This Day in History Sept. 26

Sept. 26

1580 Sir Francis Drake finishes his circumnavigation of the Earth
1789 Jefferson appointed 1st Sec of State; John Jay 1st chief justice; Samuel Osgood 1st Postmaster
& Edmund J Randolph 1st Attorney Genl
1914 The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is established by the Federal Trade Commission
Act
1973 Concorde makes its first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic in record-breaking time Washington
DC to Paris in 3h33m

Birthdays:

1909 ? Bill France, Sr., American race car driver, founded NASCAR

Deaths:

1820 Daniel Boone frontiersman, dies in Missouri at 85
1902 Levi Strauss, German-American businessman, founded Levi Strauss & Co

Thought for the day:

" Let he who takes the plunge remember to return it by Tuesday. "

"1580 Sir Francis Drake finishes his circumnavigation of the Earth."

That had to be some kind of a TALL order. Just imagine what kind of support, of any kind, that wasn't available at the time and what kind of sacrifices he and his crew had to make to accomplish that feat. Hats off to them.

Mark

When "Boats were made of wood, men were made of steel"!

Had to have been horrible conditions!

If you ever get a chance, go tour the Elissa, in Galveston. That is a modern ship (1887) compared to what they had, traveling established trade routes... Even then they never could carry enough food, never knew what they were sailing into, never knew if they would ever be back!

There was a scale replica of one of Columbus ships in Corpus Christi. It was tiny! The upper deck was somewhat enclosed, designed to shed water when it went THROUGH or UNDER the waves! Those had to be some of the bravest men ever!

Reminds me of a quote that I just read. Jefferson made this comment way back when: "When a government is strong enough to grant what you wish, it is also strong enough to take it away from you."

I didn't know Galveston had a museum piece like that. I spent many a day fishing down there and in the bay. On wooden ships I Finished the Flying Cloud Clipper Ship which sailed NY to SF in 89 days around the Horn, record hasn't been beaten to date; about ⅔ complete with the US Constitution of which I have stood on her decks (Boston Harbor) wondering what it was like on the lower gun deck, under siege, cannons blazing, smoke, noise, heat of battle, confusion.... she was engaged in 40 battles and won every one.

Waiting their turn are the Mayflower, Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, all 1/65 scale, compliments of the Spanish wooden model ship maker Artesania Latina......a tribute to "those who served". Talk about small ships, the La Pinta, measures 15" so at 1/65 scale says she was about 80' long....crossing the Atlantic on a 2 month voyage and brought families, food, plow shares, seed, and all that from Spain.......talk about gutsy.

One day I might do the HMS Bounty. Understand she had some interesting adventures before and after the mutiny. I understand the mutineers that sailed her away were never brought to justice; lived their lives on a Pacific Island; discovered at a later date, a full fledged colony.