Monthly Archives: October 2025
Being in a hurry is never a real good idea. We see that when people have an accident blowing through a stop light and running into a car in the intersection, or when people find themselves in the midst of a road rage situation, because one driver or the other cut someone off in traffic. Sometimes running late can’t be helped. Things are not always within our control. Nevertheless, rushing to make up for lost time can have dire consequences. On October 22, 1895, at 4:00pm, the engineer of Granville–Paris Express found that out when he overshot the buffer stop at its Gare Montparnasse terminus. The engineer was, trying to make up for lost time, but when the train came into the station, the train was still at a speed that exceeded the safe stopping speed, and then to make matters worse, the railway air brake failed. As the train came into the station, it smashed through the buffer stop, crossed the station concourse, and crashed through the station wall. Then, the locomotive fell onto the Place de Rennes below, landing on its nose. While the passengers survived the crash, a woman on the street, Marie-Augustine Aguillard, was killed by falling debris. 
The train was operated by Chemins de fer de l’Ouest, and featured steam locomotive Number 721 (a type 2-4-0, French notation 120) pulling three luggage vans, a post van, and six passenger coaches. The train left Granville on time at 8:45am, but by 4:00pm, it was running late with 131 passengers onboard. As the train approached the station going 25–37 mph, the driver applied the Westinghouse air brake, but due to the excessive speed, the brake was ineffective. The locomotive brakes alone couldn’t stop the train, which plowed into the buffers, crossed the 98-foot station concourse, broke through a 24-inch-thick wall, and fell 33 feet below onto the Place de Rennes. Marie-Augustine Aguillard was filling in for her newspaper vendor husband, was hit by falling masonry and killed. Two passengers, a fireman, two guards, and a passerby were injured.
Accidents, no matter how major or minor, always have consequences. Someone is at fault, and when death or injury occur because of negligence on the part of the person at fault, someone has to pay the consequences. Of course, nothing can bring back the person killed or take away the injuring that were inflicted, but in the eyes of the law, restitution must be made somehow. In the case of the engineer of the Granville–Paris Express, that restitution came in the form of a two-month prison sentence and a fine of 50 francs for speeding into the station. One of the guards was fined 25 francs as he had been preoccupied with paperwork and failed to apply the handbrake. The railway company settled with the family of the deceased woman and arranged for the education of her two young children, as well as proposing future employment for them. I’m sure that Marie-Augustine Aguillard’s family thought the sentence was too light, but that was the sentence imposed. The reality is that the engineer most likely never really got over the fact that his negligence had caused the loss of Aguillard’s life.
The second major engagement of the Civil War, fought on October 21, 1861, resulted in a devastating defeat for the Union troops. The Battle of Ball’s Bluff in Virginia produced the war’s first martyr and led to the creation of a Congressional committee to monitor the conduct of the war.
Wars can bring changes in command when the losing side is given a new leader. It reminds me of how a losing year in sports can result in a new coach being appointed. Of course, that is very different, I suppose. Nevertheless, following the Battle of Bull Run in Virginia on July 21st, President Abraham Lincoln appointed General George McClellan to reorganize the defeated Federal Army of the Potomac. It was a huge undertaking, and throughout the fall, McClellan focused on assembling and training his troops, while still facing mounting pressure from Lincoln, the public, and Congress to act against the Confederates stationed just across the Potomac River. The army just wasn’t ready, however. Finally giving in to the pressure, McClellan directed General George McCall to 
conduct a reconnaissance mission across the river and instructed General Charles Stone to monitor the nearby town of Leesburg, Virginia, while McCall’s men were on the move.
Then, on the fateful night of October 20th, Stone sent a detachment across the river. It was a disaster. The inexperienced soldiers mistook shadows for a Rebel camp. They were literally freaked out by every shadow. Stone decided to send more men over, eventually amassing a force of 1,600 under Colonel Edward Baker, who was a close friend of Lincoln, and had even named his second son after him. Unfortunately, Baker positioned his men dangerously in a clearing at the edge of Ball’s Bluff, a 100-foot cliff above the Potomac. The men now had their backs to the drop and faced a wooded ridge filling with Confederate troops. The Confederates attacked that afternoon, and Baker’s forces quickly found themselves in trouble. Baker was killed, and many of his men either jumped to their deaths or scrambled down a narrow trail, only to find their boats swamped in the river. Less than half made it back across the Potomac.
It was a disaster. The Union suffered 49 killed, 158 wounded, and 714 missing or captured, while the 
Confederates had 33 killed, 115 wounded, and one missing. Lincoln was devastated by the loss of his friend, Baker, who became a Northern martyr despite his poor leadership in the battle. As often happens in the political arena, angry Republicans who distrusted McClellan, a Democrat, and other generals, blamed them for the loss. In December, the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War was formed, dominated by Republicans who wanted harsher measures against the South and slaveholders. The committee’s first investigation targeted the Ball’s Bluff disaster, making General Stone the scapegoat. He was arrested for treason and jailed for six months for his “crimes.”
The areas of our Earth that exist under the water often hide a treasure trove of vessels, many of which have been there for years. One such vessel has been hailed as the oldest intact shipwreck in the world. During one research expedition, archaeologists discovered the vessel at the bottom of the Black Sea, where it has remained undisturbed for over 2,400 years. Thought to be of ancient Greek origin, the 75-foot ship was found more than a mile underwater, with its mast, rudders, and rowing benches still intact. Researchers credit its remarkable preservation to the lack of oxygen at such depths. Professor Jon Adams, lead researcher for the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project, described the discovery as beyond anything he had imagined, stating it will transform our understanding of ancient shipbuilding and navigation.
The vessel is believed to be a Greek merchant ship, and displays a design previously only observed “on the side of ancient Greek pottery, like the ‘Siren Vase’ housed in the British Museum.” This vase, from a comparable era, illustrates a similar ship carrying Odysseus past the sirens, depicting the epic hero tied to the mast to withstand their enchanting songs. The team has decided to leave the vessel where it was discovered. They did, however, say that a fragment was carbon-dated by the University of Southampton, confirming it as the oldest intact shipwreck ever found. The findings will be presented at the upcoming Black Sea MAP conference at London’s Wellcome Collection. This international team of maritime archaeologists, scientists, and marine surveyors discovered over 60 shipwrecks during their three-year mission to explore the Black Sea’s depths and study the effects of prehistoric sea-level changes.
The photos of the wreck scene are incredible. It’s like taking a look into another world, and in reality, it is. The shipwreck offers fascinating insights into ancient shipbuilding and seafaring techniques, while also challenging earlier beliefs about how durable ancient vessels were and their ability to remain intact for millennia. While it is 
considered the oldest intact shipwreck, this discovery is just one of many prehistoric ruins the team has uncovered at the bottom of the Black Sea. Their findings include a 17th-century Cossack raiding fleet, Roman trading vessels complete with amphorae, and even a fully intact ship from the classical period. It’s amazing what they can find at the bottom of the sea.
My uncle, Jim Richards was a gentle man with a quiet, sweet spirit. He was always soft-spoken, and those who knew him were likely to say that he was a big teddy bear. Nevertheless, he was also a strong man with a fierce sense of responsibility for his family. While he was soft-spoken in life, I know he would have fought to the death, anyone who would have been stupid enough to threaten any part of his family. He was a family man to the end. Uncle Jim lost his dad when he was very young, just nine years old, as a matter of fact, but that didn’t stop him from fulfilling his self-imposed duties to his family, and he never stopped fulfilling those duties.
Uncle Jim was also a friend to all. I don’t think he ever met someone who didn’t become his friend before long. His friends at school all remembered him fondly and always had kind words to say about the man who helped them out on more than one occasion, even making sure they got home safely from a party in which they over indulged. Uncle Jim cared about people, and he was always willing to give 110% to help them out. To say that he would give the shirt off his back, was not an exaggeration, because he most definitely would do just that.
Uncle Jim was a sports fan. He played sports in high school and never lost his love of the game. Whenever my aunt, Sandy Pattan and I went out to their house for visits, you could be sure that you would find Uncle Jim watching a football game. He was a die-hard Broncos fan, and boy, you had better not damage his Broncos shirt. One time, when he had to be rushed to the hospital, the emergency personnel cut his Broncos shirt off of him to give him medical attention. The fact that they saved his life did little to win them points when he found out that they had sliced his prized shirt off of him. He said that there was nothing wrong with that shirt, and it 
didn’t matter that his family would gladly buy him another one. He wanted his shirt back. I suppose he eventually forgave the EMTs, but I’m sure the family knew to “try to make sure” that didn’t happen ever again. While the situation was very serious, it also had a bit of a funny undertone…once he was ok, that is. Today would have been Uncle Jim’s 88th birthday and it’s his first in Heaven. Happy birthday in Heaven, Uncle Jim. We love and miss you very much.
As the old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Thomas Alva Edison might just be proof of the validity of that statement. Born in Milan, Ohio, in 1847, Edison, like most people of that era, had minimal formal education. As a young boy, Edison experienced significant hearing problems, which he mistakenly attributed to an incident where he was lifted onto a moving train by his ears. While that is a shocking event, the problem most likely occurred as a result of having scarlet fever. No matter how it happened, Edison’s hearing loss inspired many of his inventions. At 16, Edison began working as a telegraph operator and soon focused his energy and creativity on improving telegraph technology. By 1869, Edison knew what his life’s work would be, and he dedicated himself entirely to invention, and in 1876, he established a lab and machine shop in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
Edison’s life work was driven by his exceptional intuition. Also, he surrounded himself with skilled assistants who brought the technical expertise he didn’t have. At Menlo Park, Edison continued refining the telegraph and, in 1877, accidentally invented the phonograph while trying to record telephone communications. Public demonstrations of the phonograph made him internationally famous, earning him the nickname “Wizard of Menlo Park.” While his ability to record and play back sound secured his place in history, it was just the beginning. Edison’s inventions weren’t totally dedicated to sound, however. He and his team created the first practical incandescent lightbulb in 1879 and a precursor to the movie camera and projector in the late 1880s. 
Then, in 1887, he founded the world’s first industrial research lab in West Orange, where teams of workers systematically explored various subjects.
One of his most significant contributions to the modern industrial world was his work in electricity. He created a comprehensive electrical distribution system for lighting and power, established the world’s first power plant in New York City, and invented the alkaline battery, the first electric railroad, and many other innovations that formed the foundation of the modern electric era. He was quite dedicated to his work, and continued inventing well into his 80s, amassing 1,093 patents in his lifetime, before passing away at his home in New Jersey on October 18, 1931, at the age of 84.
While I don’t think it is a common excuse, I’m sure there are school children who have used the excuse that “the dog ate my homework” because they didn’t do their homework, or I suppose because it might have been a legitimate excuse. Still, I think that for the most part, the excuse is fake. Either way, it was used in a rather famous instance.
By the spring of 1936, John Steinbeck’s life was looking up. According to Jay Parini’s biography, the success of his 1935 novel Tortilla Flat brought financial stability for Steinbeck and his wife, Carol. That stability allowed them to build a new home in the 
wilderness near Los Gatos, California. At the same time, Steinbeck was deeply involved in a new project called Something That Happened, initially planned as a children’s story but evolving into an experimental piece for reading or performing. However, on May 27, 1936, Steinbeck wrote to his literary agent about a mishap, “My setter pup [Toby], left alone one night, made confetti of about half of my ms. [manuscript] book. Two months’ work to do over again. … There was no other draft.” In those days, while carbon paper had been invented in 1801, Steinbeck apparently didn’t use it. Computers had also been invented, but were not in every household, like they are today, so Steinbeck didn’t use that either. Those facts together, allowed Toby to have access to Steinbecks only copy of his manuscript. Whatever anguish the author initially felt over seeing months of hard work destroyed had clearly softened by the time he wrote the letter. “I was pretty mad, but the poor little fellow may have been acting critically. I didn’t want to 
ruin a good dog for a manuscript I’m not sure is good at all. He only got an ordinary spanking with his punishment flyswatter. But now, there’s the work to do over from the beginning.”
Luckily, Toby’s drastic edits only briefly delayed the story’s progress and Toby was allowed to live. Inspired by his new surroundings, which included a study tailored to his preferences, Steinbeck resumed work on his tale of codependent migrant workers, George and Lennie. He worked tirelessly through revisions and submitted what became Of Mice and Men to his editors in August. That in itself is amazing, but I wonder how much of the story was either slightly or very different than the original. Though Steinbeck initially had modest expectations for the novella, its publication in February 1937 was met with critical and commercial success, allowing the now-famous author, his wife, and Toby to enjoy the finest dining experiences in the days that followed. So, did the story of the dog eating the novel simply buy time for the author, or was it real. I suppose we will never know for sure.
In October 1859, a man named John Brown led a group of armed abolitionists in an attack on the US military arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Harpers Ferry used to be a part of Virginia, but it is now located in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers meet, hence the need for a ferry. The raid was meant to be the first step in a detailed plan to create an independent refuge for freed slaves in the mountains of Maryland and Virginia. It didn’t exactly end up that way. During the raid, Brown was captured. He was then convicted of treason and hanged. It was thought that the worst of the uprising might be over, but the raid actually heightened fears of slave uprisings among the white Southerners and escalated the growing tension between the Northern and Southern states which led up to the American Civil War that raged between 1861 and 1865.
John Brown was born in Connecticut in 1800 and raised in Ohio. He came from a staunchly Calvinist and anti-slavery family. Brown spent much of his life struggling with failed businesses, finally declaring bankruptcy in his early 40s and facing over 20 lawsuits. However, in 1837, his life took a drastic turn when he attended an abolition meeting in Cleveland. Brown was deeply inspired, and he pledged to dedicate himself to ending slavery. By 1848, Brown was launching plans to spark an insurrection.
In the 1850s, Brown took five of his sons to join the fight against pro-slavery forces in Kansas in the battle for 
the territory. After pro-slavery men attacked the abolitionist town of Lawrence on May 21, 1856, Brown sought revenge. A few days later, he and his sons set out to raid cabins along Pottawatomie Creek, killing five men with broadswords and sparking a summer of guerrilla warfare in the area. One of Brown’s sons lost his life during the conflict.
The death of his son only served to further anger Brown, and by 1857, he returned to the East and began raising money to carry out his vision of a mass uprising of slaves. Even with the loss of his son, Brown secured the backing of six prominent abolitionists, known as the “Secret Six.” They assembled an invasion force, and his “army” quickly grew to include more than 20 men. Several black men joined Brown and three of his sons. The group rented a Maryland farm near Harpers Ferry and began to prepare for the assault.
On the night of October 16, 1859, Brown and his group seized the federal arsenal. Some of his men took several hostages, including a few enslaved individuals. News of the raid spread quickly, and by the next day, Brown and his men were surrounded. On October 18, US Marines, led by Colonel Robert E Lee and Lieutenant J 
E B Stuart, stormed the arsenal. Brown was wounded and captured, while 10 of his men, including two of his sons, were killed. Brown was tried for treason and murder in Virginia. He was found guilty on November 2nd. The 59-year-old abolitionist was executed on December 2, 1859. Before his execution, he gave his guard a note that read, “I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood.” The raid definitely failed, but it served to heighten tensions between the North and South and influence the 1860 presidential election. It also proved that further compromise was impossible and became a key factor leading to the Civil War.
On October 14, 1918, during the fighting in the Ypres Salient in Belgium, then Corporal Adolf Hitler was among the Germans who were wounded. Temporarily blinded by a British gas shell, he was evacuated to a military hospital in Pasewalk, Pomerania. Young Hitler was initially drafted for Austrian military service but was rejected as not physically fit. While living in Munich at the start of World War I in 1914, he sought out and received special permission to enlist as a German soldier. As part of the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment, Hitler went to France in October 1914. There, he saw heavy action during the First Battle of Ypres, and he earned the Iron Cross that December for rescuing a wounded comrade.
Over the next two years, Hitler participated in some of the war’s fiercest battles, including Neuve Chapelle, the Second Battle of Ypres, and the Somme. On October 7, 1916, near Bapaume, France, a shell blast wounded his leg. After recovering near Berlin, he rejoined his unit by February 1917. Hans Mend, a comrade of Hitler’s, described his deep contemplation and fiery speeches on the declining morale and dedication to the cause in Germany by saying, “He sat in the corner of our mess holding his head between his hands in deep contemplation. Suddenly, he would leap up, and running about excitedly, say that in spite of our big guns victory would be denied us, for the invisible foes of the German people were a greater danger than the biggest cannon of the enemy.” In hindsight, I think they might have noticed the crazed dictator we now know to be Hitler.
In the following year, Hitler earned more citations for bravery, including an Iron Cross 1st Class in August 1918 for “personal bravery and general merit” after single-handedly capturing a group of French soldiers hiding in a shell hole during the final German offensive on the Western Front. He seemed the perfect leader for Germany, and many people were taken in. Hitler was actually voted into office, before he went rogue and became a dictator.
My great grandson, Justin Petersen is the oldest child of my grandson, Josh Petersen and his wife, Athena, three and soon-to-be four sons. Justin is also an Irish Twin with his younger brother Axel. They don’t know that, of course, but someday they will think it is a cool thing. That is also something the boys share with their grandma, my older daughter Corrie Petersen and her sister, their Aunty Amy Royce, who is my younger daughter, who are also Irish Twins. My girls always thought it was a fun thing to be Irish Twins.
Justin loves to look out the window and see what animals might be out there. He also wants to know what every sound is that goes on in the house or outside. He has excellent hearing, and often hears sounds before I do…odd, because I have excellent hearing too. He especially loves train sounds, and dinosaur sounds. He doesn’t like monsters, but doesn’t consider dinosaurs to be monsters…even though they growl. He doesn’t think of zombies as monsters either, which is totally odd, but there you have it. 
Justin is an energetic boy with a really sweet heart. He loves his mommy and daddy so much and doesn’t like to be away from them for very long. His brothers are his best friends. He really loves helping with their care…well, with Cristian’s care anyway. With Axel, its rowdy playtime. They climb on each other and wrestle around. They are “all boy” boys. But, when it comes to Cristian, Justin wants to be the helper. He likes to bring him toys and feed him his bottle, bring the diapers and wipes, and anything else his parents or grandparents might need to take care of the baby. Justin likes being the “helper big brother” very much…that and hugging Cristian.
Justin has a hilarious sense of humor and a laugh that is contagious. When he laughs, his brown eyes just light 
up. He always finds something to laugh about, and he is a big teaser. He is also a boy who loves to say, “I love you!!” and to give kisses to those he loves. I have been so blessed to be one of those people. Just yesterday he said, “GiGi, I love you so much!!” It melted my heart. I can’t believe how quickly the years have flown by. Today is Justin’s 3rd birthday. Happy 3rd birthday Justin!! Have a great day!! I love you so much!!
My nephew, Ryan Hadlock and his dad, Chris Hadlock have always been very close. They both like the same things, and if Chris needs help with a project, you can be sure that Ryan will be there to help any time Chris asks, whether the project is big or small. This year the two Hadlock families went camping in the Black Hills. Ryan, his wife, Chelsea and daughter, Aurora, minus their son Ethan, who had to work, unfortunately. Ryan’s family, as well as his dad and mom, Allyn Hadlock rode the 1880 train and also made time to go golfing at Rocky Knoll golf course in Custer, South Dakota. It was a great opportunity for them to do some relaxing together instead of all the work over the past couple of years! They had been working very hard on his parents’ place, and Ryan was a big help in all that work.
Ryan was an usher in his sister, Kellie’s wedding to new brother-in-law, Tim Thompson and was also a big help doing extra things for us during the busyness of the wedding day, always adding a funny brotherly comment!
Chris has made it a tradition to take Ryan to a Bronco game for his birthday each year, but since it was on a 
Monday this year, Allyn and Chelsea went too. The sporting events they have attended this year have been a great source of enjoyment for the whole family, because in addition to the Broncos games, they attend the home games of the Wyoming Cowboys too. Partly because Ryan’s brother-in-law, Shannon Moore is coach and so they get to see his sister Lindsay and niece, Mackenzie, but because they love football too, and so every opportunity to go is a must.
His wife, Chelsea says, “Ryan is the most amazing man! He’s a great father to the kids, always there to help and give advice. He’s a great husband, kind, loving and encouraging. He’s a wonderful boss, treating all his employees fairly and encouraging them. He is great man of the Lord, and a good example to everyone who knows him. He has been enjoying practicing guitar with Aurora, helping Ethan with his truck, and going to a ton of sporting events.” His mom, Allyn adds, He is thriving at work as a foreman and all his employees really enjoy working for and with him. He is the type of boss who is very knowledgeable and yet doesn’t mind jumping in to help when needed. The Lord has blessed him with the ability to be a great asset to the company!! He loves his family and loves the Lord! Bringing them to church and being a great example of a true man of God!!”
His sister, Lindsay says, That’s the question of the day! The only brother is a world of women. He is funny, sarcastic and kind. We love getting to spend time with Ryan while we camp, during football season and when we go to Casper. He’s grown in His walk with the Lord, and I love to see it! He is a great uncle…not like a great-uncle, but a “great” uncle. And he loves our dog, Brinkley the most of all the dogs!” Ryan is truly a blessing to all his family. Today is Ryan’s birthday!! Happy birthday Ryan!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
