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The Traveler… a proclamation… the plague… “neat” wines…
August 19, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to London through the The Post Boy dated August 20, 1713. The issue contains a Proclamation by the Queen, calling for a New Parliament as the last Parliament had been dissolved.
There I also found the terrible news coming from Vienna concerning the plague. “The Plague now rages very much in this City; 70, 80, or more people dying of it every day… Her Majesty’s Steward having bury’d one Daughter with it, and sent another to the Pest-House, 
while himself and the rest of his Children are gone to perform Quarentine;… Be that as it will, a Council having been held… it was therein resolv’d, to shut out Austria and other found Provinces, and to appoint Quarentine-Houses on all our Frontiers;…”
This also contained an interesting advertisement for “A Sale of Neat Wines…”. Now, I have seen many vine advertisements but this is the first time that I have seen wines described as “neat”. One wine is further described as “excellent Canary Wine, Rich and Racy”… and that too is an interesting description as well. Cheers!
~The Traveler
The Traveler… Valachi spills about “Cosa Nostra”… test-tube babies…
August 5, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled back 50 years into the past to Detroit, Michigan, by the means of The Detroit News dated August 4, 1963. There I found the headline “Top Mobster Tells How Gang Runs Cities’ Crime” which was when Joseph Valachi testified at Washington about the mafia. “… He has added new names and a flood of details on 
unsolved murders and mysterious disappearances. He also outlined the structure of a well-disciplined, terror-ridden, semi-military organization dominating organized crime in America and he has given the organization a name — a name not known to the outside world. The organization is know as ‘Cosa Nostra’ — Our Thing…”. The movie “The Valachi Papers” was made about him and this event.
Also, on the front page of this issue is the announcement “Henry Ford II and Wife Agree to Live Apart”. This was occurring after 23 years of marriage.
Additionally: The New York State Supreme Court justice had just ruled that “Test Tube Baby Is Ruled Illegitimate in N.Y. Suit”.
A rather interesting day in the news.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… Texas declares independence… Fort Miegs…
July 15, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today my journeys took me to Baltimore, Maryland, by the means of The Weekly Register dated July 17, 1813. The front page features the headline “Republic of Mexico” which was announcing the Declaration of Independence of Texas. “We, the people of the province of Texas,…declare, that the ties which held us under the domination of Spain and Europe, are forever dissolved; that we possess the right to establish a government for ourselves; that in future all legitimate authority shall emanate from the people to whom alone it rightfully belongs and that henceforth all allegiance or subjection to any foreign power whatsoever, is entirely renounced… We feel, with indignation, the unheard of tyranny of being excluded from all communication with other nations, which might tend to improve our situation, physical and moral, We were prohibited the use of books, of speech, and even of thought — our country was our prison… We conceive it a duty we owe as well to ourselves as to our posterity, to seize the moment which now offers itself, of shaking off the yoke of European domination, and of laboring in the cause of the independence of Mexico; taking the authority into our own hands, forming laws, and of placing the government of our country upon a sure and firm basis, and by the means assume a rank among the nations of the world.”
Also within the issue is a full page map (which are rarely found in this title): “Map of the Rapids of Miami, Shewing the situation of Fort Meigs, etc”, accompanied by supporting text: “Interesting Topography of Ohio”.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… the bloodiest battle in the Civil War…
July 5, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled back 150 years to the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, through the means of the reports of the Confederate broadside newspaper, the Daily Dispatch — Extra dated July 5, 1863. The headlines read “LATEST FROM THE NORTH” and “GREAT BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG”. “The Yankees claim not to be defeated and to have captured 6,0oo prisoners — The Confederates hold the field — Yankee Generals Reynolds and Paul killed — Heavy Loss of the Federals — The grand battle expected Friday, &c., &c.”. This broadside carries in great detail the battles of Wednesday, July 1st, and Thursday, July 2nd.
As we know, this was the bloodiest battle (non-single day) in the Civil War with the loss of over 51,000 lives and is known as the war’s turning point.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… a giant step for woman-kind…
June 17, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts, via The Springfield Union, June 17, 1963
. There I found the Soviet Union had launched the first woman into space. 26 year-old Valentina Tereshkova, a former factory worker, became the first female space pilot when they launched into orbit the day prior. Although she would not physically walk on the moon or even spacewalk, this truly was a giant step for women.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… deaths of General Pike and Major Stoddard… recruiting…
June 3, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to Hartford, Connecticut by the way of the American Mercury dated June 1, 1813. There I found an extract of letter from an officer to his father. He writes from Sacket’s Harbor pertaining to the Battle of York, “We arrived at this place last evening from Niagara. The body of General Pike was with us. He was killed by the explosion of a magazine, on which a vast collection of stones, shots, and other missiles were collected. I was wounded; but, thank God, not dangerously….”.
Also reported in this issue is the Siege of Fort Miegs and the death of Major Stoddard. “…I am sorry to inform you that Major Stoddard died the night before I left the Rapids, of a lock-jaw, produced by a slight wound from a fragment of a shell which struck him on the thigh…”.
The back page of the issue carries a “New Corps Enlisted For One Year!!!” advertisement. This contained a quote from an European political writer “…The Americans are active in their person: they are enterprising; they are brave; and, which is of vast consequence, they are, from education and almost from constitution, SOBER, a virtue not at all less valuable in the Army than it is in domestic life…”.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… slave trafficking 100 years ago… Johnson pitching… 24-hour workday… Coney Island – time for some fun…
May 20, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
This week I journey to New York City by the way of The New York Tribune of May 19, 1913. There I found a report from John D. Rockefeller on the white slave trafficking that was occurring. “The report says, New York has become the hub of the white slave traffic, not only for the other large cities of the United States, but for Argentine, Brazil, Cuba and Canada also.”
In the sporting news, a headline reads “Walter Johnson Wins His Tenth Straight”. Johnson won 36 games in 1913, 40% of the team’s total wins in the season. In April and May, he pitched 55.2 consecutive scoreless innings, still the American League record and the third-longest streak in history. He also received the MVP this year as well.
Standard Oil Workers were also starting a fight for shorter work days siting “inhuman” conditions, requesting to drop from 24-hour to 8-hour work days.
With the beginning of sunny days, “The new Coney Island, bigger and better” opened to a crowd of 300,000. Here’s to many enjoyable sunny, summer days.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… marching in Birmingham… Hitler’s end… your next party…
May 6, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to Detroit, Michigan by the way of The Detroit News for May 6, 1963. There I found that for the past several days Birmingham, Alabama, has been witnessing the “Children’s Crusade”, in which several hundred students had skipped school to march for desegregation and civil rights. Today’s report states it was peaceful with singing, chanting and praying as it was Sunday. Oddly enough the only arrest made (as of this article) was of a white couple inside the church as they were not permitted inside the church.
Also in the paper was a headline “Found Hitler’s Body in ’45, Reds Say in War ‘Secrets'” which also included a large photo Adolf Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun. This was information being released about the disposition of Hitler’s body from the release of a book by Cornlius Ryan entitled “The Longest Day”.
Did you ever want to be the life of the party? There is a story of a 15-year-old boy that, with a novelty ring, “touted to possess ‘hypnotic’ powers”. Well, within a few minutes, he truly ended up placing a young lady into a trance but was unable to get her totally out of it. A call to her parents, a trip to the hospital, and a psychiatrist later, the trance was broken. Just be careful at your next party with your jewelry and what you say!
~The Traveler
The Traveler… three cheers…
April 22, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, through the Independent Chronicle dated April 22, 1813. There I found Commodore Bainbridge was addressing the sailors of the Constitution as they had been invited to the Theatre. “Sailors, In the action with the Java you shewed yourselves men. You are this ev’ng invited to partake of the amusements of the Theatre. Conduct yourselves well… Let the correctness of your conduct equal your bravery, and I shall have additional cause to speak of you in terms of approbation.” He then informed them that on Monday morning, “pay to them the prize money in consideration of their good conduct in the actions with the Guerriere and Java. The crew received the information with great satisfaction, and gave the Commodore three cheers.”
The article has a concluding paragraph from a correspondent who had observed the attendance of the sailors and the comments to their appearance and behavior.
Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news – for a change.
Regarding the remainder of the issue, I wonder if James Madison suffered from writing cramps after all his signing???
~The Traveler
The Traveler… the strike is over… looking to the future…
April 1, 2013 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I journeyed to Detroit, Michigan by the way of The Detroit News of April 1, 1963. There I found that people of New York city would be able to enjoying their daily papers again as the 114-day newspaper strike had ended. Newspaper headlines read as “New York’s Alive Again!”, “Well, Hello There! We have News For You” and “Read All About It – Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”. “A series of labor disputes had shut down the papers for nearly four months and cost the city’s economy an estimated $250 million.” Some of the newspapers came back to print with the price of the issues being raised by half, some even doubled the cost per issue.
The back page of the issue features an article “Economists See a Future of Abundance – Full, Rich Life Only 40 Years Away… The Year 2000”. This is an interesting look at four decades into the future with articles of “Note of Caution on Planning”; “Ample Resources Seen for Future”; “More Funds Urged for Research”; “Taller Americans, Bigger Appetites”; “Energy Demand Due to Triple” and more. It also includes four interesting illustrations of the futuristic glimpses of life (see image below or click on link above). Ready to use your car that is able to take to the air to avoid the heavy traffic on the turnpikes and freeways?
~The Traveler