Ireland is often referred to as The Land of Saints and Scholars. During the Dark Ages in Europe, much of the continent was overrun by barbarian tribes. Irish priests and scholars were responsible for keeping many ancient texts intact, and for creating new art and literature. Of primary note is the Book of Kells, an … Continue reading Irish Trivia: The Land of Saints and Scholars
Tuesday Trivia
Western Trivia: The Wackiest Gun In The West
Anyone who's a fan of the Old West is familiar with the Colt .45 and the Buntline Special. Like most old & new revolvers, both of these have a rotating 6-chamber cylinder. But did you know there was also a gun with six rotating barrels? That's right. Ethan Allen (no relation to the Revolutionary War … Continue reading Western Trivia: The Wackiest Gun In The West
Western Trivia: Union Suits & Linens
Thanks to the movies and mid-20th century TV, when we think of men's underwear in the Old West, we usually picture the union suit, a garment that looked like a cross between a onesie and today's longjohns, with buttons up the front and a flap in the back to accommodate nature's needs. But union suits weren't … Continue reading Western Trivia: Union Suits & Linens
Western Trivia: Little Bighorn
June 25, 1876. Not quite the “massacre” we learned about in school. So many myths surround this battle, not the least of which is that all of the US Cavalrymen died, George Armstrong Custer among them, and that only Custer's horse survived. Most of the misconceptions are based on wife Elizabeth Custer's memoirs, which painted quite a different picture … Continue reading Western Trivia: Little Bighorn
Western Trivia: Patient Sustenance
Warning! This post examines the history of feeding tubes; if you're easily grossed out, it might not be for you! In one of my novels, a woman falls into a coma after the birth of her child. I needed to know what specific methods there were in the 1880s for nourishing a comatose patient. What … Continue reading Western Trivia: Patient Sustenance
Western Trivia: The Round-Up
In most of the Old West, the ranchers managed two yearly round-ups. A spring round-up was done to identify and brand the new calves in a herd, and castrate any male calves that were not needed for reproduction (these cattle were called “steers” and often outnumbered the females). It was a big job to get … Continue reading Western Trivia: The Round-Up
Irish Trivia: The Transatlantic Crossing
In the mid-19th Century, most transatlantic crossings were still done by sailing ship, although steamship passage was available for those who could afford it, primarily through the Cunard Line of Britain and the Inman line of the US. A steamship would routinely make the voyage in 11 to 13 days, but until 1860, most steamships … Continue reading Irish Trivia: The Transatlantic Crossing
Western Trivia: The Chisolm Trail
Every fan of Western lore is familiar with the Old Chisholm Trail. The Chisholm Trail originally ran from the Red River in Texas north to Kansas City, Kansas. It was established by Jesse Chisholm, a mixed-blood Cherokee trader, who scouted to find the best locations for his trading posts. Jesse Chisholm The trail’s fame, however, … Continue reading Western Trivia: The Chisolm Trail
Irish Trivia: ELLIS ISLAND
15-year-old Annie Moore arrived from Ireland on January 1, 1892, and became the first person to enter the United States through Ellis Island. Over 12 million people entered the United States through the Ellis Island immigration center from 1892 to 1954. Contrary to what you may think, Ellis Island was only one of many ports … Continue reading Irish Trivia: ELLIS ISLAND
Western Trivia: The Pony Express
When we think of the Pony Express, this iconic picture of a horse and rider is usually what comes to mind. But there’s a serious flaw in that thinking. The bag slung over the rider’s shoulder would have flapped in the wind, and could have panicked a horse. The Pony Express “bag” was actually a … Continue reading Western Trivia: The Pony Express
Gifford MacShane, Author 