(Unauthorized 1872 Tarzan Chronology)
1892 ERB |
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot set out for the cabin.
Source: "On the third day after the fever broke Tarzan wrote a message asking D'Arnot if he felt strong enough to be carried back to the cabin." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: mid-afternoon March 17, 1893
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot arrive at the cabin to discover everyone is gone.
Source: "Mid-afternoon brought them to the clearing, and as Tarzan dropped to earth from the branches of the last tree his heart leaped and bounded against his ribs in anticipation of seeing Jane so soon again." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: dusk March 17, 1893
Event: D'Arnot accidentally shoots Tarzan.
Source: "Dusk was falling, and the interior of the cabin was very dark, but the man could see the latch moving from its place." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Joe Kubert |
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot spend a week at the cabin.
Source: "For a week they did little but rest, D'Arnot coaching Tarzan in French." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: March 25, 1893
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot leave the cabin in search of whites.
Source: "So on the following day they started north along the shore." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: April 8, 1893
Event: Tarzan tells D'Arnot about finding and moving the Porter treasure chest, and about his father's diary.
Source: "Go back?" exclaimed D'Arnot. "But my dear fellow, we have been three weeks upon the march." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. It is also important to note the age of the diary itself. "Then he proceeded to read the diary that had been written over twenty years before." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Harold Foster |
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot walk the coastline in search of whites. Eventually, they happened upon a French mission.
Source: "For a month they traveled north," ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. "A week later the two men came suddenly upon a clearing in the forest." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot spend a week resting at the mission.
Source: "For a week they remained there," ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
1893 Central African Republic |
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot reach a small river town.
Source: "Another month brought them to a little group of buildings at the mouth of a wide river," ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. "Gradually he became accustomed to the strange noises and the odd ways of civilization so that none might know that two short months before, this handsome Frenchman in immaculate white ducks, who laughed and chatted with the gayest of them, had been swinging naked through primeval forests to pounce upon some unwary victim, which, raw was to fill his savage belly." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Matadi, Congo River |
Source: "He had also cabled his bankers for funds, and the enforced wait of a month, under which both chafed, was due to their inability to charter a vessel for the return to Tarzan's jungle after the treasure." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot rent a boat and return for the Porter treasure.
Source: "Shortly after the episode of the lion hunt, D'Arnot succeeded in chartering an ancient tub for the coastwise trip to Tarzan's land-locked harbor." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: morning June 24, 1893
Event: The rented tub dropped anchor at the cabin's harbor.
Source: "The trip to the beach was uneventful, and the morning after they dropped anchor before the cabin," ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: late in the evening of June 25, 1893
Event: Tarzan returns with the treasure.
Source: "Late the next day he returned, bearing the great chest upon his shoulder." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes..
Date: sunrise June 26, 1893
Event: The rented tub returns to the river town.
Source: "and at sunrise the little vessel worked through the harbor's mouth and took up her northward journey." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Event: D'Arnot and Tarzan remain in the river town.
Source: "Three weeks later Tarzan and D'Arnot were passengers on board a French steamer bound for Lyons." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Event: D'Arnot and Tarzan sail for Lyons, France.
Source: "Three weeks later Tarzan and D'Arnot were passengers on board a French steamer bound for Lyons, France." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Event: William Clayton and Mr. Philander go to Wisconsin.
Source: When Jane arrives in Northern Wisconsin it is stated, "The farmhouse, which stood on a little elevation some hundred yards from the tenant house, had undergone a complete transformation during the three weeks that Clayton and Mr. Philander had been there." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: July 23, 1893
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot arrive in Lyons, France.
Source: Phil Farmer in Tarzan Alive credits the two's voyage as taking a total of five days in 1909. I do not have the means to research the ship's traveling time so I will depend on Farmer's research. One thing to keep in mind is that Phil's research is based on 1909 travel time, whereas this study is based on 1893. Since my 1872 chronology shows this travel occurring sixteen years earlier, I have added an extra day to Phil's to cover any extra length of time due to technological advances.
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot spend a few days in Lyons.
Source: "and after a few days in that city D'Arnot took Tarzan to Paris." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Event: D'Arnot and Tarzan in Paris.
Source: ERB says, "One of the first things D'Arnot accomplished after their arrival was to arrange to visit a high official of the police department." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. At that meeting, D'Arnot states, "I had hoped to know at once. Monsieur Tarzan sails for America tomorrow." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. Note that no mention of time is given between the fingerprinting appointment being made and the actual fingerprinting taking place. We do know it was not immediate because of statements made in The Return Of Tarzan.
In chapter one ERB writes, "They reminded Tarzan of melodramatic villains he had seen at the theaters in Paris." ERB-The Return Of Tarzan. In chapter three ERB states, "Tarzan spent the two following weeks renewing his former brief acquaintance with Paris." ERB-The Return Of Tarzan.
From this information, it is quite clear Tarzan spent at least a little time in Paris. We know for a fact that the jungle lord at least had enough time for more than one theater visit and had some time to go out on the town sightseeing. My personal research indicates the Paris visit to last shortly over a week.
We also know that D'Arnot and Tarzan had the Porter treasure appraised. "The treasure was most carefully appraised by experts, but lest there should be any question in your mind, D'Arnot himself bought it and is holding it for you, should you prefer the treasure to the credit." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Harold Foster |
Event: D'Arnot and Tarzan sail for Lyons, France.
Source: "Three weeks later Tarzan and D'Arnot were passengers on board a French steamer bound for Lyons," ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: July 17, 1893
Event: William Clayton and Mr. Philander go to Wisconsin.
Source: When Jane arrives in Wisconsin it is stated, "The farmhouse, which stood on a little elevation some hundred yards from the tenant house, had undergone a complete transformation during the three weeks that Clayton and Mr. Philander had been there." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: July 23, 1893, Sunday
Source: Phil Farmer, in Tarzan Alive, credits the two's voyage as taking a total of five days in 1909. I do not have the means to research the ship's traveling time, so I will depend on Farmer's research. One thing to keep in mind is that Phil's research is based on 1909 travel time, whereas my 1872 chronology is based on 1893. Since my 1872 chronology shows this travel occurring sixteen years earlier, I have added an extra day to Phil's, to cover any extra length of time due to technological advances.
Date: July 23 through July 27, 1893
Event: Tarzan and D'Arnot spend a few days in Lyons.
Source: "and after a few days in that city D'Arnot took Tarzan to Paris." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: July 29 through August 5, 1893
Event: D'Arnot and Tarzan in Paris.
Source: Burroughs says, "One of the first things which D'Arnot accomplished after their arrival was to arrange to visit a high official of the police department." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. At that meeting, D'Arnot states, "I had hoped to know at once. Monsieur Tarzan sails for America tomorrow." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. From this information, we learn Tarzan definitely sails for America the day after the fingerprinting. Note that no mention of time is given between the fingerprinting appointment and the actual fingerprinting taking place. We do know it was not immediate, because of statements made in The Return Of Tarzan. In chapter 1 Burroughs writes, "They reminded Tarzan of melodramatic villains he had seen at the theaters in Paris." ERB-The Return Of Tarzan. In chapter 3 Burroughs states, "Tarzan spent the two following weeks renewing his former brief acquaintance with Paris." ERB-The Return Of Tarzan. From this information, it is quite clear Tarzan spent at least a little time in Paris. We know for a fact that the jungle lord at least had enough time for more than one theater visit, and had some time to go out on the town sightseeing. My personal research indicates the Paris visit to last shortly over a week. We also know that D'Arnot and Tarzan had the Porter treasure appraised. "The treasure was most carefully appraised by experts, but lest there should be any question in your mind, D'Arnot himself bought it and is holding it for you, should you prefer the treasure to the credit." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: August 4, 1893, Friday
Event: Robert Canler speaks to Professor Porter about marrying Jane.
Source: "There is young Clayton, you know," suggested Canler. "He has been hanging about for months." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. Jane at this time also makes a statement that helps establish a time perspective. "I want you to be sure, papa, to indicate all that you can do without until fall." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. In North America, fall is between September 23 and December 22. Therefore, we know this conversation must occur before, or after those dates.
Date: August 5, 1893
Event: Tarzan was fingerprinted.
Source: "One of the first things which D'Arnot accomplished after their arrival was to arrange to visit a high official of the police department." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. "You forget that for twenty years the dead body of the child who made those fingerprints lay in the cabin of his father, and that all my life I have seen it lying there," said Tarzan bitterly. ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: August 6, 1893
Event: Tarzan sails for America.
Source: "I had hoped to know at once," said D'Arnot. "Monsieur Tarzan sails for America tomorrow." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: August 7, 1893
Event: The Porter party go by train to northern Wisconsin.
Source: "She is planning on our going up there the first of the week." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: August 14, 1893
Event: Robert Canler arrives in Wisconsin.
Source: "a week later, Robert Canler drew up before the farmhouse in his purring six-cylinder." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. It is important to note that the first car with a six-cylinder, according to the History Of Cars, was a Napier. They were produced in London and Boston from 1906 through 1909. Therefore, in an 1872 chronology the modern car, as described by Burroughs, could not exist. It is very possible, however, that Canler could have driven a car. In this early time, steam and electric cars were the norm, but a gas-powered car was produced by the Daimler Motor Company which was founded in Steinway Avenue, Long Island, N.Y. in 1891.
Date: August 14, 1893
Event: Tarzan arrives in Baltimore, Maryland.
Source: Both Phil Farmer and Alan Hanson's research show this sea voyage takes approximately seven days in 1909. Since my chronology shows this travel occurring sixteen years earlier, I have added an extra day to Phil and Alan's date to cover any extra length of time due to technological advances. Once there Tarzan looked up the Porter home where he received divesting news. The Porter's had recently moved to Wisconsin and Canler had followed to marry Jane. "But in Baltimore - Oh, how I have searched for you - they told me you would possibly be married by now. That a man named Canler had come up here to wed you." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: August 21, 1893
Event: Jane agrees to marry Robert Canler.
Source: "A week passed; a tense, uneventful, but uncomfortable week for all the inmates of the little Wisconsin farmhouse." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: early morning August 22, 1893
Event: Robert Canler goes to town to bring back the license and a minister.
Source: "Early the next morning Canler set out for town." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Date: about noon August 22, 1893
Event: Jane goes for a walk and gets trapped by a forest fire.
Source: "About noon Jane started off for a walk." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes.
Events: Minutes later Tarzan arrives at the Porter's Wisconsin farmhouse in a French automobile.
Source: "Suddenly, out of the northeast, a great black car came careening down the road." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. While riding to the train station with the jungle lord Mr. Philander says, "and now you are driving me along a Wisconsin road in a French automobile." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. Burroughs does not provide the brand of Tarzan's auto, but in 1893 it was most probably a Panhard or a Peugeot.
Date: evening August 22, 1893
Event: The Porter party is at the train station on the way back to Baltimore. Tarzan receives the telegram proving that he is Lord Greystoke.
Source: "That evening in the little waiting room at the station Tarzan caught Jane alone for a moment." ERB-Tarzan Of The Apes. "She, too, was happy, for was she not returning to her beloved Maryland?" ERB-The Return Of Tarzan.
- Most readers don't pick up on it, but The Return Of Tarzan actually starts chronology-wise on the same day.
Event: Porter party in a railway station in northern Wisconsin on the way home to Maryland. Tarzan decides to drive his car to New York. William Cecil Clayton finds Tarzan's dropped cablegram.
Source: Clayton asks Jane where Tarzan is. She replied, "at the last minute he determined to drive his machine back to New York. He is anxious to see more of America than is possible from a car window. He is returning to France, you know." ERB-The Return Of Tarzan.
Prentice Depot, Wi. |
- Most readers think The Return Of Tarzan begins with Tarzan sailing for France which I showed above was not the case. What we do learn about Tarzan's ocean voyage to France is that the jungle lord is age twenty-two when he meets Countess Oga de Coude.
- The very earliest Tarzan could have turned twenty-two and met Countess Oga de Coude was September 1, 1894, his twenty-second birthday. I used this very earliest meeting date to allow time for Jack Clayton to be born under normal conditions. So, the question is... If Tarzan was in Wisconsin on August 22, 1893, and he didn't set sail from New York for France until September 1, 1894, at age twenty-two, what did Tarzan do in America for one year and nine days? Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author of the Tarzan series, never tells us. Not even a clue. Therefore, anything concluded about this time gap would be an unofficial guess. One thing we know for sure, thanks to Jane Porter, is that Tarzan is planning to drive his car back to New York.
- Any description after Tarzan leaves Wisconsin in his car is unofficial. Instead of leaving a one-year and nine-day time blackout, however, let's have some fun by reconstructing a timeline of what could have happened.
Date: the evening of August 22, 1893.
Shlesisingerville, Wi |
Chat: How do we know Tarzan drove a steam, or electric motorcar, instead of one of the new gasoline motorcars just hitting the marketplace? On September 21, 1894, in Springfield, Massachusetts the brothers Charles and Frank Duryea drove the first gasoline-powered motorcar in America on public roads. Since Tarzan and Robert Canler were driving in Wisconsin in August before this very famous historical event their cars were steam or electric.
American Battery Company |
1890 Morrison Sturgis Electric |
Event: The first number plates appear in Paris, France.
Source: Based on true life events.
Event: The 1893 World's Fair, also known as, the World's Columbian Exposition comes to a close.
Source: Based on true life events.
Event: France ratifies the Duple Alliance with Russia. This new state alliance opened up the door for Russians Nicklos Rokoff and Alex Paulvitich to enter France from New York City.
Source: Based on true life events.
Chat: Nickolas Rokoff was the brother of Countess Olga de Coude. She, in turn, was married to Count Raoul de Coude twenty years her senior, who was a higher-up in the French Defense Ministry.
Date: January 8, 1894
Event: Columbus World's Fair in Chicago was destroyed by fire. Tarzan's exact involvement in this incident is unclear in this writing. Most likely something linked to stalking the serial killer, Herman Mudgett, also known as Dr. Henry H. Holmes.
Source: Based on true life events.
Fire Destroys Columbus World's Fair |
Event: Tarzan attends the first college basketball game. The University of Chicago beat Chicago YMCA 19-11. Most likely Tarzan's presence had to do with stalking serial killer, Herman Mudgett also known as Dr. Henry H. Holmes.
Source: Based on true life events.
Date: February 12, 1894
Event: Tarzan read in the news shortly after the event, about Anarchist Emile Henry tossing a bomb into Paris Café Terminus.
Source: Anarchist Emile Henry tossed a bomb into Paris Café Terminus on February 12, 1894, killing one and wounding twenty.
Date: May 21, 1894
Event: Tarzan read in the news shortly after this event, about the execution by guillotine of twenty-two-year-old French Anarchist Emile Henry.
Source: Twenty-two-year-old French Anarchist Emile Henry was executed by guillotine for bombing Paris Cafe Terminus on May 21, 1894.
Date: July 22, 1894
Event: Tarzan read in the news near this date, about the world's first motoring competition from Paris to Rouen in France.
Source: The Parisian magazine, Le Petit Journal organized what is considered the world's first motoring competition. The race was held on July 22, 1894, and from Paris to Rouen, France.
1894 Le Petit Journal |
Dr. Henry H. Homes |
1893 Murder Castle |
Event: Tarzan arrived in New York City on the day Lizzy Halliday was convicted of murdering Margret and Sarah Jane McQuillan.
Lizzy Halliday |
Source:: Based on a real-life event.
1894 NYC July 4th |
Sante Geronimo Caserio |
Event: Tarzan sailed from New York City.
J. Allen St. John |
- Tarzan is twenty years old when Tarzan Of The Apes comes to a close.
Event: Tarzan read in the news, near this date, about brothers Charles and Frank Duryea driving the first gasoline-powered motorcar in America, on public roads in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Source: On September 21, 1894, Charles and Frank Duryea drove the first gasoline-powered motorcar in America on public roads in Springfield, Massachusetts.
1894 Paris-Rouen Race |
Event: Captain Alfred Dreyfus was arrested and accused of espionage in France.
Source: Based on true life events.
Chat: Any connection to the secret papers Tarzan seized in Algiers from Captain Gernois?
Event: America's first serial killer Herman Mudgett, also known as H. H. Holmes, was apprehended in Boston, Massachusetts.
Source: Herman Mudgett, aka, Dr. H.H. Holmes, was arrested on November 17, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts. Law enforcement believed that H. H. Holmes was responsible for dozens of deaths.
The Evening Star |
About The Author
James Michael Moody is a lifelong fan and collector of Edger Rice Burroughs. Moody has contributed over two hundred articles to various ERB-related fanzines, over a span of forty-five years. He also manages an unauthorized Tarzan blog titled, Greystoke Chronologist: James Michael Moody. There the researcher chronologies the Tarzan books starting in May 1872 (known as the pushback theory) instead of the more excepted date May 1888.
James Michael Moody is also the author of the action-packed Sci-Fi fantasy adventure Unium series. Pioneers On Unium, published December 31, 2019, and Exiled On Unium, published August 25, 2022. Swordsman On Unium is going through the publishing process.
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