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The Traveler… inhumanity at its worst…
August 21, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today’s travels took me to Gloucester, England by the way of The Glocester Journal dated August 17, 1767. I found a very horrific report on the barbaric treatments that Elizabeth 
Brownrigg did to the girl apprentices. She had beaten the one girl so viciously that, even though she had been found, the doctors were not able to save her life. “On Sunday morning one of the unfortunate girls who were cruelly beaten, and otherwise most barbarously treated by the their mistress… of the wounds she received from there said inhuman mistress… when it appeared by the evidence of the of the surviving girl, that, about a year and a half ago, the deceased was put apprentice, and was upon trial about a month, during which she eat and drank as the family did; that soon after her mistress, Elizabeth Brownrigg, began to beat and ill-treat the deceased, sometimes with a walking-cane, at other times with a horsewhip or a postillion’s whip… and beat her with a whalebone riding-whip on several parts of her body, and with the butt-end, divers times about the head, the blood gushing from her head and other parts of her body;…” A neighbor hearing noises from the lower area of the house had her journeyman investigate it and that is how she was found.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… must have been a slow news day…
August 7, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
I journeyed today to London, England via The Post Boy dated August 8, 1717. I found in the news from Paris that “On Wednesday last, about 
Nine o’Clock at Night, a small Accident befell the King, who being gone to be, tumbled off of it, upon the Floor… And tho’ he receiv’d no other Hurt, than rubbing the Skin off one of his little Fingers, the whole Court was put into a Fright… The Physicians were sent for, who could find no Hurt, but order’d him however, to be chased with Spirit of Wine…”
It must have been a slow news day if falling out a bed and receiving a skinned finger makes the big news! Hmmm, maybe the King had some of the “Spirit of Wine” prior to his going to bed as well? Food for thought!
~The Traveler
The Traveler… the loss of a first…
July 17, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
I traveled today to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the means of The Pennsylvania Gazette of July 16, 1767. Within the issue I found the report 
about the death of the first child ever born in Philadelphia. “At Kennet, in Chester County, the 5th Instant, died JOHN KEY, in the 85th Year of his Age, and the next Day was interred in the Burial Place belonging to the People called Quakers, in the Township, attended by a large Number of reputable People, his Neighbours, and Acquaintance, —- He was born in a Cave, long afterwards known by the Name of Penny-Pot, near Race-street, and WILLIAM PENN, our first Proprietor, gave him a Lot of Ground, as a Compliment on his being the first Child born in this City… His Constitution was very healthy till about 80, when he was seized with the Palsy, and continued weakly till his Death, —- About 6 Years ago he walked on Foot from Kennet to Philadelphia in one Day, which is near 30 Miles…”
He sounded like a very remarkable man.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… O Canada!
July 6, 2017 by The Traveler · 2 Comments
Earlier this week I traveled to New York City by the way of The New York Times dated July 2, 1867 where I found the headline “The Dominion of Canada” with the subhead “Inauguration of the Confederation — A General Holiday — Lord Monck Sworn in — Review of Troops”. “This day has given birth to the political infant, the Dominion of Canada…” This was the announcement of the birth of Canada.
Happy (belated) birthday Canada!
~The Traveler
The Traveler… boxed himself into a corner…
June 19, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to New York City by the way of The New York Times dated June 21, 1967. I found on the front page “Clay Guilty in Draft Case; Gets Five Years in Prison” “U. S. Judge Also Fines the Boxer $10,000 for Refusing Induction”. “A Federal District Court jury tonight convicted Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali], deposed heavyweight champion, of violating the United States Selective Service Code by refusing to be drafted into the armed services. The offense is a felony… sentenced to five years in prison and fined him $10,000… draft boards had had ample reason to deny Clay an exemption from military service on his contention that he was a minister for the Black Muslims… The 25-year-old boxer offered almost no defense against the Government’s charge and did not take the witness stand himself…”
~The Traveler
The Traveler… they’ve got your number…
June 5, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
I journeyed today to New York City by means of the New York Tribune dated June 5, 1917. There I found the bold headline announce “10,000,000 Men Will Register To-day for Army of 625,000”. “The nation’s roll of honor of 10,000,000 names will be compiled to-day. Every man between the ages of 21 and 31, whether eligible for military service ore exempt, in each of the forty-eight states of the Union, is required by the selective draft law to go to the regular polling place in his election district and register his name, date of birth and such other information as authorities require…”. This was the beginning of the draft for World War I.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… William Penn’s estate…
May 15, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Yesterday I journeyed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania through The Pennsylvania Gazette dated May 14, 1767. On the front page of the “Supplement to the Pennsylvania Gazette” which is entirely taken up with advertisements is for sale “…The Manor of Pennsbury, in Bucks County, containing about 6000 acres of land…one of the most valuable tracts that is now for sale in America…” with various details. This was the home estate of William Penn, now being sold for Ann Penn.
~The Traveler
The Traveler… the jailhouse rocker with a different type of ball and chain…
May 8, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Last week I traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts via The Springfield Union of May 2, 1967. The front page announced “Elvis Presley Ends Bachelorhood”. “Rock ‘n’ roll singer-actor Elvis Presley, who amassed a fortune as a swivel-hipped forerunner of the Beatles and who remained an unreachable dream to his fans, married an Air Force officer’s daughter Monday… 22-year-old Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in a posh Las Vegas strip hotel… why he decided to surrender his bachelorhood, Presley, in a jovial mood, replied: ‘It was about time.’…”
~The Traveler
Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… death of Knute Rockne…
April 27, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the EVENING HERALD, Los Angeles, California, March 31, 1931: “KNUTE ROCKNE KILLED”
Similar posts may be viewed at: Great Headlines Speak For Themselves
The Traveler… up from the ashes…
April 17, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to New York City by the way of the Harper’s Weekly dated April 20, 1867. In the issue I found the reporting of the “Burning of the Lindell Hotel, at Saint Louis, Missouri, 
March 30, 1867″. “…The Lindell is admitted to have been the largest building for purposes of accommodation ever erected in America. It was six stories high exclusive of attic and basement; and was divided into the five hundred and thirty rooms, and the largest of which was 116 by 44 feet. The actual cost of the building was $950,000, which, with the ground (valued at $326,400), makes the whole value $1, 276,400 — note to speak of furniture, $500,000 worth or which was imported… The efforts of the firemen were not relaxed, though it was evident that they would prove futile; the full force of the Department was steadily at work until 3 o’clock on the morning of March 31, at which time all the inner work was consume, and a considerable portion of the walls had fallen in, and the once imposing hotel was a mass of crumbling, blackened ruins.”
Almost immediately, the citizens of Lindell began assembling to discuss the rebuilding of the hotel. New construction began in September of 1872 with the opening in September of 1874.
~The Traveler