tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post26070748607025509..comments2024-03-28T15:01:21.285-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Mystery And History--A StoryLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-7637888640753260952014-12-20T10:28:46.188-05:002014-12-20T10:28:46.188-05:00In yet another puzzling turnaround, Leigh, the tra...In yet another puzzling turnaround, Leigh, the traders do discharge their weapons at a village they reach near the end of the narrative. The natives are delighted, but our hero doesn't explain the change of priorities. Perhaps they had just grown to trust their hosts a little more.<br /><br />You are quite right about the making of gunpowder, but the lead was less available...and expensive.David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005457506363262838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-8103483893165106692014-12-19T02:37:32.671-05:002014-12-19T02:37:32.671-05:00Fascinating bit of history, David. There's no ...Fascinating bit of history, David. There's no way of knowing, of course, but I'm curious why they chose not to demonstrate their weapons and if they might have been under orders.<br /><br />I wonder if they might have been short of ammunition. The colony shouldn't have any trouble making black powder (saltpeter, charcoal, sulfur), but lead might be a problem. But that's a wild and unlikely guess.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15806396609699813122014-12-16T15:00:04.768-05:002014-12-16T15:00:04.768-05:00I agree with you, R.T.; it has the makings of a go...I agree with you, R.T.; it has the makings of a good story.<br /><br />Thanks, Eve. Journals and diaries are lots of fun to read and speculate on. I once found a young girl's journal washed up at the tide line in Avalon. After allowing it to dry out, I read it. Like Bogaert's journal she never identified herself, but unlike him, she was very expressive of her feelings. That led me to writing a fiction story that was published in EQMM entitled, "Erin's Journal". <br /><br />Frozen chamber pots, by the way, would rank high on my crises list.David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005457506363262838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-22913479907787664532014-12-16T14:21:54.202-05:002014-12-16T14:21:54.202-05:00What a great post! Old diaries are among my favor...What a great post! Old diaries are among my favorite reading material. And it's surprising how little of the inner life gets recorded in them, at least in the 1700's... "A Midwife's Tale" - the diary of Martha Moore Ballard, with explanations and comments - tells us what she did, but almost never what she felt, even when members of her own family are accused of crime. And then there's James Woodforde, who kept a diary for over 40 years, from 1760-1803. Mostly about food and weather: "The frost this Morning more severe than Yesterday. It froze the Chamber Pots above Stairs." Love them!Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-45916398599898515342014-12-16T11:36:27.754-05:002014-12-16T11:36:27.754-05:00David, sounds like fertile material to create your...David, sounds like fertile material to create your own character and storyline for a short story. Interesting history.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-51797330903746848182014-12-16T10:11:15.768-05:002014-12-16T10:11:15.768-05:00Undeniably fascinating material, Janice and Bradle...Undeniably fascinating material, Janice and Bradley--a bit haunting when you consider the sad ending of his life. Brad, it would appear that he wrote as he went, as it reads in the present tense.<br /><br />Thanks, Joe, that's great info. Who knew? A graphic novel. I will certainly check it out.David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005457506363262838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-39453980116381231252014-12-16T09:59:05.495-05:002014-12-16T09:59:05.495-05:00David,
Since you enjoyed his journal so much, you...David,<br /><br />Since you enjoyed his journal so much, you might enjoying reading the "comic book" version.<br /><br />Seriously.<br /><br />His journals were turned into a graphic novel by artist George O'Connor. I read about it at this NYTimes article a few years ago, in which the artist talked about the kind of research he had to do to get the clothing and other period details correct. (You might need to wait a while for this interactive feature to load, but then you'll be able to see some of the images.)<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/12/28/nyregion/200912-MOHAWK-ILLOS.html<br /><br />The book is here (forgive the Amazon link): http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Mohawk-Country-George-OConnor/dp/1596431067<br /><br />Interesting history.<br /><br />--JoeJoseph D'Agnesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718912272076700465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-12270336154697316332014-12-16T09:26:41.584-05:002014-12-16T09:26:41.584-05:00I agree with Janice that it is fascinating materia...I agree with Janice that it is fascinating material. So many questions to ponder, but I am also intrigued thinking of those moments of recording in his journal. At night by the campfire, perhaps? Uncertainties surrounding him in the environment? To have the presence of mind to recall and record so many details. <br /><br />One wonders what other journals - 'simple' records dutifully recorded by an obedient employee - might be tucked away in cabinets, storage rooms, library shelves that could lend themselves to such eyewitness accounts of history?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-76138679548447635762014-12-16T08:23:05.537-05:002014-12-16T08:23:05.537-05:00Fascinating material- and good illustrations, too....Fascinating material- and good illustrations, too.<br />He would merit a novel.janice lawnoreply@blogger.com