Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Shipwreck Found in San Francisco Bay

https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/04/23/shipwreck-found-in-san-francisco-bay-chinese-crew-heroics-after-disaster-revealed/
San Jose Mercury News published a story about the finding of the shipwreck SS City of Chester.  This ship, outbound, was headed to the mines of Eureka with about 106 people on board, collided with an incoming ship Oceana which was about twice its size.  Because of dense fog the ships noticed each other but the tides prevented the Chester from getting our of the other steamships way, and the Oceana sliced through the hull.  People were trapped by gushing water, and others thrown into the ocean.  The Chinese crew of the Oceana helped with the rescue.  In the end sixteen people died. 
This article was published in 2014.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Documentary: Harry Potter Kids: Biography

Harry Potter Kids: Biography: Reveal the Magic Behind the Success of the Harry Potter Stars A&E  2008.

This is a good documentary to say where the Harry Potter Kids are from, but I was hoping for something about where they are now.  In this I was disappointed.  I guess I should have realized this from the elongated title; and also from the date the movie came out.  It predates the finish of the Harry Potter series.   However, only Daniel Radcliffe had previous movie acting experience.  He had portrayed the young David Copperfield in a movie made the year previous to harry Potter.  Emma Watson and Rupert Grint had stage experience, at school and community theater, but had never been in movies prior to Harry Potter.  It interviewed each of the three about getting the parts.  Looking back now, these three are the characters, harry Potter, Hermione and Ron Weasley.  So in the end, a good bit of data about how they were cast, and nothing of their life after Harry Potter.

Sunday, June 2, 2019

Martin Handcart Company: Meeting of the Minds and Handcart Rescue Reenactment

  • Meeting of the Minds
    Brother Martin: Gather Round, please gather round, I have something to say to everyone
    Couple other men help everyone gather, Gather round, hurry etc.
    Brother Martin: As you know, the winter has set in early this year. I have never seen this much snow this early on the mountain passes. We
    still have hundreds of miles to reach the Valley. Are efforts to travel have only yielded a mile or so a day. You are all aware that we have
    already reduced rations greatly. Even at that, our rations will run out in the next couple days. Our hopes of rescue become more slim each
    day. I think it is time that we all contemplate our fate, and that everyone take these next few days to prepare to meet their God. There is
    really nothing more I can say.
    Reactions from all, groans, wailing, etc.
    Sister Poole as ____: I have been pulling that cart all this way. If I am going to meet my God, I am going to do so clean. It has been too
    long since I had a good bath, and the river is only down this hill. My clothes are tattered and I can't help that, but I can do something about
    my body. If I must meet God, I am going to do so clean! (She exits towards the river.)
    Sister Jackson (enters sort of dreamy eyed and approaches the two men who were helping to organize the meeting.)
    Man 1: Sister Jackson, what is it, do you know something?
    Sister Jackson: I know we are to be rescued today.
    Man 1: How could you know that?
    Sister Jackson: My Aaron told me so.
    Man 2: You mean you husband who passed away a couple nights ago.
    Sister Jackson: Yes, Aaron visited me in my dreams last night and told me we were to be rescued today.
    Man 1: Let us hope it is so. (Sister Jackson exits)
    Man 2: Some of the women have been off their kilter since going through the river a few days ago. Let’s hope that Sister Jackson regains
    her senses shortly.
    Woman 1: I must be dreaming, but I thought I saw a blue angel there in the distance.
    Man 2: Not you too!
    Man 1: No look, that is no angel, but it is a rider, and look there are two more riders with him.
    Man 2: What? I can't believe it.
    All: (congregate) "We are saved, we are saved etc.
    Woman 1: Are you an angel?
    Rescuer: No, but we are good strong young man sent from the Valley to help get you in. There are 10 wagons of provisions only a couple
    days march at Devil’s Gate.
    Sister Poole (reenters after her bath and sees the excitement.) What is it? What is all this commotion?
    Man 1: Look, there are three boys from the valley. We are saved!
    Sister Poole: We are saved.
    (If possible three riders on horses could enter)
    end