This one supports theories that Jacob is related to Charles Widmore, such as the ‘Bad Twin’ by Admiral McCutcheon. The story might have unfolded thus :
Captain Magnus Hanso, first mate Charles Widmore and his brother Jacob Widmore, the second mate, find an uncharted Pacific island when their ship is blown off course in a storm.
Despite unusual happenings on the island, they stay long enough to discover an abundance of iron ore and precious metals in the island’s black rock.
Realising the potential wealth, they form a partnership. After finding their way back to the outside world, they have legal documents drawn up, laying claim to the island, and the mining rights.
In 1845 they set out to return to the island in the appropriately renamed ship, Black Rock, with mining equipment, crew and possibly slaves.
But the island could not be found again at the latitude and longitude Charles had recorded in his journal. Then, during a violent electrical storm, an island suddenly appeared beneath the Black Rock. Presumably it was moved to intercept the ship, otherwise an almighty tsunami would have been needed to move it so far inland.
On board arguments rage as to whether a miracle has occurred, or a freak act of nature. The ambitious Magnus and Charles soon recognize it as their island, and order mining to begin.
In his heart, Jacob feels this is wrong, and for reasons he can’t yet explain, knows the island has some higher purpose. He removes himself from the partnership and thus alienates his brother.
A terrible sequence of events now afflicts those attempting to mine the island, but those loyal to Jacob are spared the worst. A large beast circles the ship at night, none have seen it clearly. A madness in likeness to cabin fever affects the mine workers, and some die. Ghosts are seen, the trees seem to whisper, and then Magnus is found slain near the Black Rock.
The sole ownership of the island now reverts to Charles. But the rest of the crew now refuse to work the mines for him. Isolated, he accuses his brother of betrayal. He is forced to escape in the ship’s rowing boat, with the few who remain loyal to him. Charles vows to return one day to take the island by force. Jacob is stranded with the survivors, and the mines are abandoned.
Somehow Charles makes it back to the outside world, but loses the all important journal somewhere along the way. He eventually would have returned to Europe and contacted Hanso’s family. His story to them would have been economical with the truth, portraying himself as the hero on the ill-fated voyage, who had not only lost his brother, but had then tried valiantly to save Magnus. Perhaps the island was not even mentioned during his account of Magnus’s death. Presumably they believed him, rewarding Charles with his own ship and captaincy. He would have enthused about the mining potential of Pacific islands, and they may have sent him back there to establish a Pacific base for a Hanso mining operation.
Charles was no doubt successful in mining and shipping, being ambitious, ruthless and perhaps with foresight granted to him by the island. Glimpsing the future would mean good business decisions. But his vision was not strong enough to direct him back to the island, despite all his wealth, resources and repeated searching of the Pacific. The nightmares would have started, the call of an island that he could not find.
Presumably Charles and Jacob would have been granted long life by the island. This would have been easier for Jacob than for Charles who would have been treated with suspicion by his peers, when they realised he was not aging. Charles would probably have then dropped out of public life and lived as a recluse, managing his business affairs from afar. When those who could remember him had passed away, he would have re-emerged into public life as the son of, yep, Charles Widmore, looking remarkably like his father. But the island continued to evade him.
I hope the makers of Lost can find time for a Black Rock flashback episode, to explain the backgrounds of some of the ‘eternals’, Charles, Jacob, Alpert. Matthew Abaddon could also fall into this category.
Theory by Dishyvaeda
Captain Magnus Hanso, first mate Charles Widmore and his brother Jacob Widmore, the second mate, find an uncharted Pacific island when their ship is blown off course in a storm.
Despite unusual happenings on the island, they stay long enough to discover an abundance of iron ore and precious metals in the island’s black rock.
Realising the potential wealth, they form a partnership. After finding their way back to the outside world, they have legal documents drawn up, laying claim to the island, and the mining rights.
In 1845 they set out to return to the island in the appropriately renamed ship, Black Rock, with mining equipment, crew and possibly slaves.
But the island could not be found again at the latitude and longitude Charles had recorded in his journal. Then, during a violent electrical storm, an island suddenly appeared beneath the Black Rock. Presumably it was moved to intercept the ship, otherwise an almighty tsunami would have been needed to move it so far inland.
On board arguments rage as to whether a miracle has occurred, or a freak act of nature. The ambitious Magnus and Charles soon recognize it as their island, and order mining to begin.
In his heart, Jacob feels this is wrong, and for reasons he can’t yet explain, knows the island has some higher purpose. He removes himself from the partnership and thus alienates his brother.
A terrible sequence of events now afflicts those attempting to mine the island, but those loyal to Jacob are spared the worst. A large beast circles the ship at night, none have seen it clearly. A madness in likeness to cabin fever affects the mine workers, and some die. Ghosts are seen, the trees seem to whisper, and then Magnus is found slain near the Black Rock.
The sole ownership of the island now reverts to Charles. But the rest of the crew now refuse to work the mines for him. Isolated, he accuses his brother of betrayal. He is forced to escape in the ship’s rowing boat, with the few who remain loyal to him. Charles vows to return one day to take the island by force. Jacob is stranded with the survivors, and the mines are abandoned.
Somehow Charles makes it back to the outside world, but loses the all important journal somewhere along the way. He eventually would have returned to Europe and contacted Hanso’s family. His story to them would have been economical with the truth, portraying himself as the hero on the ill-fated voyage, who had not only lost his brother, but had then tried valiantly to save Magnus. Perhaps the island was not even mentioned during his account of Magnus’s death. Presumably they believed him, rewarding Charles with his own ship and captaincy. He would have enthused about the mining potential of Pacific islands, and they may have sent him back there to establish a Pacific base for a Hanso mining operation.
Charles was no doubt successful in mining and shipping, being ambitious, ruthless and perhaps with foresight granted to him by the island. Glimpsing the future would mean good business decisions. But his vision was not strong enough to direct him back to the island, despite all his wealth, resources and repeated searching of the Pacific. The nightmares would have started, the call of an island that he could not find.
Presumably Charles and Jacob would have been granted long life by the island. This would have been easier for Jacob than for Charles who would have been treated with suspicion by his peers, when they realised he was not aging. Charles would probably have then dropped out of public life and lived as a recluse, managing his business affairs from afar. When those who could remember him had passed away, he would have re-emerged into public life as the son of, yep, Charles Widmore, looking remarkably like his father. But the island continued to evade him.
I hope the makers of Lost can find time for a Black Rock flashback episode, to explain the backgrounds of some of the ‘eternals’, Charles, Jacob, Alpert. Matthew Abaddon could also fall into this category.
Theory by Dishyvaeda
