I have spent the last couple of days immersed in old newspapers - nothing particularly new there, but it occurred to me as I read my 12th official list of deaths in as many newspapers that many people do not get this look at the past. In our hurry to find our ancestors, the right John Smith, it is easy to overlook what times were like for all the contemporary John Smiths.
I think most of us realize that the 1918 flu killed more people than World War 1 and that the war caused the flu to spread more easily from from country to country. We also know that conditions in civil war prison camps were terrible and that disease of all kinds was rampant. Many of us have family stories of soldiers dying in camp, some on the first day. But wait, the first day in prison camp? How many perfectly healthy soldiers could possibly succumb to disease so quickly? Of course the answer is that the soldiers were not perfectly healthy.
Upon first reading the lists of "Deaths Reported in the New South Newspaper" you could be forgiven for assuming, based on the regiments given for the dead soldiers, that these lists show captured Union soldiers. Disease claimed far more of these men than wounds, what an awful camp that must be. It might take a little while for you to realize that the New South was a newspaper published by Union postmaster Joseph H. Sears from the post office at Port Royal, South Carolina. Your understanding of the lives of these soldiers becomes a little deeper. These men did not die in the hands of the enemy, most died in the union hospital, but of the same diseases we are used to seeing in the prison camps.
Some of the men were listed as "civilian, late of ..." and a regiment is given. Without delving into there compiled service records to check, it would appear they were discharged from service but died before they could return home. Were they already dying when their enlistment ended or was the wait for safe passage to the north long enough to both contract the disease and succumb to it? Either way, it is a tragic end to the life of a man who had perhaps dreamed of being a hero, or, more likely, dreamed of going home to his loved ones.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Dark Side of Christmas Lights
While researching in the New York Times I came across a story about a man dressed as Santa Claus who was badly burned when he stepped too close to a Christmas tree and a candle ignited his costume. From reading old accounts I knew that people used real candles to decorate their trees and the danger of that was immediately obvious, but I began to wonder how rare these Santa accidents were. I was surprised to find out they were not very rare at all.
25 December 1879. Paris, Kentucky.
Frederick R. Jaynes was fatally burned when his Santa Claus costume caught fire from a lighted taper at the residence of J. H. Bassett.
25 December 1882. Montgomery, New York.
George Smedes was painfully burned when his Santa Claus wig caught fire at the Academy Hall.
24 December 1888. Boston, Massachusetts.
T. D. Roberts received severe burns when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a candle on the Christmas tree at the Boston Industrial Temporary Home where he was Superintendent. He is not expected to recover.
26 December 1888. Geneva, Illinois.
John M. Stillwell was fatally burned when his Santa Claus costume caught fire from a candle at a church festival.
26 December 1889. Bourbon, Illinois.
Samuel Beardsley was seriously burned when his Santa Claus costume caught fire at the town's Christmas festival. He is not expected to live.
2 January 1890. Brooklyn, New York.
James E. Manson, 26, died from burns received when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a candle on the Christmas tree at the home of his brother-in-law, John Ramsey.
28 December 1893. Mount Vernon, New York.
Mrs. C. M. McLean, wife of Col. C. M. McClean and a niece of the late Col. George W. McLean, was badly burned when her Santa Claus costume was ignited by the candles on the Christmas tree in Willard Hall.
24 December 1894. Hoboken, New Jersey.
Edward Beyer was burned when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a candle on the CHristmas tree at the home of his brother-in-law, Frederick Gunkel.
25 December 1894. Fairlown, New Jersey.
Reading (Pennsylvania) High School teacher Charles S. Foos was severely burned when his false Santa Claus beard was ignited by a candle on the Christmas tree at the home of his fiancee, Miss. Marie Demarest.
18 January 1895. New York, New York.
Edward L. Pratt died in St. Mark's Hospital as a result of burns received Christmas night when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a wax candle on the Christmas tree.
25 December 1895. Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Clyde Farnsworth was burned to death when his Santa Clause costume caught fire at a Christmas party when a guest playfully threw a lighted match at him.
25 December 1896. North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Deacon Edward Southerland of the Baptist Church was seriously burned when his huge bushy beard was ignited by a candle on the Christmas tree as he played Sata Claus at the Christmas festival.
6 December 1897. Trenton, New Jersey.
Josephine Wagner, a domestic servant employed by Col. A. R. Kuser, was badly, perhaps fatally, burned when her Santa Claus costume caught fire from an open grate.
21 December 1900. New York, New York.
Carrie Hanley, 14, was horribly burned with little chance of recovery when her Santa Clause costume caught fire by going too near a lighted gas jet at Public School 44 in North Moore Street. Also burned, though not severely, was Veronica Schwab, 10, who was dressed as Mrs. Claus. Carrie died on 22 December in the Hudson Street Hospital.
22 December 1900. Bellevill, New Jersey.
Leroy Sargent, 14, was seriously burned at Public School #1 when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a light on the Christmas tree.
27 December 1901. Summit, New Jersey.
Bert Underwood, a prominent missionary of the Baptist Church in America, was badly, if not fatally, burned when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a spark from a lamp.
25 December 1901. Oldtown, Maryland.
John Carder, Jr., was probably fatally burned when, as he left for the church, a young man playfully held a lighted match to his back igniting his Santa Clause costume
23 December 1904. Southbury, Connecticut.
Burritt M. Tuttle, Judge of the Town Court, was severely burned when his false Santa Claus beard caught fire from the Christmas tree candles in the Methodist Church.
26 December 1904. Peterstown, New Jersey.
John Signora was hospitalized in a serious condition when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by an exploding cigar given to him by a friend as a joke.
26 December 1905. Houston, Texas.
W. H. Osborne was badly burned when his Santa Claus costume caught fire as his distributed present for his neighborhood. He is not expected to live.
26 December 1905. Houston, Texas.
Sid A. Anderson was burned with his false Santa Claus beard was ignited as he lit the candles on his Christmas tree. It is believed he will recover.
23 December 1905. Leicester, Massachusetts.
Leicester Academy assistant teacher Alfred M. Frye was dangerously burned when his Santa Claus disguise touched a candle and flashed into flame.
25 December 1906. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Miss Ella Sudflow died when her long Santa Claus coat was ignited by the candles on the Christmas tree.
24 December 1908. Denton, New York.
Henry Campbell was severely burned when the candles on the Christmas tree in the village schoolhouse caught his long white whiskers on fire.
24 December 1910. Albion, New York.
Schoolboys Charles Anderson and Peter Groce were seriously burned at the Hindsburg schoolhouse when their Santa Claus and Jack Frost costumes caught fire.
21 August 1921. Ferndale, New York.
Mrs. Bessie Jacobs was badly burned when the paper Santa Claus costume she wore to a masked ball caught fire on the lighted candle she wore.
25 December 1879. Paris, Kentucky.
Frederick R. Jaynes was fatally burned when his Santa Claus costume caught fire from a lighted taper at the residence of J. H. Bassett.
25 December 1882. Montgomery, New York.
George Smedes was painfully burned when his Santa Claus wig caught fire at the Academy Hall.
24 December 1888. Boston, Massachusetts.
T. D. Roberts received severe burns when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a candle on the Christmas tree at the Boston Industrial Temporary Home where he was Superintendent. He is not expected to recover.
26 December 1888. Geneva, Illinois.
John M. Stillwell was fatally burned when his Santa Claus costume caught fire from a candle at a church festival.
26 December 1889. Bourbon, Illinois.
Samuel Beardsley was seriously burned when his Santa Claus costume caught fire at the town's Christmas festival. He is not expected to live.
2 January 1890. Brooklyn, New York.
James E. Manson, 26, died from burns received when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a candle on the Christmas tree at the home of his brother-in-law, John Ramsey.
28 December 1893. Mount Vernon, New York.
Mrs. C. M. McLean, wife of Col. C. M. McClean and a niece of the late Col. George W. McLean, was badly burned when her Santa Claus costume was ignited by the candles on the Christmas tree in Willard Hall.
24 December 1894. Hoboken, New Jersey.
Edward Beyer was burned when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a candle on the CHristmas tree at the home of his brother-in-law, Frederick Gunkel.
25 December 1894. Fairlown, New Jersey.
Reading (Pennsylvania) High School teacher Charles S. Foos was severely burned when his false Santa Claus beard was ignited by a candle on the Christmas tree at the home of his fiancee, Miss. Marie Demarest.
18 January 1895. New York, New York.
Edward L. Pratt died in St. Mark's Hospital as a result of burns received Christmas night when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a wax candle on the Christmas tree.
25 December 1895. Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Clyde Farnsworth was burned to death when his Santa Clause costume caught fire at a Christmas party when a guest playfully threw a lighted match at him.
25 December 1896. North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Deacon Edward Southerland of the Baptist Church was seriously burned when his huge bushy beard was ignited by a candle on the Christmas tree as he played Sata Claus at the Christmas festival.
6 December 1897. Trenton, New Jersey.
Josephine Wagner, a domestic servant employed by Col. A. R. Kuser, was badly, perhaps fatally, burned when her Santa Claus costume caught fire from an open grate.
21 December 1900. New York, New York.
Carrie Hanley, 14, was horribly burned with little chance of recovery when her Santa Clause costume caught fire by going too near a lighted gas jet at Public School 44 in North Moore Street. Also burned, though not severely, was Veronica Schwab, 10, who was dressed as Mrs. Claus. Carrie died on 22 December in the Hudson Street Hospital.
22 December 1900. Bellevill, New Jersey.
Leroy Sargent, 14, was seriously burned at Public School #1 when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a light on the Christmas tree.
27 December 1901. Summit, New Jersey.
Bert Underwood, a prominent missionary of the Baptist Church in America, was badly, if not fatally, burned when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by a spark from a lamp.
25 December 1901. Oldtown, Maryland.
John Carder, Jr., was probably fatally burned when, as he left for the church, a young man playfully held a lighted match to his back igniting his Santa Clause costume
23 December 1904. Southbury, Connecticut.
Burritt M. Tuttle, Judge of the Town Court, was severely burned when his false Santa Claus beard caught fire from the Christmas tree candles in the Methodist Church.
26 December 1904. Peterstown, New Jersey.
John Signora was hospitalized in a serious condition when his Santa Claus costume was ignited by an exploding cigar given to him by a friend as a joke.
26 December 1905. Houston, Texas.
W. H. Osborne was badly burned when his Santa Claus costume caught fire as his distributed present for his neighborhood. He is not expected to live.
26 December 1905. Houston, Texas.
Sid A. Anderson was burned with his false Santa Claus beard was ignited as he lit the candles on his Christmas tree. It is believed he will recover.
23 December 1905. Leicester, Massachusetts.
Leicester Academy assistant teacher Alfred M. Frye was dangerously burned when his Santa Claus disguise touched a candle and flashed into flame.
25 December 1906. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Miss Ella Sudflow died when her long Santa Claus coat was ignited by the candles on the Christmas tree.
24 December 1908. Denton, New York.
Henry Campbell was severely burned when the candles on the Christmas tree in the village schoolhouse caught his long white whiskers on fire.
24 December 1910. Albion, New York.
Schoolboys Charles Anderson and Peter Groce were seriously burned at the Hindsburg schoolhouse when their Santa Claus and Jack Frost costumes caught fire.
21 August 1921. Ferndale, New York.
Mrs. Bessie Jacobs was badly burned when the paper Santa Claus costume she wore to a masked ball caught fire on the lighted candle she wore.
Changing Servers - some downtime
It seems while we were all enjoying Christmas the web server went down and no one noticed. We are moving the files to a new server and should be back in a few hours. Will keep you updated here, on Facebook and Twitter.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Advent Calendar 2010: December 14 - Fruit Cake
I love fruit cake! Not the brightly coloured ones filled with red and green candied cherries and bright yellow pineapple, but the dark, aged, brandy soaked, raisin, sultana and currant filled ones of my childhood.
Everyone in my family makes their Christmas cake the same, Grannie, Mum, Aunti Di, Jacqui and me. The cake is always baked months in advance so it can age properly and be fed brandy to keep it moist. A lovely thick layer of marzipan is glued on with apricot jam. Then the cake is decorated with royal icing in peaks like snowdrifts and wrapped with a wide red ribbon. I think we all do the peaks because it is much easier than getting a smooth finish. Little figures and silver dragees are added to create a wintry scene - a penguin, a child on a sled, and a snowman.
Everyone in my family makes their Christmas cake the same, Grannie, Mum, Aunti Di, Jacqui and me. The cake is always baked months in advance so it can age properly and be fed brandy to keep it moist. A lovely thick layer of marzipan is glued on with apricot jam. Then the cake is decorated with royal icing in peaks like snowdrifts and wrapped with a wide red ribbon. I think we all do the peaks because it is much easier than getting a smooth finish. Little figures and silver dragees are added to create a wintry scene - a penguin, a child on a sled, and a snowman.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Advent Calendar 2010: December 6 - Santa Claus
I don't remember when I stopped believing in Father Christmas, but there was a time when I believed very strongly.
According to the story, and I was far too young to remember it myself, I was about 2 yrs old and my sister would have been about 4. We went to a Christmas Party on camp and Father Christmas himself was there! When he arrived, I assume we children were not expecting him, our eyes were wide with excitement and awe. He gave us presents and I received a white poodle pajama case that I had for years. It seems it was my favourite thing for a very long time, but at about 8 or 9 I decided I did not like it very much. A poodle seemed a bit childish and it was so much easier to just put my PJs under my pillow.
A couple of years ago, the poodle PJ case come up in conversation and I mentioned that I could not imagine who would have given me such a thing and that surely I never actually liked it. That was when my Mum told me the story of the Christmas party, the poodle and Father Christmas. The really surprising part? My Dad played Santa that year! It seems unbelievable to me now, but neither my sister nor I recognised him as anything other than Father Christmas.
According to the story, and I was far too young to remember it myself, I was about 2 yrs old and my sister would have been about 4. We went to a Christmas Party on camp and Father Christmas himself was there! When he arrived, I assume we children were not expecting him, our eyes were wide with excitement and awe. He gave us presents and I received a white poodle pajama case that I had for years. It seems it was my favourite thing for a very long time, but at about 8 or 9 I decided I did not like it very much. A poodle seemed a bit childish and it was so much easier to just put my PJs under my pillow.
A couple of years ago, the poodle PJ case come up in conversation and I mentioned that I could not imagine who would have given me such a thing and that surely I never actually liked it. That was when my Mum told me the story of the Christmas party, the poodle and Father Christmas. The really surprising part? My Dad played Santa that year! It seems unbelievable to me now, but neither my sister nor I recognised him as anything other than Father Christmas.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Advent Calendar 2010: December 5 - Outdoor Decorations
First an apology about missing yesterday - it seems my problem with Christmas cards extends to writing about them as well as in them!
I don't remember ever seeing houses decorated on the outside until I moved to the US in my early 20's. I am not sure if that means people didn't decorate their houses or if, like so many things, life was a bit different growing up on military bases.
When the boys were younger we always drove around the neighbourhoods looking for the best decorations, but we have never decorated the outside of our house.
Each year Karl makes a wreath for the front door. He uses the branches he cuts off the Christmas tree along with various bits of holly and other native plants from the farm. The one thing he does not collect is the mistletoe that grows in one of two of the tallest trees. One year our eldest son, Dan, was determined to get some mistletoe for his girlfriend. He tried the extension ladder but it would not reach, so he climbed to the very top rung of the ladder and reached with a telescoping fruit picker until he was just able to rake off a tiny piece. Obviously the heroics worked because the girlfriend is now his wife. Hopefully his younger brothers will not think that death defying, mother scaring, stunts like that are a necessary part of all marriage proposals.
I don't remember ever seeing houses decorated on the outside until I moved to the US in my early 20's. I am not sure if that means people didn't decorate their houses or if, like so many things, life was a bit different growing up on military bases.
When the boys were younger we always drove around the neighbourhoods looking for the best decorations, but we have never decorated the outside of our house.
Each year Karl makes a wreath for the front door. He uses the branches he cuts off the Christmas tree along with various bits of holly and other native plants from the farm. The one thing he does not collect is the mistletoe that grows in one of two of the tallest trees. One year our eldest son, Dan, was determined to get some mistletoe for his girlfriend. He tried the extension ladder but it would not reach, so he climbed to the very top rung of the ladder and reached with a telescoping fruit picker until he was just able to rake off a tiny piece. Obviously the heroics worked because the girlfriend is now his wife. Hopefully his younger brothers will not think that death defying, mother scaring, stunts like that are a necessary part of all marriage proposals.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Advent Calendar 2010: December 4 - Christmas Cards
I don't send Christmas cards. I have a long history of buying boxes of cards, writing and addressing them all and then not mailing them. Realising that was a waste, I stopped buying them. I hope ESP is real because I mentally wish everyone I love a Happy Christmas.
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