According to Wikipedia: "William Clark Russell (February 24, 1844 November 8, 1911) was a popular writer of nautical novels and horror stories. William Clark Russell from Who-When-What Book, 1900 Born in New York City, he gained his experience of sea life during eight years' service as a sailor. Then he was a journalist on the staff of the Daily Chronicle before he took to writing his many novels, only a few of which are listed here. At the beginning of the Sherlock Holmes story, The Five Orange Pips, Doctor Watson is shown 'deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea stories'. William Clark Russell was the son of composer Henry Russell, the brother of impresario Henry Russell, and the half brother of conductor Landon Ronald. His horror work has similarities to the nautical horror stories of William Hope Hodgson."