Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
WASHINGTON, July s.—(United Press.)— Encountering head winds over Nova Scotia and with the petrol supply rapidly becoming exhausted, the huge British dirigible R-34 today wirelessed the navy department for help. The navy immediately responded by ordering the Fatilla, a fast steam yacht in government service, and two destroyers to rush to the assistance of the airship.
The R-34 appears to have been so severely buffeted by unexpected gales that she has been unable to make the progress expected, and with the gasoline dangerously low, was believed in peril of becoming practically a derelict of the air, at the mercy of the wind.
The death, by a ball from a rebel rifle, of Commander James H. Ward, of the U. S. Navy, made a mournful impress upon the faces of our citizens, yesterday. He was a native of this city and son of the late Col. James H. Ward, and well known to many of our older residents. He was commander of the Thomas Freeborn, a government steamer on the Potomac, and had superintended an expedition from his own vessel to erect a battery, when the rebels, in large numbers, suddenly emerged from the woods, and poured in a volley. Capt. Ward covered the retreat of his men, so far us possible, with his guns, and was shot through the breast with a rifle ball while in the act of discharging one of his pieces. He died an hour later, falling on the deck of Ins own vessel while discharging his whole duty lo his country.
History is generally thought of as a narrative of our past, but it’s also an infinite series of interconnected points. Disparate people, places, things, and events are all connected through a vast network of relationships spanning time and place. Shoes, ships, candle wax, cabbages and kings are all connected points, once you abandon a linear narrative and dive down the rabbit holes of history.
In this issue, what does a series of violent winter storms have to do with opium and a famous abolitionist? Let’s connect the dots.
Between December 14th and 27th, 1839, a series of three severe winter storms blew ashore on the New England Coast. These storms caused the loss of more than 200 vessels, around 200 deaths, and damage to hundreds of other ships and port facilities. Loss in commercial shipping alone was estimated at $1,000,000, a 2024 equivalent of over $30 million. The storms also inspired at least two poets, but those are connections for another time.
The fabrication of forged antiquities has become one of the most profitable industries of modern Egypt. Every year more and more wealthy American and European tourists go to the sunny and salubrious land of the Pharaohs. Practically every one of these tourists wishes to take away some relic of the ancient Pharaohs as a souvenir. To supply this demand the modern Egyptians are working night and day making very attractive articles in the ancient style. The Egyptian law now requires that every person finding antiquities shall report the fact to the government, which reserves the right to purchase them. This law really favors the antiquity forgers, for they represent to their customers that they are offering them contraband goods, which offer usually has the effect of whetting the appetite to buy.
New York, July 3.—Terrific heat coupled with oppressive humidity, Sunday, caused several heat prostrations and drove the greater part of the city’s population to the beaches. The weather bureau reported a temperature of 91 degrees while the humidity hovered between 50 and 55.
Baltimore, Jan. 18.—Rescued from their ice-coated, sinking ship after they had given up all hope, the 13 members of the crew of the five-masted schooner Fuller Palmer arrived in Baltimore today aboard the Donaldson Lint steamer Marina.
The rescue was made by the Marina early Thursday morning about 154 miles southeast of Cape Cod.
Express Train Plunges Over High Embankment After Running into Open Switch
ATLANTIC CITY, July 3.—An open switch sent seven persons to their death and resulted in injury to about 75 others, about half of them seriously, when the Camden-Atlantic City night express on the Philadelphia Reading railroad running at full speed, left the rails on a curve at Winslow Junction and rolled down an embankment. The dead and injured were from South Jersey, Philadelphia and vicinity. Nearly all of the injured were removed to this city.
John F. Walt, an operator who has been in the service of the company for twenty-four years, is in a state of collapse in his home at Hammonton, N. J. He is under the surveillance of the state police. The engineer of the express, Walter Westcott, is dead. He was killed instantly.