name) Vipond of the Belle Stratemeyer created some of the most popu-
of New Orleans, Duggard’s target. They lar series of novels for children including
also meet the object of Duggard’s misery, the Bobbsey Twins, Tom Swift, the Hardy
Adele. Dick Lightheart warns Captain Boys, and Nancy Drew.
Vipond about Duggard which makes him a
nervous man indeed. In fact, only because Edward Stratemeyer was born in Elizabeth,
the machinery broke on the Enigma did they New Jersey on 4 October 1862. As a boy he
have the slightest reprieve. The remaining read the dime novels and story papers avail-
chapters describe how Dick Lightheart and able at the time. The authors who wrote for
his friends are landed in Africa, presumably
these publications were William T. Adams
leading to the next story, “Dick Lightheart(1822-1897) (as Oliver Optic), Horatio Alger
Around the World.” Jr. (1834-1899), Charles A. Fosdick (1842-
1915) (as Harry Castlemon), James Otis
To simply summarize “Dick Lightheart at Kaler (1848-1912) (as James Otis), and many
Sea” reveals how this story was based on a others.
bare-bones version of the Verne story with
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 [The Wizard of the Sea by Roy Rockwood] [Edward Stratemeyer (1862-1930)]

In early interviews, Stratemeyer remarked

how he aspired to write like Horatio Alger, A few years later, in 1889, Stratemeyer sold
what he did not reveal was that for several his first story, “Victor Horton’s Idea” to
years since Alger’s death, he had written as Golden Days for $75. Upon hearing the
Alger as well. Stratemeyer wrote eleven amount they paid, his father, Henry Julius
Alger “completions” which were suppos- Stratemeyer, assented the Edward should
edly based upon notes left by Alger. write more of these stories. Stratemeyer
Although the first one or two of these stories certainly seemed to take this advice to heart.
may have been composed in this fashion, the He wrote many stories that were published
later volumes seem to be wholly as dime novels and were serialized in story
Stratemeyer’s work. Stratemeyer also wrote papers of the time.
one volume as “Oliver Optic” when
William T. Adams died before completing By 1893, he was working as the editor of
the Blue and Grey series, published by Good News, a Street & Smith publication,
Lee & Shepard, as planned. contributing many of the stories published
during his reign in the editor’s chair. Here
One story about Stratemeyer told how he he learned many of the writing, editing, and
received a small toy printing press as a boy publishing techniques that would be used in
upon which he would print poetry and short his Stratemeyer Syndicate a decade later.
stories to give to friends and family. When For example, writers were expected to de-
he was twenty, he tried to start his own story velop a story of a given length in a short time
paper, Our American Boys, which appar- period after being given only a title and the
ently had only a single issue in January basics of the characters and plot. For this,
1883. The surviving copy, held by the Uni- the writer would be paid a flat sum in ex-
versity of Oregon at Eugene, is arranged as change for all rights to the story. The
a quarto with eight pages of text and no publishers would risk that the story sold and
illustrations. The departments and stories in reap the rewards if it sold well.
this first issue were probably written en-
tirely by him. Some of the advertisements In fact, it was a common practice to have a
offer typesetting services. given story published many times over a
5
number of years. Thus, if a writer or group stories in a given dime novel series. An
of writers contributing to a dime novel series example of this is (William) Gilbert Patten
needed a break from their frenetic pace, (1866-1945) who wrote sports, school, and
older stories would be inserted into the pub- travel stories about Frank Merriwell and
lishing schedule, sometimes with different family for Street & Smith’s Tip Top Weekly
titles. As you can imagine, this causes many as “Burt L. Standish.”
problems for the bibliographers of this type
of literature. Many of the writers for these publications
were also voracious readers both of fiction
Another common practice, especially before in the genre and of newspapers. In fact, it
1891, was to steal stories from England, was very common for a writer of dime nov-
Germany, and France and publish them here els and story papers to write for newspapers
in the United States, in English. The inter- as well. A common practice of fiction writ-
national copyright agreement that Charles ers was to take a popular news story and
Dickens (1812-1870) fought for during most fictionalize it with only the slightest embel-
of his later life for would not appear until lishment. In some cases, a writer simply
twenty years after his death. Thus, pre-1891 lifted the description in a news story and
historical novels by G.A. Henty (1832-1902) inserted it into their story.
were routinely pirated by American book
publishers. For example, Edward Stratemeyer wrote
dime novel stories for the New York Five
In a similar fashion, Frank Leslie’s Boys of Cent Library (published by Street & Smith)
America would contain essentially the same about a boxer, Gentleman Jack (between
material as Edwin J. Brett’s Boys of En- Nov 1892 and Nov 1893), who was largely
gland after a short delay. At one point based on Gentleman Jim Corbett, a boxer
around 1873, Leslie persuaded Bracebridge with a short term of fame. An eminent
Hemyng to move to the United States and Stratemeyer scholar, Dr. Deidre Johnson,
write exclusively for him. However, “Dick has recently uncovered evidence that de-
Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace at Sea” which scriptions of the fights were simply lifted
had its first installment in Boys of America from local newspaper accounts. Stratem-
February 1874 was originally published in eyer also wrote several boxing stories for
Young Men of Great Britain (issue 260-?: Young Sports of America (1895), some of
1873), another Edwin J. Brett paper. which are about Gentleman Jim Corbett.

Since Hemyng was perceived as being a In another example, a forthcoming article in

British writer and most of his stories were the Dime Novel Round-Up will outline a
stolen from their naitive England, it is not Samuel Hopkins Adams (1871-1958) novel
very surprising that publishers, like Frank plagiarized by Gilbert Patten (1866-1945).
Tousey, reprinted “Dick Lightheart at Sea”
in 1896. This theft of literary property went Weldon J. Cobb, a Chicago newspaperman,
in both directions. Samuel L. Clemens (1835- real estate agent, and dime novel author
1910) (Mark Twain) often had his stories simply rewrote a newspaper version of H.G.
published first in England to secure non- Wells’ War of The Worlds (Pearson’s Maga-
citizen copyright and prevent piracy of his zine, 1897; Heinemann, 1898) in a story that
stories as fast as the pages could be printed became “At War With Mars” (Golden
here in the United States. Hours, Sep-Nov 1897). One of Cobb’s new
elements when he stole the story was the
Most of the dime novels and many of the Martian attack on the U.S., rather than En-
story papers had weekly publication sched- gland. Cobb wrote several other stories with
ules. The demands of the publishing schedule Mars as a theme. In 1905, Cobb began to
required writers to compose stories of ap- write for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. He
proximately 60,000 words in a short length wrote early volumes in the Dave Fearless
of time. If an author was a fast enough series, Boys of Business series, and Ralph
writer, he could provide nearly all of the of the Railroad series.
6
Edward Stratemeyer tended to use certain had a copy of “Dick Lightheart at Sea” in
pseudonyms to identify his personal writing hand.
and other names for stories which he owned
as a literary agent. Thus, stories he wrote [On the following slides from The Wizard of
were published under his own name, and the Sea, Stratemeyer’s own writing is high-
“Captain Ralph Bonehill” and “Arthur M. lighted in orange.]
Winfield” while stories he purchased from
other writers, when published in hardcover, The first six and one-half chapters (38 pages)
might use names like “Roy Rockwood” or of The Wizard of the Sea are essentially a
“Allen Chapman.” Obviously, there were reprint of a story Stratemeyer published in
several early stories written by Stratemeyer Bright Days, a story paper that he owned
published under the Chapman and Rockwood and edited, called “The Schoolboy Cadets;
names, however, these names are usually or, Fun and Mystery at Washington Hall”
associated with hardcover series books which (Bright Days, #6-10: 5 Sep 1896 - 3 Oct
were contracted “works for hire” from his 1896) under the Roy Rockwood pseudonym.
Syndicate. As the title implies, this short story is about
several boys who attend a small military
An observant reader can learn to detect the academy. A few years later, Stratemeyer
style of a given writer and note their choice would create his Rover Boys series (1899-
of spelling, favorite character names and 1926) of school stories under his Arthur M.
adverbs and phrases. One scholar, Dr. John Winfield personal pseudonym.
T. Dizer Jr., who has spent most of his life
reading works by Stratemeyer and his Syn- After an abrupt transition at the beginning of
dicate has suggested that “The Wizard of the page 39, the story begins to merge with the
Deep” (Young Sports of America, #11-16: Hemyng story. [On this page, text not high-
10 Aug 1895 - 14 Sep 1895) and its hard- lighted was taken direct from Hemyng
cover cousin, The Wizard of the Sea word-for-word.] The main character, Mont
(Mershon, 1900), does not appear to be Folsom, his chum Carl Barnaby, and servant
Stratemeyer’s writing. “Were it not for John “Stump” Stumpton were on a small
Stratemeyer’s known connection with Young boat that was run down by an outgoing ship.
Sports of America and the ‘Rockwood’ name, This ship picks them up but is unwilling to
it would be difficult to identify this book as drop them off at any port.
his writing” (Tom Swift & Co., p. 135).
Curiously, the story was not listed among Since this book is a direct copy of the Hemyng
titles that were transferred from Frank J. story, each character in the Hemyng story
Earll, the publisher of Young Sports of has a corresponding character in the
America, to Stratemeyer in 1896. Neverthe- Rockwood version. Thus, Dick Lightheart
less, Stratemeyer owned the story and must becomes Mont Folsom, Harry Messiter be-
assume some of the responsibility for this comes Carl Barnaby, and Teddy becomes
plagiarism. Now it seems clear that the Stump. Similarly, the ship that picks them
unpaid writer of this story was Bracebridge up is called the Indiana run by Captain
Hemyng. Simpson in the Hemyng story while in the
Rockwood story it is Captain Savage and the
There is no evidence to suggest that Strate- Comet.
meyer read Twenty Thousand Leagues
Under the Seas (George M. Hill, 1873), After the flogging incident, Doctor Homer
although it would have been published when Woodle, who is also the “Secretary to the
he was eleven years old. However, the Verne Society for Exploration of the Unknown Parts
story was not widely adopted as a juvenile of the World,” appears; just like Professor
story until later. It is also unclear if he read Crawley Crab in the Hemyng story. In the
“Dick Lightheart at Sea” as a boy. However Rockwood story, Captain Nemo is replaced
a brief comparison between the Hemyng and by Captain Vindex and the submarine is
the Rockwood stories quickly shows that called the Searcher rather than the Enigma
whoever composed the Wizard of the Sea or the Nautilus.
7
[The Wizard of the Sea (1900), p. 44-47. Highlighted text was new or changed material written
presumably by Stratemeyer. Text not highlighted was copied directly from the Hemyng story.]
8
The Rockwood story is considerably stream- (Rockwood 157). Captain Nemo who “ap-
lined from the Hemyng. The Civil War peared to be an Englishman” in Hemyng’s
subplot is absent. For this reason, there is no story (Hemyng 7) became Captain Vindex,
mention made of the motto or emblem on the an “American” (Rockwood 81). “American
dinner plates. Stump has fewer scenes where oysters stewed in whale’s milk” (Hemyng 9)
he complains “I know I’m only an odd boy are described as simply “oysters stewed in
but....” whale’s milk” (Rockwood 96).

Most of the major events described in the At one point in the story, the characters are
Hemyng story are included in the Rockwood marvelling about the progress of technol-
version. After the Searcher emerges from ogy:
the submarine tunnel into the Mediterranean
Sea, our heroes plan their escape. When “... He has invented a singular ship which
they are off the coast of Cyprus, an explo- can go under the sea at will, but why not?
sion destroys the Searcher and everyone Was not the invention of steam engines
aboard is presumed dead. Our heroes return laughed at, as well as the invention of
to civilization aboard a small boat. gas? Who, a hundred years ago, would
have believed in the electric telegraph,
How much of Wizard of the Sea was writ- by means of which we can send a mes-
ten by Stratemeyer? sage to the end of the earth in a minute?”
(Hemyng 9)
With the exception of the first 38 pages,
which is a retelling of “The School Boy To the above, Stratemeyer adds:
Cadets” and some pages before and after the
Hemyng story, only about 1% of the material “Very true,” replied Mont. “And don’t
in the Rockwood story was added or changed forget the telephone, and the submarine
by Stratemeyer. boat the government is trying to build.”
(Rockwood 96)
The nature of the changes is interesting and
serves to illustrate Stratemeyer’s probable This addition was part of Stratemeyer’s at-
authorship of them. For example, Stratem- te mpt to br ing He myng’ s 1873 s to r y
eyer restructured many of Hemyng’s short, up-to-date. Stratemeyer’s version was first
single-sentence paragraphs into complex published in 1895. In that same year, Simon
sentences and longer paragraphs with the Lake (1866-1945) and John Philip Holland
addition of simple conjunctions. He also (1840-1914) were competing in a U.S. gov-
restructures the story into chapters with cliff ernment competition to develop a submarine
hanger endings. Most of Stratemeyer’s text boat for the U.S. Navy. Holland’s design
appears at the beginning or ending of a chap- and prototype was purchased.
ter. [Some pages had no new material by
Stratemeyer.] Stratemeyer only used ap- A few years later, Stratemeyer wrote “Hol-
proximately 75% of the submarine portion land the Destroyer; or, America against the
of the Hemyng story, in turn stolen from world” (Golden Hours 669-676: 24 Nov
Jules Verne. Stratemeyer’s version sticks to 1900 - 12 Jan 1901) by Hal Harkaway, a
the adventure elements and reads quickly. pseudonym similar to Bracebridge Hemyng’s
main character, Jack Harkaway. The story
[On the next few slides, from “Dick was reprinted in hardcover as The Young
Lightheart at Sea, the text copied by Strate- Naval Captain; or, the War of all Nations
meyer is highlighted in pink.] (Thompson & Thomas, 1902) and as Oscar
the Naval Cadet; or, Under the Sea
Stratemeyer changed textual references (M.A. Donohue, circa 1915). In the story, a
which were specifically British to ones with young inventor builds a revolutionary new
whichAmerican readers could relate. A men- submarine, called the Holland X, since it is
tion of the Crystal Palace in London the tenth submarine in the United States’
(Hemyng 16) was changed to Coney Island fleet.
9
[A page from "Dick Lightheart at Sea" showing the material copied in Wizard of the Sea.]
10
In The Wizard of the Sea, Stratemeyer re- Stratemeyer was not the first to steal
moved or changed any references in Hemyng’s story. It was stolen first by Frank
Hemyng’s story to alcohol or games which Leslie for his Boys of America (1874) from
might be used for gambling. In Hemyng’s Edwin J. Brett’s Young Men of Great
version, the prisoner’s first meal included: Brittain (1873). Once in the United States,
“no bread and wine, but a bottle of water it was stolen by Frank Tousey for his Five
supplied its place.” (Hemyng 8) Cent Wide Awake Library where it was pub-
Stratemeyer’s characters had “no bread, tea, lished twice (1879, 1896). Stratemeyer’s
or coffee ....” When Dick Lightheart has a version appeared in 1895, after Frank
private meeting with Captain Nemo, he of- Tousey’s 1879 reprint.
fers to play “dominoes or crib” (Hemyng 10)
with the captain. This is changed to “domi- As previously stated, Hemyng’s story uses
noes or checkers” (Rockwood 100) by the essential adventure elements from the
Stratemeyer. Later in the book, Hemyng Verne original. Stratemeyer copied
says that the prisoners played “cards, or Hemyng’s story directly, changing only the
some game they liked” (Hemyng 19) while names of characters, vessels, and locations.
Stratemeyer uses “checkers, dominoes, or
some game they liked” (Rockwood 183). For example, in Verne, the Nautilus merely
Stratemeyer clearly felt that checkers or passes the island of “Vanikoro ... the islands
dominoes was more gentiel than cards or on which La Perouse had been lost” (ch.
cribbage. XVIII). In Hemyng “Vanikova” becomes
the name of the island where the party lands
Finally, Stratemeyer uses the phrase “our and is chased by savages. In Verne, the
hero” in place of Mont Folsom’s name. This landing takes place on the island of Gilboa
phrase is not used by Hemyng. Likewise, he in chapter XX. In Stratemeyer’s version, the
uses “the Wizard of the Sea” on several island is called “Malonon” and the French
occasions when the Hemyng story simply explorer is “Posterri.”
mentions “the captain” or “Captain Nemo.”
Aside from the above changes, Stratemeyer’s The textual comparison on the last page [of
story is a directo copy of Hemyng’s. the paper] illustrates the similarities and
differences between these editions.
In contrast, Hemyng’s story does not con-
tain a word-for-word plagiarism of the Verne Perhaps it is fitting to close with the follow-
text. The appearance of the story in 1873 ing quote by John Milton (1608-1674):
leaves two possibilities: either Hemyng read
the 1870 French-language text and copied it, “For such kind of borrowing as this, if it be
or he had more creativity in his plagiarism not bettered by the borrower, among good
when he copied the English translation of authors is accounted plagiary.”
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. (Iconoclastes, ch. 23)

Title: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under “Dick Lightheart; or, the “The Wizard of the Deep; or, In
the Seas. Scapegrace at Sea” Search of the $1,000,000
Pearl”
Author: Jules Verne (1828-1905) Bracebridge Hemyng (1841-1901) Edward Stratemeyer (1862-1930)

First Publication: French, 1869; English 1872 1873 1895

Name of Submarine: Nautilus Enigma Searcher
Submarine Captain: Capt. Nemo Capt. Nemo (Harold Duggard) Capt. Vindex
Main Character†: Prof. Pierre Arronax Dick Lightheart Mont Folsom
Main Character’s Servant: Consiel Teddy John “Stump” Stumpton
Secondary Character: Ned Land Harry Messiter Carl Barnaby
Know-it-all Character: (see main character) Prof. Crawley Crab Dr. Homer Woodle
Ship sunk by submarine: Abraham Lincoln Indiana Golden Cross
Captain of Ship: Admiral Farragut Capt. Simpson Capt. Savage

†
In Verne, Prof. Arronax is the main character. In the Hemyng/Stratemeyer version he is charicatured as the know-it-all character. Arronax
becomes the friend of Capt. Nemo, while the main character befriends the captain of the other versions.

11
 A Comparison of Textual Changes
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas “Dick Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace at The Wizard of the Sea; or, a Trip Under
(George M. Smith, 1873): Sea” Boys of America #6-12 (Feb 1874 - the Ocean (Mershon, 1900):
Aug 1874):
How long I remained buried in this They had not proceeded far through this They had not proceeded far through this
drowsiness, I cannot judge; but when I dense jungle of weeds, amongst which it dense jungle of weeds, amongst which it
woke, the sun seemed sinking towards the was difficult to pick a path, when the cap- was difficult to pick a path, when the cap-
horizon. Captain Nemo had already risen, tain halted. tain halted.
and I was beginning to stretch my limbs, In front of him was a huge sea spider, In front of him was a huge octopus, or
when an unexpected apparition brought over three feet in height, with long terrible devil fish, over three feet in diameter, with
me briskly to my feet. claws, and a scaly back like a crawfish. long terrible arms.
A few steps off, a monstrous sea-spider, It endeavoured to seize the professor, It endeavoured to seize the professor,
about thirty-eight inches high, was watch- who, sinking upon his knees, presented his who, sinking upon his knees, shivered in
ing me with squinting eyes, ready to spring head to it as the least vulnerable part of his silent terror!
upon me. Though my diver’s dress was body.
thick enough to defend me from the bite of –––––
this animal, I could not help shuddering The captain, however, clubbed his gun, It looked as if Professor Woodle’s last
with horror. Conseil and the sailor of the and, with one blow of the butt, broke its moment had come.
Nautilus awoke at this moment. Captain back and left it convulsed in its dying
agonies. In a moment more the devil fish had the
Nemo pointed out the hideous crustacean, shivering man in its fearful embrace.
which a blow from the butt end of the gun As they continued to descend into a
knocked over, and I saw the horrible claws valley, bounded on each side by high rocks, The captain and Mont, however, raised
of the monster writhe in terrible convul- the darkness increased, for the sun's rays their guns, and, with one shot left it con-
sions. This accident reminded me that could not penetrate more than a hundred vulsed in its dying agonies.
other animals more to be feared might and fifty yards. As they continued to descend into a
haunt these obscure depths, aginst whose It was now that the electric lamps be- valley, bounded on each side by high rocks,
attacks my diving-dress would not protect came of importance. the darkness increased, for the sun's rays
me. I had never thought of this before, but could not penetrate more than a hundred
I now resolved to be upon my guardd. As they got lower and lower, Dick felt an and fifty yards.
Indeed, I thought that this halt would mark oppression about the head, and a great
desire to sleep overcame him. It was now that the electric lamps be-
the termination of our walk; but I was came of importance.
mistaken, for, instead of returning to the He lagged behind the others, and with
Nautilus, Captain Nemo continued his bold difficulty kept up with them. As they got lower and lower, Dick felt an
excursion. The ground was still on the oppression about the head, and a great
(IX “Lost in the Ocean Wilds”, p. 94) desire to sleep overcame him.
incline, its declivity seemed to be greater,
and to be leading us to greater depths. It He lagged behind the others, and with
must have been about three o’clock when difficulty kept up with them.
we reached a narrow valley, between high (XVII “The Devil Fish” - XVIII “Mont
perpendicular walls, situated about sev- is Lost”, p. 112-113)
enty-five fathoms deep. Thanks to the
perfection of our apparatus, we were forty-
five fathoms below the limit which nature
seems to have imposed on man as to his
submarine excursions.
I say seventy-five fathoms, though I had
no instrument by which to judge the dis-
tance. But I knew that even in the clearest
waters, the solar rays could not penetrate
further. And accordingly the darkness deep-
ened. At ten paces not an object was
visible. I was groping my way, when I
suddenly saw a brilliant white light. Cap-
tain Nemo had just put his electric apparatus
into use; his companion did the same, and
Conseil and I followed their example.
(XVI “A Submarine Forest”, p. 91)
12
[from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (1873)] [from “Dick Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace at Sea” (1874)]

[from The Wizard of the Sea (1900)]

13
 Primary Sources
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas
Verne, Jules. “Vingt milles lieues sous les mers.” in Magasin d’education et de recreation
(20 Mar 1869 - 20 Jun 1870).
Verne, Jules. Vingt milles lieues sous les mers. (Paris: J. Hetzel, 1870-1871). 2 volumes.
Verne, Jules. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. (London: Sampson Low, Marston,
Low & Searle, 1873). Translated by Mercier Lewis, published Nov 1872.
Verne, Jules. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. (Boston: James R. Osgood, 1873),
(Boston: George M. Smith, 1873). Translated by Lewis Mercier, published 30 Nov 1872.
The Osgood and Smith editions show slight variations in cover design and typesetting of the
first signature. They are considered to be approximately simultaneous. The Osgood edition
is extremely scarce.

“Dick Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace at Sea”

By the author of Jack Harkaway. “Dick Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace at Sea.” in Young Men
of Great Britain #260-?? (circa 1873). Published by Edwin J. Brett.
By the author of Jack Harkaway. “Dick Lightheart; or, the Scapegrace at Sea.” in Boys of
America #6-12 (Feb 1874 - Aug 1874). Published by Frank Leslie.
Hemyng, Bracebridge. The Scapegrace at Sea; or, Adventures of Dick Lightheart after leaving
school. (1874). Published by Edwin J. Brett. Advertised in Boys of England #400 (11 Jul
1874). Characterized as the “exclusive property of Mr. Edwin J. Brett.”
Hemyng, Bracebridge. The Scapegrace at Sea; or, Adventures of Dick Lightheart after leaving
school. (American News Company, circa 1874). Listed in American Catalogue, July 1
1876.
Hemyng, Bracebridge. “Dick Lightheart at Sea.” Five Cent Wide Awake Library #85 (22 Mar
1879). Published by Frank Tousey.
Hemyng, Bracebridge. “Dick Lightheart at Sea.” Five Cent Wide Awake Library #1257 (6 Mar
1896). Published by Frank Tousey.

“The Wizard of the Deep; or, In Search of the $1,000,000 Pearl”

Edison, Theodore. “The Wizard of the Deep; or, In Search of the $1,000,000 Pearl.” Young
Sports of America #11-16 (10 Aug 1895 - 14 Sep 1895). Published by Frank J. Earll.
Rockwood, Roy. The Wizard of the Sea; or, A Trip Under the Ocean. (Mershon, 1900).
Reprinted by Chatterton-Peck (1907) and A.L. Burt (1910).

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all of the people who helped me collect the information in this paper:
J. Randolph Cox, Jack Dizer, Deidre Johnson, Karen Nelson-Hoyle, my wife, Kimberlee Lusk
Keeline, and especially Gil O’Gara, editor of the Yellowback Library who wrote an article that first
spotted the Hemyng story as a copy of Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas.
Without all of your help, this paper would not have been possible.

14