Helena Fortuna

A mid-sized 20th-century cargo-hauling ship called the *Helena Fortuna* which is owned by Arthur Kellogg. A series of diary entries from crewmate Thomas Banks is provided alongside this exhibit for context.

## Description

The Helena Fortuna is a mid-sized 20th-century cargo-hauling ship. When found, the cargo had remained untouched, and all of the crew, as well as one lifeboat, was missing. As an exhibit, it is displayed in an indoor dry dock and visitors are allowed to explore the ship.

There is a bunk room that was infested with bed bugs.

## History

At some point, the Helena Fortuna came into possession by Arthur Kellogg and was owned by him for at least several years with a crew.

The ship was docked in New York and headed south to someplace in South America. The following diary entries start from day one (leaving the docks) and continues. All entries are written by Thomas Banks throughout 24 diary entries.

The Helena Fortuna sailed for over fifty days (just over seven weeks) until all of the crew went missing.

### Diary Entries

Day One - Ship left port before dawn, Thomas says he wants to start keeping a diary.

Day Two - Mack says something is off about the captain.

Day Six - Thomas mentions bed bugs in the bunk room that were meant to be fumigated, but corners were being cut with money.

Day Eight - Kellogg wants to boost engine speed, Thomas notes food taste like sawdust.

Day Thirteen - Thomas got yelled at by Saunders.

Day Fifteen - Saunders got yelled at by Kellogg loud enough for it to be heard through solid metal. Mack claims to have smelled alcohol on Kellogg.

Day Sixteen - Helena Fortuna changes direction.

Day Twenty - Crew is getting restless, including Thomas. Jeffries mentions there was no communications from land to change direction.

Day Twenty-One - Sun rose directly in front of the Helena Fortuna, suggesting they are now going East.

Day Twenty-Two - Sun rose port side of the Helena Fortuna, suggesting they are heading South again. Thomas mentions leaving as soon as the ship docks.

Day Twenty-Five - Merrick mentions there is something wrong with the stars. Thomas lies and says it's because they are in the Southern Hemisphere.

Day Twenty-Eight - Thomas starts having dreams about being deep underwater.

Day Thirty-Five - Kellogg starts ordering searches of the crew because they are distracted, so Thomas keeps his diary on himself. Starts referring to what they're doing as "The Work."

Day Fifty - Merrick is thrown overboard by Saunders for talking too much about the stars. Thomas insists there is nothing wrong with the stars as there aren't any.

Day Unknown #1 - Mack woke Thomas up in the middle of the night to show him that the engine had been off. Thomas goes back to sleep.

Day Unknown #2 - Kellogg claims "The Work" is nearly done. A fight breaks out and three men died. Thomas cleans up after it. Thomas has also started enjoying fish.

Day Unknown #3 - There is talk of mutiny. Mack is trying to get people to overthrow Kellogg, but about one-third of the crew is with Kellogg. Thomas mentions something is wrong with their eyes.

Day Unknown #4 - Thomas hears a noise, the diary entry abruptly ends.

Day Unknown #5 - Thomas wakes up on a lifeboat with Mack and a few other men. Supposedly, a mutiny attempt happened, and Thomas was knocked out during the fight. No one is talking.

Day Unknown #6 - Mack is dying and no one knows how to help.

Day Unknown #7 - Mack dies and they roll his body off board. His body floats.

Day Unknown #8 - Thomas says Merrick was right- the sky is wrong. It isn't meant to look like waves.

Day Unknown #9 - They arrive somewhere. Thomas says he likes it and hopes Kellogg comes here too.

Day Unknown #10 - Thomas says he doesn't care about Kellogg as he's under "His" service now. Thomas talks about how he prefers it here to the ship and is dreaming incredibly deeply. He doesn't know how he's keeping his diary dry but plans on sending it back home to spread and attract other people here. He finishes it with how he thinks he'll be really happy there.

## Characters

* Arthur Kellogg - Captain
* Thomas Banks - Diary's author, crew
* Saunders - First mate
* Mack - Crew
* Engineers
	+ Harris
	+ Archie
* Jeffries - Radio communicator
* Merrick - crew
* Other crew
* "Him"

## Trivia

* Considered "one of the great mysteries of the sea" by the general public.
* At least four people died on the Helena Fortuna- Merrick, and three crew
* Might be the result of Man with a Voice like Honey and Chocolate and Coffee all at once, as Thomas talks about a "Him" (including the capital 'H')
	+ This is only speculation as The Man is the only character referred to in this manner.
* Based on missing ship myths, usually centred on the Bermuda Triangle.
	+ Examples include Carroll A. Deering, Mary Celeste, or Rosalie.