In the Spanish-American War of 1898, Guam fell into US hands without any resistance. The island was such a neglected and isolated Spanish colonial outpost that the local governor was oblivious to the war’s commencement. As US ship arrived and began firing poorly aimed shots at the decrepit Spanish fort, the inhabitants mistook it for a salute. They even rowed to the ship to apologize for their delayed return salute, explaining that their only cannon had to be transported from the island’s other side. By the end of the day, the island had capitulated without a single injury, save for the Spanish governor’s wounded pride.
Author: Ilya
1858: The First Transatlantic Telegraph and Queen Victoria’s 18-Hour Message
In 1858, the first transatlantic telegraph cable was established, with a single character requiring two minutes to traverse the distance. Queen Victoria’s first comprehensive message took nearly 18 hours to transmit across the cable.
The 1812 New Madrid Quake: A Tremor Felt Across the Continent
The most intense earthquake to ever strike the continental United States happened in New Madrid, Missouri, in 1812. Its force was so tremendous that it caused tremors felt as far away as New York, provoked church bells to chime in South Carolina, and even reversed the flow of a section of the Mississippi River.
The Fedora’s Feminist Origins: From Women’s Rights Symbol to Fashion Statement
The fedora, often associated with mobsters, originally held significance as a representation of the Women’s Rights Movement. Initially, the fedora was designed as a hat for women and gained popularity through the influential actress Sarah Bernhardt, who was known for her cross-dressing roles. Making its debut in 1882 as women’s headwear, the fedora quickly became a fashion staple among women, particularly those advocating for women’s rights.
Defending Liquor with Machine Guns: The Byron’s Warehouse Story in Oklahoma
Established by Byron Gambulos, Byron’s Liquor Warehouse stands as one of Oklahoma’s largest liquor outlets. This Oklahoma City landmark came into existence in 1959, soon after the state’s legalization of alcohol.
The infancy of the legal alcohol era in Oklahoma was marked by chaos and confusion. “The system was haphazard. Both wholesalers and retailers seemed to operate according to their own rules,” Gambulos explained.
In an era when many retailers attempted to inflate market prices to maximize profits, Gambulos held his ground against such practices. This didn’t sit well with some in the liquor industry, a few with alleged connections to the mafia, who viewed his stance as unwelcome competition.
Tensions escalated to the point where an unidentified individual hurled a homemade bomb into Byron’s Liquor Warehouse, causing damage to a small section of the establishment. Upon a second bombing shortly after, Gambulos decided to take measures to ensure his, his employees’, and his property’s safety.
In response, he erected a rectangular, fortified wooden structure with windows on all sides, essentially a watchtower, atop the business premises. Gambulos, along with a group of his friends that included off-duty police officers and dedicated employees, kept vigil from this tower during the night. They were armed with various weapons, from handguns to shotguns, with Gambulos himself wielding a World War II-era machine gun.
The presence of the watchtower proved effective in deterring further attacks. Threats towards Gambulos and his family gradually decreased, and one of his team members successfully prevented at least one bombing attempt.
Photo by Oklahoma Historical Society
However, after about a year, officials from Oklahoma’s Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission requested that Gambulos dismantle the tower. Subsequently, some of the individuals suspected to have been involved in the earlier bombings were reportedly apprehended by the police.