Born as Herman Webster Mudgett in 1861 be would grow up to be one of the first known serial killers in the United States under the alias of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes. The exact number of victims is unknown but is thought to be in the hundreds. There were also ties to murders on another continent.
It is unknown when he took his first victim but still as Mudgett he enrolled in the University of Michigan Medical School with the intent on making himself a more efficient killer. He graduated in 1884. While still in school he mastered the scheme of stealing bodies from the university laboratory and collected money from insurance policies he had taken out on them. Collecting insurance on his future victims became a steady source of income.
He moved to Chicago to to take advantage of his medical knowledge by pursuing a career in pharmaceuticals. He adopted his alias commonly referred to as H. H. Holmes and entered into ventures both legal and not. He made his money in real estate, business and murder. He started to work at a drugstore in Chicago and eventually became sole proprietor after the owner disappeared. Murder turned profitable as he started to sell the skeletons and organs of his victims to universities around the country.
He amassed great wealth and used it to purchase the property across the street from the drugstore and he started building a massive three story, block long hotel. There was an evil plan at unfolding. Holmes knew that Chicago would host the 1893 World's Fair just blocks from his location and he would have it completed by then. Each week he had a different construction crew so no one knew the true lay out of the hotel. The neighbors called it a castle but it would later be adjusted to the "Murder Castle". He put the finishing touch on the outside by naming it World's Fair Hotel.
There were gas lines running to each bedroom where he could asphyxiate them at whim. He also had a sound proof vault next to an office he had on premises where he could suffocate other victims. A hidden chute went from many of the rooms directly to the basement. There was a torture room in the basement complete with a stretching rack. The basement also had two giant furnaces and pits of acid.
The 1893 World's Fair offered him many victims with people from out of town looking for a place to stay. He continued his insurance scheme by having people sign life insurance policies as they checked in. Holmes collected insurance policies and sold the skeletons and organs of some victims.
A glass bending factory on the other side of town was also owned by Holmes although it was never used for that purpose. While not close to his hotel it was near an apartment he had rented for a mistress Minnie Williams whose personal belongings were found in the factory. Mudgett\Holmes had been married three times but never officially divorced any of them. Police also discovered that Holmes had owned and operated a Fruit and Grocery Store near there under the alias of Frank Wilde.
There is also evidence that Holmes may also have been the infamous Jack the Ripper. He was in London at the time trying to sell a skeleton to the local universities. He possessed the medical knowledge that the Ripper would have had. His handwriting was a near perfect match to the letters that the Ripper sent to the police.
It was his murder and insurance claim pattern that did him in. Holmes had come up with a plan where his longtime associate Benjamin Pitezel would fake his own death and Pitezel and his wife would collect the insurance and split it with Holmes. Holmes ended up killing Pitezel and collected the money himself. Later Holmes killed three of Pitezel's children and when he went to claim the money he was arrested. It was at that time that Chicago Police went to the Murder Castle in July 1895 and discovered the horrors there. The building burned to the ground on August 19, 1895. He was put to death by hanging on May 7, 1896.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Bloodless 34 Hour Battle at Fort Sumter
South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860. United States Major Robert Anderson and his 85 soldiers suddenly found themselves behind enemy lines in a foreign land. Fearing for the safety of his men he moved them Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. Fort Moultrie was in a more vulnerable position at the mouth of Charleston Harbor while Fort Sumter was in the middle of the harbor.
By inauguration day March 4, 1861 Anderson reported that they only had a six week supply of food left. A previous attempt to send a to send supplies on January 9, 1861 by order of President James Buchanan on the merchant ship Star of the West was thwarted when the ship was fired upon. There was an initial warning shot across the bow before three shots hit the ship. The damage was not major but the ship's captain John McGowan deemed it too dangerous to continue and abandoned the mission.
The Confederates were also making it known that his force was not welcome. Several other Federal forts in seceded states had already been seized by respective state troops. All other federal federal properties had already been seized within South Carolina except Fort Sumner.
President Abraham Lincoln made another attempt to supply Fort Sumter. He notified South Carolina Governor Francis W Pickens on April 6 that supply ships were being sent. The notification was made directly to the Governor rather than the Confederate government because he did not recognize it. A fleet of ships under the command of Gustavus V. Fox. The ships included the USS Pawnee, the USS Powhatan, the USS Pocahontas, the cutter Harriet Lane, the steamer Baltic which was transporting 200 troops and three tug boats. The supply ship would carry the supplies to the fort while the warships remained outside the harbor. President Lincoln figured if his ship was fired upon first the Confederacy would be the aggressor and he could rally support from the other states.
In reaction the Confederates knew they had to act before the ships arrived and General P.G.T. Beauregard who was the Confederate commander at Charleston was ordered to demand evacuation of Fort Sumter or to force its evacuation. The request to surrender the Fort was made on April 11 but refused. The Harriet Lane arrived the evening of April 11.
The first mortar round was fired by the Confederacy on Fort Sumter at 4:30am on April 12. It was the start of 34 continuous hours of bombardment. Major Anderson held return fire because their supplies were low and at 7am allowed his second in command Captain Abner Doubleday the honor of firing the first shot in defense of the Fort. To conserve ammunition the return of fire was sporadic. Shells were bursting all around the Fort and some walls crashed down. But Anderson had chosen not to utilize some of the mounted guns so not to put his men in harm's way.
Fox arrived on the April 12 on the Baltic but most of the rest of the fleet did not arrive until hours later. Landing craft were sent toward the Fort but had to turn back due to artillery fire. The next day the choppy waves in the sea made it too difficult to load the small boats for another attempt and Fox postponed with the hope Anderson could hold the Fort until dark on the 13th.
At 1pm on April 13 Confederate Colonel Louis Wigfall, a former U.S Senator approached the Fort and asked Anderson if they were ready to evacuate. Nearly out of ammunition and food with his men hungry and exhausted Anderson agreed to a truce at 2pm. The Fort had endured over 3000 shells and Anderson had no casualties or wounded. The confederacy made the same claim.
The terms of the surrender allowed Anderson to make a 100 gun salute to the U.S. flag before he and his men would evacuate. However they were only half way through before an accident caused an explosion killing one man immediately, mortally wounding another and left four others seriously wounded. Anderson and his men marched out of the Fort and boarded a Confederate steamer that took them out to the Baltic where Fox awaited. Anderson took the Fort Sumter flag with him on the trip north.
American Civil War page
By inauguration day March 4, 1861 Anderson reported that they only had a six week supply of food left. A previous attempt to send a to send supplies on January 9, 1861 by order of President James Buchanan on the merchant ship Star of the West was thwarted when the ship was fired upon. There was an initial warning shot across the bow before three shots hit the ship. The damage was not major but the ship's captain John McGowan deemed it too dangerous to continue and abandoned the mission.
The Confederates were also making it known that his force was not welcome. Several other Federal forts in seceded states had already been seized by respective state troops. All other federal federal properties had already been seized within South Carolina except Fort Sumner.
President Abraham Lincoln made another attempt to supply Fort Sumter. He notified South Carolina Governor Francis W Pickens on April 6 that supply ships were being sent. The notification was made directly to the Governor rather than the Confederate government because he did not recognize it. A fleet of ships under the command of Gustavus V. Fox. The ships included the USS Pawnee, the USS Powhatan, the USS Pocahontas, the cutter Harriet Lane, the steamer Baltic which was transporting 200 troops and three tug boats. The supply ship would carry the supplies to the fort while the warships remained outside the harbor. President Lincoln figured if his ship was fired upon first the Confederacy would be the aggressor and he could rally support from the other states.
In reaction the Confederates knew they had to act before the ships arrived and General P.G.T. Beauregard who was the Confederate commander at Charleston was ordered to demand evacuation of Fort Sumter or to force its evacuation. The request to surrender the Fort was made on April 11 but refused. The Harriet Lane arrived the evening of April 11.
The first mortar round was fired by the Confederacy on Fort Sumter at 4:30am on April 12. It was the start of 34 continuous hours of bombardment. Major Anderson held return fire because their supplies were low and at 7am allowed his second in command Captain Abner Doubleday the honor of firing the first shot in defense of the Fort. To conserve ammunition the return of fire was sporadic. Shells were bursting all around the Fort and some walls crashed down. But Anderson had chosen not to utilize some of the mounted guns so not to put his men in harm's way.
Fox arrived on the April 12 on the Baltic but most of the rest of the fleet did not arrive until hours later. Landing craft were sent toward the Fort but had to turn back due to artillery fire. The next day the choppy waves in the sea made it too difficult to load the small boats for another attempt and Fox postponed with the hope Anderson could hold the Fort until dark on the 13th.
At 1pm on April 13 Confederate Colonel Louis Wigfall, a former U.S Senator approached the Fort and asked Anderson if they were ready to evacuate. Nearly out of ammunition and food with his men hungry and exhausted Anderson agreed to a truce at 2pm. The Fort had endured over 3000 shells and Anderson had no casualties or wounded. The confederacy made the same claim.
The terms of the surrender allowed Anderson to make a 100 gun salute to the U.S. flag before he and his men would evacuate. However they were only half way through before an accident caused an explosion killing one man immediately, mortally wounding another and left four others seriously wounded. Anderson and his men marched out of the Fort and boarded a Confederate steamer that took them out to the Baltic where Fox awaited. Anderson took the Fort Sumter flag with him on the trip north.
American Civil War page
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Queen Nitocris of Egypt
Queen Nitocris was the last ruler of the sixth dynasty in Egypt around 2150 BC. There is currently no archaeological record of her but she was mentioned by Egyptian historian Manetho, Greek historian Herodotus and on the Turin Royal Canon. Her name has also appeared as Neterkare, Neterikare, Nitiqrty and Neitiqerty.
She succeeded Menenre Nemtyemsaf II or Menenre II who was her husband and brother. The reign of Menenre II lasted only one year before he was murdered. Nitocris spent her reign plotting revenge on those that killed her brother. Some speculation was she ruled for 12 years but her reign may have been as short as three years.
The account of her last days by Herodotus tells that she had an underground hall constructed that was connected to the Nile River by a hidden duct. She invited all those she felt were responsible for the death of Menenre II to a great feast. When everyone was seated and eating she ordered the barrier opened and the water from the Nile flowed in and drowned the traitors. She then committed suicide by throwing herself in a room with hot ashes where she suffocated.
Ancient Egypt page
She succeeded Menenre Nemtyemsaf II or Menenre II who was her husband and brother. The reign of Menenre II lasted only one year before he was murdered. Nitocris spent her reign plotting revenge on those that killed her brother. Some speculation was she ruled for 12 years but her reign may have been as short as three years.
The account of her last days by Herodotus tells that she had an underground hall constructed that was connected to the Nile River by a hidden duct. She invited all those she felt were responsible for the death of Menenre II to a great feast. When everyone was seated and eating she ordered the barrier opened and the water from the Nile flowed in and drowned the traitors. She then committed suicide by throwing herself in a room with hot ashes where she suffocated.
Ancient Egypt page
Monday, October 28, 2013
Anicetus Ancient Pirate and Year of Four Emperors
Anicetus was the first recognized pirate in the Roman Empire around 69 AD although piracy had flourished in the Mediterranean earlier around 100 BC. He had been a slave freed under King Polemon II of Pontus and went on to command the Classis Pontica which was the Pontic Royal navy. He lost his command when the country was conquered and converted into a Roman province by Emperor Nero in 63 AD.
The reclassified country was divided into three districts. Pontus Galaticus was in the west which bordered Galatia. Pontus Polemoniacus was in the center and contained the capital Polemonium. Pontus Cappadocicus was in the east and bordered Cappadocia.
Nero died in 68 and a civil war broke out for control. It was also known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Servius Sulpicius Galba was the governor of Hispania Tarraconesis and he was the first successor as Emperor Galba. He quickly became unpopular and was killed by the Praetorian guard which was bribed by Marcus Salvius Otho who soon became Emperor Otho. That was soon challenged by Aulus Vitellius who had been appointed governor of Germania Inferior by Galba just months earlier.
Vitellius was also commander of army of Germania Inferior and sent half its forces toward Italy. At this time Anicetus declared loyalty to Vitellius and led an attack on the city of Trapezus where the Roman fleet was docked. He helped destroy the fleet by setting the ships on fire. He also led an attack on the Roman forces at Colchis another city located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. His efforts helped Vitellius become emperor after Otho committed suicide.
Anticetus sought refuge with the Iberian tribes and continued to be a disruptive force through piracy using a camarae. A camarae was a light weight double ended ship which could be rowed in either direction by 25 to 30 men. Yet the forces of Titus Flavius Vespasianus were quickly gaining power as he gained the supporters of Otho in addition to being declared Emperor first by Egypt and then by Syria. The Roman fleet was rebuilt and was in pursuit of Anticetus.
The forces of Vespasian put down the revolt under the leadership of Virdius Geminus. With a fleet of Liburnian ships they had pursued and overtook Anticetus at the mouth of the Cohibus River. His alliance with the tribesmen quickly dissolved as they turned him over to the Romans who executed him. Vitellius was negotiating his resignation but ended up being killed by Vespasian's troops. The reign of Vitellius had been short but cruel with torture and executions. He was beheaded, his body thown in the Tiber River and his head was paraded around Rome. Vespasian became the fourth emperor of the year 69 AD and he ruled until 79 AD.
pirate page
The reclassified country was divided into three districts. Pontus Galaticus was in the west which bordered Galatia. Pontus Polemoniacus was in the center and contained the capital Polemonium. Pontus Cappadocicus was in the east and bordered Cappadocia.
Nero died in 68 and a civil war broke out for control. It was also known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Servius Sulpicius Galba was the governor of Hispania Tarraconesis and he was the first successor as Emperor Galba. He quickly became unpopular and was killed by the Praetorian guard which was bribed by Marcus Salvius Otho who soon became Emperor Otho. That was soon challenged by Aulus Vitellius who had been appointed governor of Germania Inferior by Galba just months earlier.
Vitellius was also commander of army of Germania Inferior and sent half its forces toward Italy. At this time Anicetus declared loyalty to Vitellius and led an attack on the city of Trapezus where the Roman fleet was docked. He helped destroy the fleet by setting the ships on fire. He also led an attack on the Roman forces at Colchis another city located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. His efforts helped Vitellius become emperor after Otho committed suicide.
Anticetus sought refuge with the Iberian tribes and continued to be a disruptive force through piracy using a camarae. A camarae was a light weight double ended ship which could be rowed in either direction by 25 to 30 men. Yet the forces of Titus Flavius Vespasianus were quickly gaining power as he gained the supporters of Otho in addition to being declared Emperor first by Egypt and then by Syria. The Roman fleet was rebuilt and was in pursuit of Anticetus.
The forces of Vespasian put down the revolt under the leadership of Virdius Geminus. With a fleet of Liburnian ships they had pursued and overtook Anticetus at the mouth of the Cohibus River. His alliance with the tribesmen quickly dissolved as they turned him over to the Romans who executed him. Vitellius was negotiating his resignation but ended up being killed by Vespasian's troops. The reign of Vitellius had been short but cruel with torture and executions. He was beheaded, his body thown in the Tiber River and his head was paraded around Rome. Vespasian became the fourth emperor of the year 69 AD and he ruled until 79 AD.
pirate page
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Mount Tambora eruption of 1815
Mount Tambora is a volcano on the northern edge of the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia that erupted on April 10, 1815 with the deadliest and most powerful eruption of the past 10,000 years. The eruption was a 7 out of 8 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index or VEI scale. The initial death toll at the site of the eruption was 10,000 to 12,000 buried in the lava flows. The total death toll in the aftermath was 60,000 to 100,000. About 32,000 died in the resulting tsunami and thousands more died in the famine in the Northern Hemisphere that was another result of the eruption.
Mount Tambora started having activity in 1812 when steam and ash were expelled and small tremors were created. There was an initial eruption on April 5, 1815 that sent a volcanic column 25 km or 15.5 miles into the air and could be heard over 1000 km or 620 miles away. The historic eruption on April 10 shot rocks, pumice, ash and aerosols to an altitude of 40 to 50 km or 25 to 31 miles. The top of the volcano was destroyed as 30 cubic kilometers were among the debris along with 50 cubic kilometers of magma and the explosion was heard as far away as Sumatra Island which was about 2000 km or 1200 miles away. The ash from the explosion landed as far as 1300 km or 800 miles away on islands including Borneo, Java, Maluku and Sulawesi. Floating islands of pumice as large as 5 km or 3 miles long were encountered afterward and hindered ship navigation up to four years afterward,
The eruption also caused a volcanic winter that caused global temperatures to drop and contributed to the Year Without a Summer in 1816. An aerosol cloud caused by sulfuric acid spewed by Mount Tambora reflected some of the sunlight keeping it from reaching Earth. The effect on the weather led to an agricultural disaster as crops failed and livestock died in North America, Europe and Asia. There were reports of a continuous dry fog over the northeastern United States in the spring and summer of 1816. The crop failures were widespread from the corn crops in New England in America, the wheat, oat and potato crops of Ireland and the rice crops of China. All areas effected encountered famine and economic strife with rising food prices.
Mount Tambora started having activity in 1812 when steam and ash were expelled and small tremors were created. There was an initial eruption on April 5, 1815 that sent a volcanic column 25 km or 15.5 miles into the air and could be heard over 1000 km or 620 miles away. The historic eruption on April 10 shot rocks, pumice, ash and aerosols to an altitude of 40 to 50 km or 25 to 31 miles. The top of the volcano was destroyed as 30 cubic kilometers were among the debris along with 50 cubic kilometers of magma and the explosion was heard as far away as Sumatra Island which was about 2000 km or 1200 miles away. The ash from the explosion landed as far as 1300 km or 800 miles away on islands including Borneo, Java, Maluku and Sulawesi. Floating islands of pumice as large as 5 km or 3 miles long were encountered afterward and hindered ship navigation up to four years afterward,
The eruption also caused a volcanic winter that caused global temperatures to drop and contributed to the Year Without a Summer in 1816. An aerosol cloud caused by sulfuric acid spewed by Mount Tambora reflected some of the sunlight keeping it from reaching Earth. The effect on the weather led to an agricultural disaster as crops failed and livestock died in North America, Europe and Asia. There were reports of a continuous dry fog over the northeastern United States in the spring and summer of 1816. The crop failures were widespread from the corn crops in New England in America, the wheat, oat and potato crops of Ireland and the rice crops of China. All areas effected encountered famine and economic strife with rising food prices.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was on the island of Pharos off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. It was also known as the Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Great Lightouse of Alexandria, the Lightouse of Pharos, The Pharos Lighthouse and Pharos of Alexandria. It was one of the tallest man-made structures in the world for centuries.
Alexandria, Egypt was founded by Alexander the Great of Macedonia in 332 BC and was one of about 70 cities in his empire that he founded and named after himself. He had a mole or stone causeway constructed to unite the island of Pharos with Alexandria nearly a mile away. The area to the east of the mole became a great harbour
Alexander the Great died in 323 BC and his successor was Ptolemy I Soter who commissioned the building of the lighthouse around 290 BC. It took between 12 to 20 years to complete. Ptolemy I Soter died in 283 BC and the construction was completed under his son and successor Ptolemy II Philadelphus.
The structure itself was made of limestone blocks and had three levels. The foundation level was a square 30 meters by 30 meters or about 100 foot by 100 foot while the height was about 75 meters or 246 feet. The middle level was octagonal with each side about 18 meters or 60 feet with a height of 35 meters or 115 feet. The top level was a cylinder which was about 18 meters or 60 feet high including a section for the where a large mirror reflected daylight in the day and they utilized a furnace at night.The interior of the lighthouse had stairs to allow people to reach the beacon area on the top level. A statue of Triton stood at the four corners of the building while a statue of Poseidon was on top of the lighhouse. The total height of the lighthouse was about 118 meters or 390 feet. It was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The basic design was used for the construction of all light houses that followed.
The lighthouse suffered minor damage by an earthquake in 956 AD but had major structural damage by earthquakes in 1303 and 1323. Many of the remaining stones were used in the construction of a fort on the site in 1480 commissioned by Qaitbay the Sultan of Egypt.
Ancient Seven Wonders page
Alexandria, Egypt was founded by Alexander the Great of Macedonia in 332 BC and was one of about 70 cities in his empire that he founded and named after himself. He had a mole or stone causeway constructed to unite the island of Pharos with Alexandria nearly a mile away. The area to the east of the mole became a great harbour
Alexander the Great died in 323 BC and his successor was Ptolemy I Soter who commissioned the building of the lighthouse around 290 BC. It took between 12 to 20 years to complete. Ptolemy I Soter died in 283 BC and the construction was completed under his son and successor Ptolemy II Philadelphus.
The structure itself was made of limestone blocks and had three levels. The foundation level was a square 30 meters by 30 meters or about 100 foot by 100 foot while the height was about 75 meters or 246 feet. The middle level was octagonal with each side about 18 meters or 60 feet with a height of 35 meters or 115 feet. The top level was a cylinder which was about 18 meters or 60 feet high including a section for the where a large mirror reflected daylight in the day and they utilized a furnace at night.The interior of the lighthouse had stairs to allow people to reach the beacon area on the top level. A statue of Triton stood at the four corners of the building while a statue of Poseidon was on top of the lighhouse. The total height of the lighthouse was about 118 meters or 390 feet. It was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The basic design was used for the construction of all light houses that followed.
The lighthouse suffered minor damage by an earthquake in 956 AD but had major structural damage by earthquakes in 1303 and 1323. Many of the remaining stones were used in the construction of a fort on the site in 1480 commissioned by Qaitbay the Sultan of Egypt.
Ancient Seven Wonders page
Friday, October 25, 2013
Templar Knights Early Fund Raising
The original Templar Knights returned to France after spending their initial nine years in Jerusalem ready to expand their organization. They had a powerful supporter of an influential church figure in Bernard of Clairvaux. Bernard was the founder of a Cistercian monestary and was the nephew of one of the founding Templar Knights Andre de Montbard. Bernard championed the cause of the Templars presenting them as a spiritual militia for Christ who were a "new species of knighthood, previously unknown in the secular world". He led a group of leading churchmen at the Council of Troyes where Pope Honorius II recongnized and approved the Order of the Knights Templar in 1129. Bernard was later canonized in 1174 by Pope Alexander III to become Saint Bernard.
With the blessing of Pope Honorius III the Order of the Knights Templar soon became a favorite charity and they entered an impressive fund raising campaign. The Order received donations in the form of money, land and businesses. They also accepted noble born sons into the order to help continue the fight in the Holy Land. The Order received another boost in 1139 when Pope Innocent II issued the Omne Datum Optimum which was a Papal Bull that officialy approved Templar Rule, gave them papal protection, allowed them to keep all spoils gained during Muslim conquest in the Crusades and gave the Order exemption from tithes and taxes.
The Order of the Knights Templar had quickly grown past their impoverished roots often portrayed by two knights riding one horse. They were building a wealthy empire with donated property in France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland and Italy. While part of the fund raising went to supported the training and supporting the Knights for the Crusades other resources were used to build castles, fortresses and churches. Besides the aforementioned countries the Order also built in England, Poland, Croatia, Cyprus, Israel and Syria.
Knights Templar page
With the blessing of Pope Honorius III the Order of the Knights Templar soon became a favorite charity and they entered an impressive fund raising campaign. The Order received donations in the form of money, land and businesses. They also accepted noble born sons into the order to help continue the fight in the Holy Land. The Order received another boost in 1139 when Pope Innocent II issued the Omne Datum Optimum which was a Papal Bull that officialy approved Templar Rule, gave them papal protection, allowed them to keep all spoils gained during Muslim conquest in the Crusades and gave the Order exemption from tithes and taxes.
The Order of the Knights Templar had quickly grown past their impoverished roots often portrayed by two knights riding one horse. They were building a wealthy empire with donated property in France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland and Italy. While part of the fund raising went to supported the training and supporting the Knights for the Crusades other resources were used to build castles, fortresses and churches. Besides the aforementioned countries the Order also built in England, Poland, Croatia, Cyprus, Israel and Syria.
Knights Templar page
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