Saturday, August 02, 2014
fri we had a little storm with little sleet, then pea hail, then dime, then a few nickles. seemed to go on forever.
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SAD SHAKESPEARE
my uncle saved a bunch of books from the winter elements a year or so ago. its was sad enough, but then my cats barfed on it TWICE. i cleaned it off + i will try to ebay it. i will keep it if it does not sell. its 1880's + has illustrations. i do like saving shakespeares.
Friday, August 01, 2014
1868 ILLUSTRATION steamer UNITED STATES wreck, burns to waterline- $9
In the early evening of December 4, 1868, snow began to fall just as the luxurious packet steamer, theUnited States. cast off her lines and departed the Vine Street wharf in Cincinnati, Ohio. Almost immediately, increasing winds whipped the falling snow into a wall of purple blindness, but the highly experienced captain successfully navigated to the channel and headed downriver toward Louisville. Earlier in the day, another packet steamer, the America, departed Louisville, traveling upriver to Cincinnati, where one of her passengers, the famous concert violinist, a Norwegian nicknamed “Ole Bull,” along with his company, was to perform on the evening of the following day.
Fifteen miles downriver, the snow turned to freezing rain, and the ice covered all decks of the United States. The ice-covered decks took on a golden glow as light from kerosene lanterns poured from the windows of staterooms, lounges, and the ship’s bar where Harry Brunswick, son of J. M. Brunswick of billiard table fame, stood hoisting a glass with a few other young men, as young men are prone to do.
Both ships reached the narrow channel at Rayl’s Landing near Warsaw, Kentucky at the same time. America’s pilot sounded his whistle two times as he was about to enter the channel. The pilot of the United States didn’t hear it due to the wind. Again, America’s warning whistle sounded twice. This time, the US pilot heard it, but it was too late.
As they rounded the bend, pilots and passengers alike became well aware that a collision was inevitable. Upon impact, several dozen barrels of fuel burst into flame, spilling out into the water, which became a river of fire. Passengers, thrown from their beds, dashed to the decks, many jumping to their deaths in the blazing inferno.“Ole Bull” remembered his Stradivarius. He was on deck, but his Strad was in his stateroom. He could not be stopped. He fought his way back, retrieved his violin and returned to the deck’s rail, from where, upon seeing a small area of open water, he jumped and was immediately hauled aboard the America, his Strad clutched under his arm.
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