Category: Omnibit

An 80-foot iron barge which has become known as The Iron Scow has been stuck above Niagara Falls for 102 years. On Aug. 6, 1918 the unpowered barge broke loose from its tug and floated towards Horseshoe Falls meaning certain death for Gustave Loftberg and Frank Harris, the deckhands on board when it became hung up on a rock. The men were dramatically rescued in an overnight mission involving military searchlights, a snarled breeches buoy and 3 a.m. acrobatics over dangerous waters by the legendary William “Red” Hill Sr.

The Iron Scow William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-20-20

Adolph Hitler and Winston Churchill never met. The closest the very well might have got to each other was in World War I when Churchill was a lieutenant colonel with the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers stationed at Ploegsteert in Belgium and Hilter was a signal runner for the Bavarian Reserve-Infantry-Regiment 16 at Mesen which was about seven miles away on other side of no-man’s land.

Adolph Hitler and Winston Churchill William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-19-20

The crossing of the Mississippi River at the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863 was the largest amphibious assault by the U.S. military until D-Day in 1944.

Largest amphibious assault William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-18-20

The first actor credited in a film was Frenchman Max Linder. The first actress so honored was “Biograph Girl” Florence Lawrence.

First actor credited William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-17-20

Psychiatric pioneer Carl Jung spied for the allies in World War II.

Carl Jung Spied William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-14-20
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The Menai Strait between Wales and the the Isle of Anglesey is a nasty bit of sea where many a vessel has met its doom one of which happened on Dec. 5, 1664 in which the only survivor out of 81 passengers was a Hugh Williams. On Dec. 5, 1785 a ship with 60 aboard sank with but one survivor. Hs name was Hugh Williams. On Aug. 5, 1820, a vessel with 25 aboard was lost. The only survivor was a Hugh Williams. And on July 10, 1940 a British trawler was destroyed by a German mine. This time there were two survivors: Hugh Williams and his nephew. The nephew’s name was, wait for it, Hugh Williams.

Menai Strait William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-13-20

Ostriches don’t bury their heads in the sand to hide or for anything else for that matter. It’s a myth than can be traced to Pliny the Elder (23-79AD) the author of Naturalis Historia, which is an attempt to cover all the knowledge to be found in the Roman Empire. In Book 10, Chapter 1, Pliny says “(Ostriches) imagine, when they have thrust their head and neck into a bush, that the whole of their body is concealed”.

The knowledge to be found in the Roman Empire was not always right, but who are we to throw stones?

Ostriches don’t bury William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-12-20

The Strangites were strange but that’s not how they got the name. It comes from James Jesse Strang, a Mormon who tried to take over as head of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints after Joseph Smith was tragically killed during a shoot-out in a jailbreak. Anyway Strang failed, and started his own branch which came to be known as the Strangites.

He moved his flock to Beaver Island, the largest island in Lake Michigan, created a theocratical monarchy, took five wives and declared himself king. He also won election to the Michigan legislature, which a tyrannical zealot can do when his constituents are zombie followers. Think Portland.

Two of the zombies, though, turned on him shooting him from ambush on June 16. 1856. He died from his injuries on July 9.

Amazingly enough, Strang’s denomination still has about 130 members.

Strangites William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-11-20

Starboard comes from the German steuerbord which means steering board which was the rudder. In ancient times, this board was on the right side of the ship if you are facing the bow. Obviously, you would not put this side against the quay while in port. The side you would place against the quay while in port would be the port side.

Steuerbord William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-10-20

The world’s largest hospital is the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China with 7,000 beds. The largest hospital in the US is AdvantHealth Orlando with 1,705 beds. For what it’s worth, lots of beds don’t equal lots of health care. The hospital with the most staff is the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Minnesota with 54,700. The Chinese hospital with the most staff is the West China Medical Center with 6,100.

Largest hospital William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 8-8-20