Author Archives: andrewspaulw

Bhopal India – the World’s Worst Industrial Disaster

Over 40 years ago, on the night of December 3, 1984, the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released 30 tons of deadly methyl isocyanate gas into the air. It went primarily into the poor slums surrounding the factory, exposing more than half a million souls to the deadly cloud. The thick, heavy gasContinue reading “Bhopal India – the World’s Worst Industrial Disaster”

The Santiago Church Fire – the Deadliest in History

The deadliest fire disaster ever recorded is not where you might think. Not the Great London Fire, not the Great Chicago Fire, not in New York City.  It occurred at The Church of the Company of Jesus in Santiago, Chile on 18 December 1863.  The horrible Santiago Church Fire consumed the large cathedral during a CatholicContinue reading “The Santiago Church Fire – the Deadliest in History”

Countess Emilia Plater – Poland’s Joan of Arc

Countess Emilia Plater was a Polish–Lithuanian noblewoman and revolutionary who played a critical role in the Poland’s 1830 “November Uprising” against the Russian Empire. She is a national heroine in Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus, then part of the Polish Commonwealth. While the stories of warrior men are quite common, those of warrior women are farContinue reading “Countess Emilia Plater – Poland’s Joan of Arc”

The 1920 Wall Street Bombing -America’s 1st Terrorist Attack

As clocks struck Noon, and the bells of Trinity Church rang out on September 16th, 1920, a man ran from a wagon on Wall Street. A massive bomb exploded, tearing through New York City’s Financial District. The Wall Street bombing killed 38 people and injured hundreds more. The corner of Wall & Broad Streets wasContinue reading “The 1920 Wall Street Bombing -America’s 1st Terrorist Attack”

Iraq and Iran did not exist prior to World War I

For all their revolutions and wars over the last five decades, you must remember that Iraq and Iran are relatively new nations on the world scene.  Neither existed as we know them today prior to World Wars I and II.  Since then, these 2 very different Muslim nations, with similar sounding names, have had aContinue reading “Iraq and Iran did not exist prior to World War I”

Marie Marvingt, France’s Fiancée of Danger

Marie Marvingt was one of the most versatile female athletes in history. Her long list of adventures seems impossible to believe: skier, mountaineer, balloonist, nurse, cyclist, aviator, journalist, inventor, the list goes on. She was the first woman to climb the highest peaks of the Alps. Marie won numerous prizes in swimming, cycling, skiing, skating,Continue reading “Marie Marvingt, France’s Fiancée of Danger”

Six Times History Repeated Itself

“Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.” – Philosopher George Santayana, Reason in Common Sense, 1905. Arguably, no truer words were ever written. For we humans have a terrible habit of not learning from our own mistakes, or those of others, for that matter. The past lessons of history areContinue reading “Six Times History Repeated Itself”

Times Beach – America’s Hazardous Waste Ghost Town

Along famed ROUTE 66 just outside St. Louis, is one of Missouri’s newer state parks. But one with a very checkered past, as it’s the former location of the town of Times Beach and an infamous hazardous waste site.