Two of the worst coal mining disasters in our history, one in U.S. and one in the UK, took place only six years apart – in West Virginia in 1907 and Wales in 1913. Let’s take a closer look at them both. December 6, 1907 – Fairmont Coal Company, Monongah, West Virginia – 361 DeadContinue reading “The Worst Coal Mining Disasters in History”
Author Archives: andrewspaulw
SKYLAB – America’s Forgotten Space Station
The International Space Station, ISS has been in operation since 2000. But America’s very first space station was SKYLAB. It helped pave the way for permanent operations in low-Earth orbit over 50 years ago. Skylab spent six years in orbit from 1973 to 1979, with three successive three-man crews on board for a record settingContinue reading “SKYLAB – America’s Forgotten Space Station”
The World War I Christmas Eve Truce of 1914
On Christmas Day 1914, in the cold, muddy trenches of World War I’s Western Front, a truly miraculous event occurred. For a few brief hours, opposing soldiers, British, French, Germans and Austrians in the “No Man’s Land” of France and Belgium, declared their own cease fire. They laid down their arms, climbed from the trenches,Continue reading “The World War I Christmas Eve Truce of 1914”
Chicago’s SS Eastland Disaster topped Titanic
In July of 1915 on the Chicago River, the SS Eastland, carrying over 2,500 passengers and crew headed for a Western Electric company picnic, suddenly listed to port and rolled over into the muddy river. 844 souls perished, more than on the Titanic or Lusitania; yet the SS Eastland is lost in history to most.
Podcast: 6 Theories on the Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe
Edgar Allen Poe was the Stephen King of his day. A master poet and author of mystery and the macabre. To this day, his name alone evokes a chill down ones spine. Amongst his most popular works were Murders in the Rue Morgue and Masque of the Red Death. His life may have been cut short,Continue reading “Podcast: 6 Theories on the Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe”
The Spanish Civil War and General Francisco Franco
The Spanish Civil War was a modern, western civil war that ended in an authoritarian regime. Francisco Franco rose to power during the Spanish Civil War and then ruled over Spain for 36 years from 1939 until his death in 1975. With the help of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, his Nationalist forces overthrew theContinue reading “The Spanish Civil War and General Francisco Franco”
Podcast: The Final Deadly Days of the Knights Templar
For almost 200 years, the famous Knights Templar had considerable power, wealth, and influence across Europe and the Mediterranean. But it all came to an abrupt and bloody end in 1314. The Knights were originally founded as a Christian, monastic-military order, devoted to protecting pilgrims traveling to and from the Holy Land following the FirstContinue reading “Podcast: The Final Deadly Days of the Knights Templar”
The Wilmington Massacre, America’s First Successful Coup
On Nov. 10th, 1898, a white supremacist mob massacred African Americans in the city of Wilmington, North Carolina and deposed the duly-elected city and county government in a violent coup.
Lepa Radic, Teenage Resistance Partisan was Executed by the Nazis
Lepa Radic was just a 17-year-old Yugoslavian girl when she was hanged by the Nazis for being a Partisan in 1943. This extraordinarily brave girl had joined the Yugoslav Partisans in the fight against their Nazi oppressors in World War II, and taken on the most dangerous assignments. What turn of events lead to herContinue reading “Lepa Radic, Teenage Resistance Partisan was Executed by the Nazis”
Jamaica’s Port Royal, the Wickedest Place on Earth, Sank into the Sea
During the 17th century, Jamaica’s Port Royal was the wealthiest, busiest, and most nefarious port in the new Americas. It was frequented by smugglers, pirates, prostitutes and all other unsavory types who roamed the Caribbean Sea.