Early Steam Engine: The DeWitt Clinton

The DeWitt Clinton was not a success.  Its design had some flaws.  The engine did not provide a safe place for the engineer, who has to also stoke the boiler.  However the reason for its failure was that it was found it could not generate enough power.  It was limited in traveling below 15 miles per hour.  Its inaugural run was August 9, 1831.  It was built for the Mohawk and Hudson railroad.  The Clinton was a small engine.  There was poor draft across the fire which limited its power.  After 1831 it was overhauled.  It ran for a couple months and then was stored for the winter.  It also ran in 1832, but was scrapped after that year.  The coaches were actually stagecoaches mounting to railroad wheels.  The original having been scrapped it lives on only in  replicas.  A replica is on display at the Ford Museum.

Info gleaned from Model Railroader May 1979.

Book Review: Brigham Young: Corageous Mormon Leader

Brigham Young: Courageous Mormon Leader, Courageous Heroes of the American West, by William R. Sanford and Carl R. Green, Easlow Publishers, Berkeley Heights, NJ, 2013.

This book gives a good overview of the life of Brigham Young, while not getting into anything controversial.  It starts with the Utah War and Mountain Meadows Massacre.  Then it goes back and tells the life of Brigham.  A little about his parents, and how Brigham Young found the gospel.  Brigham Young was called as an apostle after Zion’s Camp.  He was responsible for leading the Saints to Illinois from Missouri while the prophet Joseph Smith was at Liberty Jail.  With the death of the Prophet, the council of twelve apostles took over leadership of the church, with Brigham Young as its president.  At this time the leadership of Brigham Young was really put the test.  He had to deal with mob actions, prepare the Saints to move and the actual move West, deal with government officials which lead to the Mormon Battalion participate in the Mexican American War, determine where exactly to lead the Saints, provide food and transportation for the poorer Saints, and many other day-to-day issues.  Through all this he maintained his composure, wan lead the first wagon train to Utah.  He select4ed a temple site.  He quickly returned east, but then again traveled to Salt Lake.  The city was already well established when he returned. 

Brigham Young had many wives.  He practiced polygamy.  He established two houses in Salt Lake, the Beehive House and the Lion House for his large family.  They were met with another threat after the Civil War ended.  This was a threat from the Ute Indians warring under Chief Black Hawk.  The Mormons where active in the railroad.  Although they main line did not go through Salt Lake, Brigham Young established local lines going from the main line.  He also was active in developing sugar beets and iron factories in Utah for the benefit of the Saints.  Wallace Stegner would later call Brigham Young “a colonizer without equal in the history of America. 

Documentary Review: ****102 Minutes that Changed America

This video begins with a warning about the graphic nature of the material.  9/11/01 8:46 New York time the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center.    This video was produced for the 15 year anniversary of the attack.This presentation is just a combination of videos and pictures from the attack, starting just before the first plane.  There is not any organized narration, just the voices of those that are on the actual videos.  Sometimes there is no sound, but most of the time the sounds of what was happening.  You hear the reaction of people to the events, the first responders directing people and news commentators talking among themselves about the scene.  There are 9-11 calls included, and police guidance. 
The most graphic scenes are after the first tower falls, and the horrendous dust cloud overwhelms people.  There are rescuers seeking water and many seeking fresh air.  Those in close apartment buildings tried to shut their windows with some success.  The dust was tremendous.  There is a brief scene with reaction from those watching on monitors at Times Square.  There was lots of anger, and many seeking revenge. 
The dust cloud scenes were repeated when the second tower fell.  What a tragic day. 

Native American Biography: Black Hawk: Ute

Black Hawk-Ute Indian Chief

When the Ute Indian Chief, Black Hawk, died on September 27, 1870 near Spring Lake and was buried by his tribe in a nearby ravine, there was laid to test a man designated by Brigham Young as “The most formidable foe amongst the Redman” that the pioneers had encountered in many years.  These words were prompted by the memory of Chief Black Hawk’s part in Utah’s worst Indian war which ended in 1867.

The war commenced in April 1865 at Manti, Sanpete County.  Three years later, when the Indians were finally brought to terms, 51 settlers had been killed and 25 settlements abandoned in 5 counties.  The seriousness of the Indian depredations was such that during the three-year war, over 4700 men of the territorial militia were called into service.  Expenses incurred during the war were in excess of one and one half million dollars.  Although scattered Indian raids continued into the summer of 1868, theBlack Hawk War was regarded as officially closed in 1867.

The years 1865 to 1867 were by far the most intense of the conflict. Latter-day Saints considered themselves in a state of open warfare. They built scores of forts and deserted dozens of settlements while hundreds of Mormon militiamen chased their elusive adversaries through the wilderness with little success. Requests for federal troops went unheeded for eight years. Unable to distinguish “guilty” from “friendly” tribesmen, frustrated Mormons at times indiscriminately killed Indians, including women and children.   Utah State Division of State History, https://heritage.utah.gov/history/uhg-black-hawk-war

Article Review: Pueble Pottery 2000 Years of Artistry

by David L Arnold, National Geographic November, 1982.
Pottery form the Taos School of Pottery is unique and beautiful.  I just wish it weren't so expensive.

Book Review: Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency

Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, Henry Hold and Company, New York, 2015.
Here is a book that tells two biographies; that of Ronald Reagan and that of John Hinckley Jr.  It covers more that just the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.  He also explores their lives in general.  Of course President Reagan dominates the pages, from his acting career, to his being introduced to politics as president of the actor's union, and there also being introduced to the fight against communism.  That would be his biggest legacy.  He aced the way for millions of people to enjoy freedom, from the spark that started when he was an actor.
Reagan failed in his first attempt to win the Republican nomination.  However he won on his second attempt, and would go on to defeat Jimmy Carter in the general election who had defeated President Ford four years prior.  The country made a remarkable turn.  This turn lead to economic growth, and the defeat of communism in Eastern Europe.  However his presidency would have controversy with the Iran-Contra scandal.
President Reagan would eventually succumb to Alzheimer's.  It appears this even effected his memory during the latter part of his presidency.  He retired to his ranch in California.  What effect his fun-shot wound would have on his later health can only be the topic of speculation.
This was a very enjoyable read. 

Bombing of Darwin, Australia

I didn't realize that the Japanese also bombed the Australia port town of Darwin just a bit more than two months after Pearl Harbor until I watched the movie Australia.   This was the first, and most effective of 97 Japanese bombing missions to Australia. 
On 19 February 1942 188 naval aircraft from the carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu attacked the harbor at Darwin.  They were successful in sinking eight ships. They also inflicted heavy damage upon the town.  This raid was followed by 54 land based aircraft that attacked the RAAF Airport and destroyed 20 aircraft.  The Japanese lost four aircraft from the carriers.  235 people were killed and 300 to 400 injured.
Darwin would continue to be the focus of attacks, especially the landing strip, but none of this magnitude.  As a seaport Darwin was pretty much abandoned during the war because it was vulnerable to attack.