Crush, Texas - a Town for One Day

One of my favorite tasks as a writer is going on research trips and discovering interesting tidbits of history. While researching End of the Trail, the final book in the Texas Trails series, I learned about a unique historical event called “The Crash at Crush." It's the brainchild of George William Crush, a passenger agent of  the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railroad, also known as “the Katy.”

In an effort to better promote their railroad, Katy officials agreed to Crush’s unusual suggestion of crashing two retired train engines. The locomotives, Old No. 999, painted bright green, and Old No. 1001, painted a vibrant red, were displayed prominently during tours throughout the state and the “Monster Crash” was advertised all the summer of 1896. The event was free, with the exception of the train fare to deliver attendees to Crush, which cost $2 for a ticket from anywhere within the state.

George Crush chose a shallow valley fifteen miles north of Waco for the location, and in early September, five hundred workmen laid four miles of track afor the collision run, built a grandstand for attendees, three speaker's stands, two telegraph offices, a stand for reporters, and a bandstand. A restaurant was set up in a borrowed Ringling Brothers circus tent, and a huge carnival midway with dozens of medicine shows, game booths, and lemonade and soft-drink stands were built. Lastly, a special depot with a platform 2,100 feet long was constructed along with a painted sign, informing passengers that they had arrived at Crush, Texas.

Twenty thousand people were expected, but by early afternoon on September 15, somewhere between 40-50,000 had arrived. At 5:00 P.M., engines No. 999 and 1001 backed off to opposite ends of the four-mile track. George Crush trotted a white horse to the center of the track and raised his white hat. After a long pause, he whipped it sharply down. 

A huge cheer rose from the crowd, and the locomotives lunged forward, whistles shrieking as they barreled toward each other at a speed of 45 mph. In a thunderous, grinding crash, the trains collided. The two locomotives reared up like wild stallions as they rammed together. Contrary to predictions, both boilers shattered, filling the air with hot steam, smoke, and pieces of flying metal. Spectators turned and ran in blind panic. In the end, several people were killed and at least six others were injured seriously by the flying debris.

The wreckage was toted away, with souvenir hunters claiming pieces of the debris, booths and tent were removed, and by nightfall, Crush, Texas ceased to exist. The Katy railroad settled all claims against it, and George Crush was fired that same day, although he was rehired the next day and worked for the Katy railroad until he retired. Here’s a link to a You Tube video of the crash: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL5i_ZBzYk0  

I hope you enjoyed the story of the Crash at Crush. What’s the most interesting historical event you’ve read about?

Now available: Heart of a Cowboy, a collection of four novellas by best-selling Christian fiction authors.

The Hand-Me-Down Husband
By Vickie McDonough

Ellen Stewart despises Lance Garrett. If not for him dashing into Isabelle’s life and stealing her heart and filling her head with his dreams, her little sister would still be alive and safe at home. When she receives Lance’s letter requesting help, Ellen rushes to Silver Springs, intent on taking charge of her young niece. A rugged ranch is no place for a motherless baby. But when she realizes the depth of Lance’s grief, she can’t leave him alone. Though everything within her wants to flee back to the big city, something makes her stay. Tessa needs her father, for one—and he needs her. Ellen knows what it’s like to lose all she’d dreamed of. When local church members make a stink about Ellen living at Lance’s ranch, they are forced to marry. Ellen didn’t want a hand-me-down husband, but could their marriage be God’s will for them both?

Vickie McDonough is an award-winning author of 45 books and novellas. Her novels include the fun and feisty Texas Boardinghouse Brides series and the 3rd & 6th books in the Texas Trails series, the Pioneer Promises series, and her most recent: The Land Rush Dreams series. To learn more about Vickie or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com

Fall In Love with a Good Book -- Written by our HHH Bloggers

Five HHH Bloggers have stories in The Cowboy's Bride Collection!

Sojourner Truth - Champion of Rights for All

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

 

Sojourner Truth was born a slave who lived a life of purpose as an abolitionist and women’s rights activist. She was the first black woman to successfully petition the courts to free her son from slavery. She is most famous for her speech, “Ain’t I a Woman” at an Ohio woman’s rights convention in 1851 and devoted her life to serve God, end slavery, and gain rights for African Americans and women.

She was born Isabella Baumfree, the slave of a Dutch man, Colonel Hardenbergh, in Swartkill, New York in 1797. Her father, James Baumfree, was a slave captured in Guinea. Her mother, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Guinea slaves. She was one of 12 children. That area of New York was control by the Dutch at the time of her birth, and everyone in the household spoke Dutch, including Isabella.

After Colonel Hardenbergh’s death, ownership of the Baumfrees went to his son Charles. Charles died in 1806, and the family was separated at a slave auction. Nine-year-old Isabella was sold with a flock of sheep for $100. Her new owner, John Neely, was a violent man. She was sold two more times within two years and finally ended up as the property of John Dumont in West Park, New York. Isabella learned to speak English during this time.

In 1815, Isabella entered a relationship with a slave named Robert from a neighboring farm. They had a daughter, Diana, but Robert’s owner forbade the him from seeing Isabella, and they never saw each other again. In 1817, Dumont forced Isabella to marry an older slave on the farm named Thomas. Together they had a son, Peter, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Sophia.

In late 1826, Isabella escaped to freedom with her infant daughter, Sophia. Her other children stayed behind. She made her way to the home of Issac and Maria Van Wagener, a Quaker couple who bought her from Dumont and freed her. It was during this time, Isabella gave her life to Christ stating God showed her in a vision.

In 1827, all slaves in New York were emancipated. At this point, Isabella found out that her son Peter had been illegally sold to a man in Alabama. She petitioned the court and won, the first time a black woman successfully challenged a white man in court. Peter was returned to her from the South.

Isabella moved to New York City with her son Peter in 1829. She worked as a housekeeper for Christian evangelist Elijah Pierson. During this time, her doctrine became confused, and she became a housekeeper of a cult leader known as Prophet Matthias. Shortly later, Elijah Pierson died, Matthias was accused of poisoning him. She also joined the Millerites who predicted Christ would return in 1843.

In 1939, Isabella’s son Peter took a job on a whaling ship called the Zone of Nantucket. She received three letters for Peter in 1840 and 1841. When the ship returned in 1842, Peter wasn’t on board. She never heard from him again.

Isabella was devastated by her son’s loss and the Millerite prediction that didn’t come true. In 1843, she sought God. Wanting to make a fresh start, she asked God for a new name. In a vision, God gave her the name Sojourner . She later said it was "because I was to travel up an' down the land, showin' the people their sins, an' bein' a sign unto them." She asked God for a second name "'cause everybody else had two names; and the Lord gave me Truth, because I was to declare the truth to the people." She became a Methodist and declared her new name on June 1, 1843 saying, "The Spirit calls me, and I must go." At this point she began to travel and preached about the abolition of slavery.

She joined the Northampton Association of Education and Industry, an organization the supported women’s rights, abolition, and pacifism. During this time she met famous abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass and David Ruggles. In 1850, Sojourner dictated her memoirs to Olive Gilbert and they were published by William Lloyd Garrison as The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave. The notoriety left her open to attacks. She was once told the building she was to speak in would be burned if she preached, and she replied, "Then I will speak to the ashes." Another time, she was physically assaulted by a mob and had to walk with a cane for the rest of her life.

Sojourner began touring regularly with abolitionist George Thompson speaking to large crowds on the subjects of slavery and human rights. She was one of several escaped slaves, along with Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, to rise to prominence as an abolitionist leader and a testament to the humanity of enslaved people.

In May of 1851, Sojourner delivered her most famous speech to the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron. She continued to tour Ohio with Robinson to publicize the antislavery movement in the state. She also brought controversy by preaching about women’s rights.

During the Civil War, Sojourner Truth helped recruit black troops for the Union Army. She encouraged her grandson, James Caldwell, to enlist in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. In 1864, Sojourner was also called to Washington, D.C., to contribute to the National Freedman's Relief Association. Sojourner met more than once with President Abraham Lincoln about her experiences. In 1865, she tried to force desegregation on Washington streetcars by riding in the cars designated for whites. After the war, she tried unsuccessfully to secure land grants from the government for former slaves arguing the property ownership would free them from servitude of wealthy landowners.

Sojourner continued to speak about women’s rights, universal suffrage, and prison reform until the day she died. She died at her home in Battle Creek, Michigan, on November 26, 1883. She is buried alongside her family at Battle Creek's Oak Hill Cemetery. She is known as one of the greatest abolitionists and champion of right for all in the 19th century. Her unwavering faith in God is what fueled her passion despite the obstacles.

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She has received 2^nd place in the NOCW contest, 3^rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest. 

Her novellas Soldier’s Heart and A Christmas Promise are available on Amazon. Her novella Resurrection of Hope will be released in July.

Tidbits About Chocolate

Years ago I did some research on the history of Chocolate, primarily because I question myself as to whether or not my 19th Century characters would have the confection we know as chocolate. Today I'm sharing some of these tidbits with all of you and I hope you enjoy them.

When Columbus came to the Americas he discovered the local chocolate drink. However it was not sweetened and the cocoa beans he brought back to King Ferdinand was overlook by the other items he returned to the Old World with.

1519 When Cortés came to Mexico he tasted the hot chocolate drink. The Cocao beans were grounded into a paste, mixed with spices including vanilla and then honey was added.

1615 This drink then went back to Spain and was enjoyed by the royal court. The ingredients of this secret beverage was hidden from all and became the drink of the court. History has it that when the Spanish Princess Maria Theresa was betrothed to Louis XIV of France, she gave her fiancé an engagement gift of chocolate, packaged in an elegantly ornate chest. Their marriage was symbolic of the marriage of chocolate in the Spanish-Franco culture. Some record the movement from Spain to France was in 1606 but personally I like the romantic story.

From there it quickly moved out of the royal courts.

1657 "Chocolate Houses" began to open in London. In much the same way that we have Coffee shops today.

1674 It was introduced in rolls and cakes.

1730 the Duke of Alba brought it into the low country as he traveled about and that dropped the price to $3 per pound. Prior to that cocoa beans were traded almost as high as gold through out different times in history.

1828 the cocoa press was invented squeezing out some of the cocoa butter giving it a smoother consistency. Cocoa Powder was also introduced through this process.

1849 Cadbury Brothers displayed eating chocolate in 1849 at an exhibition in Bingley Hall at Birmingham, England.

1851 Cocoa was introduced to the United States on Prince Albert's Expedition. Yet, chocolate wasn't really accepted by the American colonists until fishermen from Gloucester, Massachusetts, accepted cocoa beans as payment for cargo in tropical America.

For the most part Cocoa was a drink for the men. In the 17th Century it was introduced to Children.

1876 Daniel Peter of Vevey, Switzerland, experimented for eight years before finally inventing a means of making milk chocolate for eating. He brought his creation to a Swiss firm that today is the world's largest producer of chocolate: Nestle.

1879 Rodolphe Lindt of Berne, Switzerland, produced chocolate that melted on the tongue. He invented "conching," a means of heating and rolling chocolate to refine it.

1913 Swiss confiseur Jules Sechaud of Montreux introduced a process for manufacturing filled chocolates.


Lynn A. Coleman is an award winning & best-selling author who makes her home in Keystone Heights, Florida, with her husband of 42 years. Lynn's latest novel "The Shepherd's Betrothal" is the third book in her Historical St. Augustine, FL. series.

Check out her 19th Century Historical Tidbits Blog if you like exploring different tidbits of history.

Winged Flight

by Linda Farmer Harris

Yesterday I watched an eagle swoop down in our horse pasture, pick up a prairie dog, and carry it off. I was thrilled to see one less herbivorous burrowing rodent making holes in the pastures and preventing me from growing domestic grapevines.

Then Jerry asked if it was a Bald Eagle or a Golden Eagle. Both hunt on our meadow and along the valley. Hmmm.

Bald Eagle — Courtesy of Alice Leurck, 2013

Golden Eagle — Courtesy of Hope Rutledge

Our exterminator was a Golden Eagle. That made me wonder about the differences between the two eagles. I was surprised to discover that they are not closely related. 


Our national bird, the American Bald Eagle is in the family of sea or fishing eagles. The "bald" really does refer to the bald eagle's head. Their scientific name is Haliaeetus leucocephalus, that signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. The word "bald" at one time meant "white" not hairless. As of 2007, the American bald eagle is off the Department of Interior's Federal List of Endangered and Threatened. They are still protected under the 2007 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

The Golden Eagle is claimed by the hawk family that includes the Red-tailed Hawk, kites, and old-world vultures. Their well-feathered legs and feet are adapted for catching prey on the ground.

The Golden Eagle's scientific name is Aquila chrysaetos. If I described one of my story characters as having an "aquiline" nose (also called a Roman nose), I would mean the person's nose reminded me of an eagle's beak. Can you imagine a villain with hard, penetrating aquiline eyes?

Golden Eagle photo courtesy of Murdo Macleod

Golden Eagles can live in very arid habitats with no water for miles, while Bald Eagles are usually found near water. We have the Yellow Jacket Creek running through our property and the Piedra River less than three miles east, plus Lake Capote a few miles farther. Both have plenty of territory in which to thrive.

Seeing the eagle reminded me of the 1851 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "The Eagle." (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174589)

     He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
     Close to the sun in lonely lands,
     Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.

     The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; 
     He watches from his mountain walls,
     And like a thunderbolt he falls.

Golden Eagles usually nest on cliffs, or sometimes in large trees. We are ringed by the San Juan Mountains and the new Chimney Rock Monument overlooks our valley. Lots of Ponderosa Pines, Douglas Fir, Colorado Spruce, subalpine fir, and cliffs to choose from.

Today we saw a Peregrine Falcon circling overhead across the two pastures. He (gender assumption) flew over the creek and up to the high meadow.

They also nest in rock outcrops and on high ledges of Chimney Rock. Most eyries (nest sites) are within a mile of water.

Peregrine Falcon - Courtesy of Audubon Field Guide

Are you ever too old to take up falconry? That is one of the things on my bucket list - explore falconry. The peregrine is a favorite hunting bird among falconers because of its power, speed, and inherent docility make it the easiest of all hunting bird to train.

You can explore the Colorado Chimney Rock National Monument http://www.chimneyrockco.org/ from May 15th to September 30th.

Harris P—R Ranch looking east to Chimney Rock, Colorado

 Do you have eagles, hawks, or falcons in your area? Have you ever thought about becoming a falconer?

Blessings,

Linda Farmer Harris

 
Turning Tidbits of History into Unforgettable Stories


Lin and her husband, Jerry, live on a hay and cattle ranch in Chimney Rock, Colorado. She writes historical fiction for adults and children. Her novella The Lye Water Bride is included in the California Gold Rush Romance Collection (Barbour Publishing, August 1, 2016).

Florida's First Visitor

Juan Ponce de Leon

Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Léon, is probably best known for his fabled search for the 'fountain of youth' in Florida. However, his major exploit was conquering and settling of Puerto Rico and the exploration and naming of Florida. 

It is believed that Ponce de Léon was born into a noble family in 1460. As a page in the court of King Ferdinand of Aragon, he received an excellent education and became fascinated with exploring. In 1492, he took part in the conquest of Granada, located in Southern Spain. This ended the presence of the Moors on the Iberian Peninsula after more than seven hundred years and secured de Léon’s position with the Spanish crown.  

Juan Ponce de Leon's signature

It’s thought, although never proven, that in 1493 Ponce de Léon was a member of Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the New World. What is known for sure is that in 1502, he was living in Hispaniola, which is the modern day island Haiti and the Dominican Republic. There he served as a military captain and helped stop a native uprising. This led to his appointment as the provincial governor of the eastern half of Hispaniola.

In 1508-09, rumors of gold on the nearby island of San Juan Bautista (modern day Puerto Rico) prompted the Spanish crown to give Ponce de León authorization to explore the island.  Though he may have, unofficially, previously sailed to the island before that. On the official expedition, he took fifty soldiers and a single ship. He founded a settlement at Caparra, near what is now San Juan. When he returned to Hispaniola for supplies, Ponce de León was named the governor of Puerto Rico, but he had many rivals and was soon displaced.

Encouraged by Spanish royalty to discover more lands, Ponce de León set sail from Puerto Rico in March 1513. He would follow rumors he’d heard from local Indians about an island known as Bimini. The locals claimed along with gold; Ponce de León would find a magical spring whose waters would rejuvenate those who drank from it.

Juan Ponce de Leon's statue in St. Augustine, FL

In April of the same year, the expedition landed on the coast of Florida. At the time, Ponce de León thought that he had landed on another island. He named the location Florida, due to the area’s lush foliage and also because they landed around Easter time. On his first expedition to Florida, Ponce de León explored the east coast, the Florida Keys, and discovered the Gulf Stream. He then returned to Puerto Rico.

Gulf Stream

Ponce de León’s next voyage was to Spain. He used the warm Gulf Stream ocean current he’d discovered to speed up his trip. While in Spain, he was named the military governor of Bimini and Florida and given permission to colonize the region. The Spanish crown also ordered him to organize an army to subdue a native uprising in Puerto Rico. He returned to the New World with a small fleet in mid-1515.

In February 1521, Ponce de León departed San Juan on his second expedition to Florida. He intended to found and occupy a colony, so he took with him three ships and approximately two hundred people. They landed near what is now Charlotte Harbor on the southwest coast of Florida. The exact circumstances of what happened next are uncertain, but apparently in early July local Indians attacked the party of settlers, leaving Ponce de León fatally wounded by an arrow in his thigh. His comrades sailed back with him to Havana, Cuba, where he died.

Juan Ponce de León was ruthless when the occasion called for it, but he was also ambitious and hardworking. He built a small financial empire of his own and helped Spain colonize the Caribbean.

By all accounts, Juan Ponce de León was far too practical a man to waste time on such fantasies as a fountain of Youth, and there is no official record that he ever deliberately searched for it, but strangely, he did acknowledge the existence of the fabled magical waters in his memoir. So is there a spring of rejuvenating water that can keep us young forever? We may never know…

                                   _________________________

Michele Morris’s love for historical fiction began when she first read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House book series. She grew up riding horses and spending her free time in the woods of mid-Michigan dreaming of days-gone-by and knights-in-shining-armor. Therefore, it only makes sense that she now writes historical romance with a touch of suspense. Married to her high school sweetheart, they are living happily-ever-after with their six children, three in-loves, and six grandchildren in Florida, the sunshine state. When not spending time with her large brood or writing, Michele enjoys photography, genealogy, and cooking. 

History of the Cayman Islands

Last month, I told you a little about our recent Caribbean cruise, and the adventure we had exploring the Mayan ruins of Cozumel (read about it here if you missed it). This month, I thought I’d share about the other port we visited—Georgetown, Grand Cayman. 

Colorful buildings and rooftops as you approach
George Town, Grand Cayman.

© Jennifer Uhlarik

The first thing I noticed about Grand Cayman as we rode the tender over from the cruise ship was the festive colors of the buildings that lined the waterfront. It instantly had my attention, and I couldn’t wait to explore. The shore excursion we opted for was a 1-hour trolley ride which gave some of the history and points of interest about the island. So here’s a little about what we learned.

The Caymans are comprised of three islands—Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. The islands are the peaks of several underwater mountains in the Cayman Ridge. There is little, if any, proof of indigenous people on the islands, and they were mainly uninhabited prior to the 17th Century. At that time, a variety of folks made their way to the island chain, including pirates, shipwreck survivors, refugees from the Spanish Inquisition, and deserters from Oliver Cromwell’s army in Jamaica.

The first permanent resident of the islands, Isaac Bodden, was born on Grand Cayman around 1661. He’s suspected to be the grandson of one of Cromwell’s army who was there at the taking of Jamaica in 1655. To this day, the Bodden Family still resides on the island. We were told that this traditional Caymanian style home belongs to the Bodden family today. The architecture of the islands seems to be split fairly evenly between the traditional Caymanian homes and newer styles. The second home shown here is owned by the family who opened the largest hardware store chain on the island.

Traditional Caymanian-style home owned by the
Bodden Family
© Jennifer Uhlarik

Modern-style home owned by a family who owns the biggest
hardware store chain on the Cayman Islands.
© Jennifer Uhlarik

In the 1670 Treaty of Madrid, England took formal control of both Jamaica and The Cayman Islands, and both remain territories of Britain today. A permanent settlement began there somewhere in the 1730’s, and almost immediately, slavery was started. Africans were captured and brought to the islands, living as slaves until 1833, when slavery was abolished throughout Britain and all of its territories.

Today, the Cayman Islands are a tourist mecca for the cruise lines and independent travelers. One of the wonderful things to do on Grand Cayman is to visit Stingray City, where you can interact with tons of Southern Stingrays in their natural habitat. They will swim leisurely around you while you pet them or feed them. Another fun outing in Grand Cayman is the Cayman Turtle Farm, where you can see not only turtles, but other sea life and birds up close.

Not only are the Cayman Islands a great place to visit, but they are also a global hotspot for international banking, due to the fact the Caymans are tax-free. In our short time there, we stopped at a coffee shop to rest and overheard a few business deals being discussed at the surrounding tables. The tax- and duty-free status in the Cayman Islands also means great shopping for higher-ticket items like jewelry. The jewelry store owners are prepared to wheel and deal to make a sale, knocking hundreds, if not thousands, off the list prices of expensive pieces. 

A rooster stands on a wall bordering
the back of a well-known restaurant in
Grand Cayman's business district.
© Jennifer Uhlarik

Of course, the wildlife was interesting as always. Right in the middle of the business district, roosters and chickens made themselves at home. And just like in Cozumel, we saw any number of iguanas. One tried to chase the rooster pictured above. Another sat out in the open on a driveway of one of the homes we passed. Most took refuge high within the branches of tall trees.

An iguana sunning himself high in a tree.
© Jennifer Uhlarik

All in all, Grand Cayman was a lovely place to visit, and I would’ve loved to have more time to spend there. But for the few hours we had, we enjoyed the hospitality of the locals and learning a bit about their home.

It’s your turn. Have you visited The Cayman Islands? If so, what did you enjoy about your visit? If not, are you interested in visiting? Where else have you visited that impressed you?

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a pre-teen, when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has won five writing competitions and finaled in two other competitions. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, teenaged son, and four fur children.

Now Available:

The Convenient Bride Collection

Join nine brides of convenience on their adventures in a variety of times and settings gone by—from a ranch in California…to the rugged mountains of Colorado…to a steamship on the Mississippi…to the dangerous excitement of the Oregon Trail…into high society of New York City. No matter the time or place, the convenient brides proceed with what must be done, taking nuptials out of necessity. . .and never dreaming that God might take their feeble attempts to secure their futures and turn them into true love stories for His glory.