Tuesday, February 28, 2023

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- February 28, 2023

nytimes.com

Governor Newsome is cancelling the Covid-19 emergency at the end of February. Ironically, a fully vaccinated family member came down with it the week before, probably the omicron variant. I came down with Covid-19 the following week. 

nytimes.com

24-February-2022 marked one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. I think Putin knows by now that he made a terrible mistake. 

I have not yet returned to teaching technology and coding at Good Shepherd School, but I am feeling better and hope to start soon. 

mlb.com

Major League Baseball introduced some new rules. I like the larger bases. I am uncomfortable with the pitch clock. It will damage the careers of some pitchers. I know why they are trying to eliminate the shift, but I think more batters should have tried to hit to the big holes it opened.

Spring Training has started. 

Monday, February 27, 2023

Happy International Polar Bear Day, 2023 -- February 27, 2023


Carmichael wishes everyone a happy International Polar Bear Day. He asks you to please do what you can to slow the loss of sea ice.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

New Stutz Six Looks All the Speed it Has -- February 26, 2023

Saint Louis Star and Times, 11-February-1923

The Stutz Motor Company built high perfomance and high-priced autos in Indianapolis. I was surprised that they did not build a six-cylinder car until 1923.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Enrico Caruso 150 -- February 25, 2023

Washington Evening Star, 02-August-1921

Neapolitan tenor Enrico Caruso was born 150 years ago today, on 25-February-1873. My Italian grandfather was a great admirer. Caruso is often mentioned in San Francisco because of his quick exit after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. As a Neapolitan, he knew about seismic activity.



Enrico Caruso - O Sole Mio



Una Furtiva Lagrima - Enrico Caruso 1904. Remastered.



Enrico Caruso - Vesti la giubba - 1902, 1904, 1907



Enrico Caruso - La Bohème: Che Gelida Manina (1906)

Friday, February 24, 2023

Ukraine v Russia -- February 24, 2023


One year ago today, on 24-February-2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. I think Putin knows by now that he made a terrible mistake. 

The Finest Coastwise Steamship Service -- February 24, 2023

San Francisco Examiner, 12-February-1923

The Harvard and the Yale were fast turbine steamers brought from the east coast by the Pacific Navigation Company to operate between San Francisco and San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles. They sailed the route from 1911 until World War One and from 1921 until 1931 (by the Los Angeles-San Francisco Steamship Company), when Harvard hit rocks near Point Arguello and sank. The effects of the Great Depression and competition from autos and railroads caused LASSCO to stop service with the Yale after 1936. Both ships carried troops to Europe during World War One and Yale served the Navy during World War Two.

This would beat the heck out of driving I-5.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Buy a Plane! -- February 23, 2023


The War Department was in charge of the US Army and its US Army Air Service was selling some surplus airplanes. I would have bought a Thomas-Morse Scout, which was a nice airplane. If you have a taste for French products, you could get a Nieuport 28 or a SPAD VII. 

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Happy Birthday, President Washington, 2023 -- February 22, 2023

Time, 23-October-1989

President George Washington would be deeply disappointed by our current situation. Electing people who hate the government to run the government strikes me as a poor choice. 

Ash Wednesday -- February 22, 2022


Today is Ash Wednesday.


Tuesday, February 21, 2023

The World's Gayest Frolic, Mardi Gras in New Orleans-- February 21, 2023

Washington Evening Star, 25-January-1923

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. The Southern Pacific Railroad invited people to take their Sunset Limited to and from New Orleans for Mardi Gras season in 1923.

Monday, February 20, 2023

Happy Presidents' Day, 2023 -- February 20, 2023


Happy Presidents' Day, everyone.

President Jimmy Carter has gone into hospice at home. I voted for him in 1980. His basic decency caused him to make some mistakes as president, but he has been our greatest ex-president. He has acted as an actual Christian. He has helped to create peace agreements. The Carter Center promotes human rights. He has worked steadily for Habitat for Humanity.  He taught Sunday School until recently. I'll bet he was good at it. 

I am praying for President Carter and his family. 

I bumped William Henry Harrison to 2024 so I could honor President Carter. I don't think General Harrison would mind. 

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Coulter -- Clipper Servia -- February 19, 2023

San Francisco Call, 18-November-1898

WA Coulter did many maritime drawings for the San Francisco Call. Servia was a common spelling for Serbia. Santa Rosalía is a port in Baja California on the Gulf of California. El Boleo is a copper mine near Santa Rosalía. At this time, the mine was operated by a French company. 

She is Now Owned in San Francisco.

The fine American clipper ship Servia has been purchased from Eastern parties by A. Anderson of Lewis, Anderson and Co. and others and this will be her home port In future. The Servia has been loaded here by Felix Santallier for the Companie du Boleo at Santa Rosalia and will sail for that port in a few days. From Santa Rosalia the ship will go to Puget Sound and there load lumber for Australia. Captain Gilmore is in command of the Servia.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Albert Biersdadt -- Giant Redwood Trees of California -- February 18, 2023

Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Albert Bierstadt probably painted "Giant Redwood Trees of California" in 1874. It is in the collection of the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Huey "Piano" Smith and Tim McCarver, RIP -- February 18, 2023


New Orleans musician Huey "Piano" Smith has died. He and the Clowns made some wonderful music, but got robbed of credits and royalties by publishers and record companies. 



Don't You Just Know It - Huey "Piano" Smith



Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu



Huey "Piano" Smith - High Blood Pressure



Little Liza Jane


Tim McCarver died. I remember him catching for the Phillies and other teams. He was a broadcaster for the Giants for one season, which I do not remember. I remember him especially with Jack Buck. They were a good team. 

Friday, February 17, 2023

Senator Dianne Feinstein to Retire -- February 17, 2023


 Senator Dianne Feinstein has announced that she will retire from the Senate where she has served since 1992. Many of my Democratic Party friends found her too conservative, but she was a smart politician and she did many good things, like the 1995 assault weapons ban, which unfortunately expired in 2004. She became a San Francisco Supervisor in 1969, before district elections. As President of the Board, she became mayor when Mayor George Moscone and fellow Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated in 1978. She served as mayor during the Great Reconstruction of the cable car system in 1982-1984. She will not seek reelection next year. 

Her aunt lived across the street from my family's house and my mother knew both of them. 

I could swear I saw Dianne Feinstein perform in the amateur portion of the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, but I have not been able to determine what year that was. When I contacted her office, her staff was unable to find out.

Lleve una Kodak Consigo -- February 17, 2023

Cine-Mundial, February, 1923

"Take a Kodak With You." Kodak sold its wares all over the world.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Reducing by Radio -- February 16, 2023

San Francisco Examiner, 25-February-1923

Before there were formal exercise programs, this young lady exercised with music on the radio.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Maine Destroyed in Havana Harbor 125 -- February 15, 2023

San Francisco Call, 16-February-1898

On 15-February-1898, US second-class battleship (or armored cruiser) Maine blew up in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. The incident, which was probably an accident, was one factor which led to the Spanish-American War.

On 15-March-1889, seven ships from the US, Germany and the UK were sunk by a typhoon while they were moored in the harbor of Apia, Samoa.

Enrique Dupuy de Lôme was the Spanish ambassador in Washington. He wrote a letter disparaging the United States and President McKinley. Cuban rebels shared the intercepted letter with the newspapers. This became another factor which led to the Spanish-American War.


MAINE DESTROYED IN HAVANA HARBOR

THE SHIP IS
BLOWN UP
AT ANCHOR

Four Hundred and Twenty
of Uncle Sam's Brave
Boys Are Killed.
One of the Most Awful Disasters
That Have Ever Overtaken the
American Navy, and Spain
is Open to Suspicion.

HAVANA, Feb. 15. -- The Maine has blown up. Captain Sigsbee and various officers saved, and he says he believes about 100 men were killed and injured. The vessel is now burning and is sinking to the bottom of the bay. The detonation was tremendous. All Havana alarmed.

San Francisco Call, 16-February-1898

HAVANA. Feb. 15. -- The American battleship Maine, lying at anchor here, was destroyed by an explosion at 10 o'clock to-night. Of her crew of 450 officers and men, only 33 are known to have been saved.

The explosion shook the whole city and threw Havana into a panic.

It is understood at this writing that Captain Sigsbee and a few of his officers were visiting a merchantman in the harbor at the time of the disaster and are safe.

None of the few survivors who have been seen can tell me how the explosion occurred. The injured are being taken on stretchers to the Casa de Socorro, where surgeons are in attendance.

James Rowe, the ship's cook, was the least injured of any that were brought in when I was there.

"I don't know, sir," he replied, speaking with difficulty. "I turned in my hammock at 8 o'clock and heard three bells strike. I don't remember anything until I felt myself turning over and over and falling heavily upon the deck, in a mass of smoke. I got on foot and worked my way on deck. When I got there the superstructure of the deck was dipping under water, and I jumped overboard to keep from being drawn down by the suction. "I was picked up by a boat from the Spanish man-of-war. Three more were picked up by the same boat. They were Daniel Cronin, a landsman; Charles Berryman, boatswain; Albert John, a seaman, and __ Bloomer, a landsman."

One poor fellow whose face is injured past all recognition is lying moaning in a cot in the hospital. I asked him his name and he mumbled back through horribly swollen lips: "My folks would feel uneasy if I told you."

So far as I can learn now the explosion took place in the magazine used for the storage of gun cotton for the torpedoes. The vessel lies with her bow wholly submerged and only a part of her stern showing.

The explosion shook the city from end to end, and created the wildest excitement. All the electric lights were blown out by the shock. Fire engines rushed madly from one district to another, and no one knew for certain from which point the explosion came.

Some shouted the report that it was the arsenal, others said it was a bomb, and it was not until 11 o'clock that the real cause was known.

Consul-General Lee, who was at the Hotel Ingleterra, received a telephone message from General Blanco telling him that the Maine had been blown up. Lee hastened to the palace, where the Cabinet is now assembled.

Admiral Manterola ordered that boats of all kinds go to the assistance of the Maine and her wounded. The Havana firemen also gave aid, tending carefully to the wounded as they were brought on shore. It was a terrible sight. General Zolano and the other generals were ordered by Captain-General Blanco to take steps to help the Maine's crew in every way possible. The correspondent went close to the Maine in one of the boats of the cruiser Alfonso XII, and saw others of the wounded who corroborate the statement of those first interviewed that they were asleep when the explosion occurred.

Captain Sigsbee said the explosion occurred in the bow of the vessel. He received a wound in the head. Orders were given to the other officers to save themselves as best they could. The latter, who were literally thrown from their bunks in their night clothing, gave the necessary orders with great self-control.

The first theory was that there had been a preliminary explosion of powder or dynamite below the water, but this was ascertained to be not true.

Admiral Manterola believes that the first explosion was of a grenade, but whether one of the ship's magazines blew up or whether a bomb was placed beside her and set off by the Spaniards is not known.

Because of the excitement in the city the military authorities ordered the troops to quarters, and the streets are filled with jostling crowds of excited citizens and soldiers.

San Francisco Call, 16-February-1898

SIGSBEE ASKS FOR
SUSPENSION OF JUDGMENT.

Wants to Know All the Facts Before
the American People Lay the
Blame Finally Upon Spain.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. -- I called upon Secretary of the Navy John T. Long at an early hour this morning, and he confirmed the Herald's dispatch that the Maine had been blown up and destroyed in Havana harbor. In answer to my questions, he said:

"Yes, I have received a report from Captain Sigsbee of the Maine, announcing that the battleship had been destroyed by an explosion in the harbor of Havana.

The captain cables that some were killed and many wounded, and that the Spanish soldiers did everything In their power to rescue those who were thrown into the water.

"Moreover the captain's dispatch speaks of the great kindness of the officers and citizens of Havana, who showered attentions upon the sufferers. They cared tenderly for the wounded. The captain, in his dispatch to me, also tells of the heroic work of the officers and men of the cruiser Alfonso."

"Mr. Secretary," I asked, "does Captain Sigsbee assign any cause of the explosion?"

"No," replied the Secretary; "I presume that as yet the cause is a mystery."

The following was the dispatch received by the Secretary of the Navy from Captain Sigsbee:

"Maine blown up in Havana harbor at 9:40 last night and destroyed. Many wounded and doubtless many killed and drowned. "Wounded and others on board the Spanish man-of-war and Ward line steamer. Send lighthouse tender from Key West for crew and a few pieces of equipment. Vessel still above water. No one had other clothes than those upon him.

"Public opinion should be suspended until further report. All the officers are believed to be saved. Jenkins and Merritt are not yet accounted for. Many Spanish officers, including representatives of General Blanco, now with me and express sympathy. SIGSBEE."

The officers referred to in the above dispatch, are Lieutenant Friend W. Jenkins and Assistant Engineer Darwin R. Merritt.

From the wording of the dispatch the Navy Department think it is possible that they were on shore at the time of the accident.

The Secretary of the Navy received another dispatch from Key West at the same time with the above, but its contents were not made public.

The orders for the light-house tenders were at once sent to Key West in plain language, thus avoiding the delay that would have arisen from the use of a cipher.

Secretary Long received Captain Sigsbee's dispatch but a few minutes before the Associated Press dispatches were handed him. He received the news with apparent calm, and his first act was to comply with Captain Sigsbee's request that assistance be sent from Key West. He wired Captain Forsythe at Key West to proceed with the naval tender Fern to Havana harbor.

Secretary Long then sent for Captain Dickens, and the two discussed Captain Sigsbee's brief telegram. No other naval officers were present, and besides the Secretary and Captain Dickens the naval colony here is ignorant of this disaster, the greatest which has befallen the American navy since the storm in Apia many years ago.

The Secretary is inclined to believe that most of the officers of the Maine were on shore at the time of the accident, as it was still in the night.

While neither the Secretary nor Captain Dickens is inclined to discuss the probable cause of the accident, several suggestions were ventured. They believe that it may have been caused by a fire in the bunkers, heating the bulkhead near a magazine, or that an accident may have occurred while inspecting high explosives for torpedoes. Of course, this is mere speculation, and the Secretary is anxiously waiting a more detailed report from Captain Sigsbee.

Later the Secretary sent another telegram to Key West, directing that the tender Mangrove also be sent to Havana.

Secretary Day received the following dispatch from General Lee:

"The Maine blew up at 9:40. The explosion occurred well forward, under the men's quarters, consequently many were lost. It is believed all the officers were saved, but Jenkins and Merrit are not accounted for. The cause of explosion is yet to be investigated. The Captain-General and the army and navy officers rendered every assistance. Sigsbee and most of his officers are on board the steamer City of Washington. Others are on the Spanish gunboat and in the city. I am with Sigsbee, who has telegraphed the Navy Department. LEE."

OFFICERS OF THE NAVY
HOLD HURRIED CONFERENCE

Great Excitement Created at Key
West by the Receipt of the
Startling News.

KEY WEST, Feb. 16. -- This has certainly been the most eventful night ever witnessed in Key West. The excitement commenced shortly before 10 o'clock last night, when the first report was received that the famous tug Dauntless had arrived at a port on the east coast and was taking on arms and ammunition for Cuba.

The celebrated little filibuster was reported to have arrived at Palm Beach this morning with a load of men and would sail before any attempt could be made to detain her. The information was immediately conveyed to the commanders of naval vessels in the harbor, who commenced to make preparations to intercept the filibusters.

It was ascertained there were only a few vessels here available. There were the torpedo boats Cushing and Ericsson and the supply boat Fern, which arrived yesterday from the fleet at Dry Tortugas. All the other naval vessels had been scattered at different points in the gulf.

Then came the report that the battleship had been blown up. This news was first received by the commandant of the station, who in turn communicated the information to the several officers in command. A telephone message was sent the commanding army officer at the barracks.

Meanwhile the news rapidly spread over the entire city, and the cable office became the center of attraction. The fact that the two torpedo boats were getting up steam and would be ready to sail added to the excitement.

A hurried conference was meanwhile being had between several naval officers present, and a line of action promptly decided upon.

The torpedo boat Ericsson was first to get under way. She steamed out with open throttles and headed for the westward. While it is not positively known where she has gone the impression is she has been dispatched to the Dry Tortugas to notify Admiral Sicard of the disaster to the Maine.

The Cushing is puffing at the wharf ready to steam out and apparently only waiting orders to proceed to Havana.

As I write this dispatch, at 3 a. m., the quartermaster of the supply boat Fern is sitting in the cable office waiting to receive any message that may come for the general.

Every Government vessel in the harbor is getting ready to sail for Havana as soon as orders are received.

THE MAINE PRACTICALLY
A NEW BATTLESHIP.

Was Built in 1890 at New York, and
Had a Complement of
874 Men.

The second-class battleship Maine was built at the United States navy yard at New York in 1890. Her dimensions are as follows: Length, 310 feet; breadth, 57 feet; draught, 21 1/2 feet. The Maine was of 6648 tons displacement. She was provided with engines of 9000 horse-power, and could maintain a speed of seventeen knots an hour. She carried twin screw engines, vertical and with triple expansion. Her armor was eleven inches in thickness. The fighting machinery of the battleship consisted of four 10-inch and six 6-inch breech-loading rifles. As a secondary battery she carried fourteen rapid-fire, four revolving cannon and four Gatlings. The cost of the battleship was $2,588,000. She had a steel hull and a complement of 874 men.

SPANIARDS ARE
NOW IN A MOST
WARLIKE MOOD

Clamoring for Conflict While the
Two Nations Are Closing
the De Lome Incident.

NEW YORK, Feb. 15. -- The Herald's Washington correspondent telegraphs: The administration offices were deeply gratified to-day by the Herald's announcement from Madrid that Spain would make a complete and satisfactory disavowal of the De Lome letter. This is the only authentic information which has reached here, the only official dispatch on the subject being the one received yesterday from Minister Woodford stating that Senor Sagasta had promised that a satisfactory disavowal would he made. In the light of this and the Herald's dispatch this morning the authorities now no longer hesitate to say that the incident is closed, and that all that remains is the publication of Spain's reply, which will follow as soon as Minister Woodford is heard from. With the arrival of the new Minister active negotiations in connection with the proposed new commercial treaty will begin.

By this action Spain will attempt to show the world that the statements made by Senor de Lome that she was insincere in her desire to negotiate a reciprocity convention are untrue. When Senor Louis Polo de Bernabe is formally presented to the President it is expected there will be an exchange of addresses which will contain expressions of friendship and good will and demonstrate that harmony exists in the relations between the two Governments. Calderon Carlisle, attorney for Senor Canalejas, in the matter of securing a return of the letter addressed to him by Senor De Lome and which caused the resignation of the latter here as Minister, is considering: what steps shall be taken to detect and punish the person or persons who abstracted the communication from the mails.

"We know, of course," said an official in the State Department to me today, "that Mr. Carlisle's object in obtaining the letter is to use it as evidence in any prosecution that might be inaugurated against the person or persons who stole the letter or who have had it in their possession. If the letter was stolen, then the person or persons in whose possession it was might be Indicted for being receivers of stolen goods. It seems to me that the Cuban Junta made a mistake in turning that letter over to the State Department without at least securing a promise for its return."

Mr. Carlisle declines to state what action he proposes against any of the persons who may have been responsible for the publication of the letter.

PEOPLE CLAMOR FOR WAR,
GOVERNMENT WANTS PEACE.

Copyrighted 1898 by James Gordon Bennett.

MADRID. Feb. 15. -- Public feeling here against the United States is very highly strung. In the public mind the firm conviction is that the United States means to force war upon Spain and that the latter must absolutely stand her ground; that in Cuba the autonomists would side with Spain, fighting against United States troops, and that if the Spaniards would encourage the landing of American troops in the greatest number possible, now that the unhealthy season is coming on, it would kill them off like flies.

At the same time ships of war could bombard the coast towns, which, with the exception of New York, are considered unprotected, the United States not having sufficient warships to guard them.

Great calculations are also made on the widespread ruin which would fall upon businessmen in the United States, whereas the bourse here would scarcely change, as would be the case with the United States. A war would merely be the first step toward the solution of a question which is slowly bleeding the resources of the country to death.

Such is the representative idea of public Spanish feeling to-day; but, mark you, do not quote it as the Government's. The action of the Government, telegraphed to you last evening, has not popularized it at home. There are indications that the Ministers are not displeased to get rid of a representative who could not sincerely reflect their feelings, for Senor de Lome was a fervent member of the National party, headed by Senor Romero Robledo and General Weyler. The Government feels relief now at having one of Its own men, who truly represents the most liberal ideas of the Cabinet, and who starts full of the idea of the importance of pushing the commercial treaty, the details of which he is far more fitted to deal with than was Senor de Lome.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Monday, February 13, 2023

Burt Bacharach, RIP -- February 13, 2023

listal.com

Burt Bacharach has died. he composed much of the music that I heard in the foreground and the background while I was growing up. He collaborated with everyone from Dionne Warwick to Elvis Costello. Hal David frequently wrote the lyrics. In later years, many of his songs turned up in romantic comedies like My Best Friend's Wedding, which is a favorite of my daughter. 

listal.com

listal.com

Walk On By (Stan Getz)

Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello I'll Never Fall In Love Again
  
Dionne Warwick "I Say A Little Prayer" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Marilyn McCoo - One Less Bell To Answer (The 5th Dimension and Bones Howe)

Chuck Yeager 100 -- February 13, 2023

listal.com

General Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to break the sound barrier on purpose, has died. During World War Two, he started as an enlisted mechanic in the US Army Air Force, and then became a flight officer (something like a warrant officer), He flew a P-51 Mustang in Europe and was credited with 11.5 victories. In 1944, he received a commission.

After the war, he became a test pilot and broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 rocket plane. He stayed in the US Air Force, commanding fighter squadrons and wings, and was the first commandant of the US Air Force Test Pilot School. 

Chuck Yeager was the best character in Tom Wolf's book The Right Stuff and in Phil Kaufman's movie adaption. Sam Shepard, seen in the photo with Yeager, played Yeager. 

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Happy Birthday, President Lincoln -- February 12, 2023

Saturday Evening Post, 12-February-1944

Today is Abraham Lincoln's 214th birthday. My favorite president.

"How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that ‘all men are created equal.’ We now practically read it ‘all men are created equal, except negroes.’ When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read ‘all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.’ When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty—to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy."

The cover of the 12-February-1944 Saturday Evening Post.  

Saturday, February 11, 2023

OH BOY! SUC HJOY! -- February 11, 2023

California Eagle, 17-February-1923

Edward Ory, better known as Kid Ory, was a pioneering jazz trombonist and band leader from Louisiana. He had come to the Los Angeles area in 1919. Ory and his Unshine Orchestra appear in the middle photo. I haven't found anything about Colen's Famous Jazzers. "Seven Southern Syncopaters" seems to have been a popular name.

Friday, February 10, 2023

Bertolt Brecht 125 -- February 10, 2023

listal.com

Playwright and theatrical director Bertolt Brecht was born 125 yeats ago, on 10-February-1898. He was a pioneer of epic theater, which tried to make the audience experience alienation. He collaborated on musicals with Kurt Weill, The Threepenny Opera and Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. He talked to the House Un-American Activities Committee, denying that he had ever been a communist.



Mack The Knife

 

Lotte Lenya Singing "Seeräuber Jenny" (Pirate Jenny)

 

ALABAMA SONG

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Only 4 States Have No Record of Lynchings -- February 9, 2023

Brownsville Herald, 08-February-1923

I was interested to learn about the trends in lynching. I like how they specify groups included as white people.

ONLY 4 STATES
HAVE NO RECORD
OF LYNCHINGS
Three Out of Every Four Persons Lynched in U. S. in
Thirty-Five Years Have Been Negroes

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. -- "Only four states in the Union have never had a lynching," according to a statement issued today by the Commission on the Church and Race Relations of the Federal Council of Churches. They are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont.

There are only three other states that have had no lynchings since 1889 -- New Jersey, Utah and Connecticut.

Nine other states have had a clear record during the last ten years. They are Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Delaware and Pennsylvania. This means that only 33 per cent of the states of the Union have not had a lynching in the last ten years. At the same time it is pointed out that 83 women have been lynched since 1889. The churches are engaged in a nationwide campaign against lynching and facts are being gathered.

"The total number of persons lynched by years gives a startling picture of lawlessness," the statement continues. "There was a slow decrease from the climax in 1892 and 1893 down to 1908. During the latter year and 1909 there was an increase, then another slow decrease until 1918 when a tendency to increase was again manifested.

"The sex of the victims in the cases where a record has been made shows an alarming number of women. Since 1889 there have been 83 women, 17 white and 68 colored, killed by mobs. Some of them were put to death with savage tortures, such as burning and disemboweling. Such brutality might he expected in pagan times or heathen countries, but by no means in a civilized land today."

Every three out of four of those lynched during the period from 1885 to 1921 were black. In this connection the statement says:

"The list of victims of mob violence reveals that from 1885 to 1921 inclusive, 1,028 white persons and 3,069 colored persons were slain by lynchers. The number of white victims, however, has rapidly decreased since 1900. Among the victims classified as white were a German (during the war), Italians, Mexicans and Jews -- indicating that lawlessness spreads where prejudice abounds. Except in two years since 1903 the number of white victims has been less than ten each year. The number of negro victims during the same period has fluctuated slowly downward to range between 50 and 100 except in 1902 when the number reported was 104 and in 1917 when the number reported was 38. There is some evidence to indicate that during recent years negroes have been lynched and the facts concealed from the press, so that no record has been secured."

Protestant churches throughout the country will observe Sunday, February 11 as Race Relations Sunday, when they will begin a campaign of education against lynching.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Comic Book -- Boots and Her Buddies -- February 8, 2023

mutoscope.listal.com

Pitchers and catchers report soon. 

Boots and Her Buddies was a comic strip created by Edgar Martin in 1924. Boots was a shapely college co-ed who had been a character in his previous strip, Girls, which had stated in 1921. 

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Pulp -- Baseball Stories -- February 7, 2023

coverbrowser.com

Pitchers and catchers report soon.

The cover of the Summer, 1938 Baseball Stories.

Monday, February 6, 2023

Toonerville Trolley - The Skipper Has Worked Out a Plan - February 6, 2023

Perth Amboy Evening News, 19-February-1923

I love Fontaine Fox's The Toonerville Trolley That Meets All the Trains.

Washington Times, 30-June-1918


Sunday, February 5, 2023

Krazy Kat -- I Also Wunt to Know Who Mends the Crack of Dooms -- February 5, 2023

Washington Times, 14-February-1923

I love George Herriman's Krazy Kat. Stumble Inn was another Herriman strip. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Washington Times, 30-June-1918


Saturday, February 4, 2023

The Year of the Rabbit -- February 4, 2023

Showmen's Trade Review, 05-June-1940

In honor of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, here is the most famous rabbit of all, Bugs Bunny.

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade is tonight. The parade has taken place since the 1860s. 

27-July-1940 saw the debut of the Buck-Toothed Barrymore, the Hardest Working Hare in Show Business, the Chairman of the Carrot Patch, Bugs Bunny.  There is some controversy over the identity of the first Bugs Bunny cartoon.  Some people favor "Porky's Hare Hunt" from 1938.  Some people like other movies, but the rabbit's official debut was in "A Wild Hare," which was released on 27-July-1940.  Tex Avery directed it.  Bugs said "What's up, Doc?" for the first time.  Warner Brothers received an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Subject. 


Friday, February 3, 2023

Cavalese Cable Car Crash 25 Years -- February 3, 2023

London Daily Telegraph, 04-January-1998

25 years ago, on 03-February-1998, two Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers, electronic-warfare aircraft, of the US Marine Corps were breaking the rules and regulations by flying too low and too fast through a valley in the mountains of northern Italy. The wing of one of the Prowlers clipped a cable that supported an overhead cable car (telepherique) that connected the town of Cavalese with the ski areas on Cermis Mountain. One car of the aerial tramway fell 260 feet, killing all 20 people in the car. The operator on the other car was trapped in the air for at least an hour. 

I remember how upset the Italian people were. Because of NATO treaties, the pilot and the navigator were charged with manslaughter. The pilot was acquitted and charges against the navigator were dropped. The Marine Corps then court-martialed both men on lesser charges. They received dishonorable discharges and the pilot was sentenced to prison for six months.   

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

February 2023 Version of the Cable Car Home Page -- February 1, 2023

Street Railway Journal, May, 1893

I just put the February 2023 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/

It includes some new items:
1. Picture of the Month: Two cars of the Portland Cable Railway pass on the trestle's 20% grade. (Source: "Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, Astoria," The Street Railway Journal, May, 1893. Volume IX, Number 5.)
2. On the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page: More pictures and information about the Portland Cable Railway, including selected newspaper articles.
3. On the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page: A new item about the Astoria Cable Railway
4. On the Who page: A new article about Joe Orengo, a major league player and Giants executive who was involved with cable cars.
5. On the Cable Car Models page, a model of a Powell Street cable car covered with flowers was San Francisco's entry in the 1948 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Ten years ago this month (February, 2013):
1. Picture of the Month: Looking up Portland's great trestle from the powerhouse. (Source: "Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, Astoria," The Street Railway Journal, May, 1893. Volume IX, Number 5.
2. On the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page: More pictures and information about the Portland Cable Railway, including selected articles from The Street Railway Journal.
3. More about the 100th birthday of the San Francisco Municipal Railway
4. On the Cable Car Models page, a paper model of a California Street cable car by Wurlington Bros. Also a News item
5. On the San Francisco page: Added a photo I took of Greenwich Street, the route of the Telegraph Hill Railroad
6. Added News item about the cable-driven automated people mover being built to connect BART and the Oakland Airport and work going on around the inner terminal of the California Street cable line
7. Added San Francisco and California History Sites link to ThinkWalks

Twenty years ago this month (February, 2003):
1. Picture of the Month: Portland, Oregon cable car
2. Add the Portland Cable Railway to the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page
3. Thumbnail pictures on the California Street Cable Railroad and More California Street Pictures pages.
4. Add News and Bibliography items about proposed fare increase.

175 years ago on 02-February-1848, the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War and formally ceded California to the United States

125 years ago on 01-February-1898, the Mount Adams & Eden Park Railway (Cincinatti, OH) closed

Coming in March, 2023: On the Cable Cars in the Pacific Northwest page: More pictures and information about the Tacoma Railway and Motor Company

The Cable Car Home Page now has a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CableCarHomePage/


Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-February-2023)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-January-2020)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 30-September-2022)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
The Big V Riot Squad (new blog)
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/