Day Tripping: May 27
Invasions and Incidents
Surprise Attack
As a heavy fog lifted over Lake Ontario in 1813, an American fleet launched an amphibious assault on Fort George in the Niagara region of Upper Canada, sending the sparse British defenders scrambling for safer ground. The strategic advantage of the lake’s western edge was a focal point for a change in fortunes for US efforts. One month earlier, the American fleet invaded the city of York (Toronto today), damaging the governmental headquarters of Upper Canada.
Though Canadian militiamen and loyalist sympathisers among native peoples fought gallantly to defend the fort, the US flag was raised while British troops took refuge further up the lake in Burlington Heights. The fort would remain another seven months under American charge until British Loyalist forces regained control.
Fatal Accident
In 1975, a busload of 45 female pensioners set out on a tour of the Yorkshire Dales in the UK. The trip was organized by the mayor of Thornaby, Dorothy White who had managed this excursion on many other occasions. While travelling downhill on the B6265 road to Hebden, the replacement driver for Riley’s Luxury Coach Line missed a gear and began to apply the brakes, which as it was learned later, were faulty and disintegrated from overheating.
The bus accelerated and eventually crashed through a barrier on Dibble Bridge near Grassington, landing upside down on top of a cottage. The coach’s aluminum shell collapsed on impact, killing thirty-three passengers, the highest ever mortality total in the United Kingdom’s history.
Fallen Hero
In a tragic twist of fate that has befallen other actors who have played the role of Superman before him, Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse during a competition in Culpeper, Virginia crashing headfirst into the top rail of a jump. The resulting spinal injury in 1995 left Reeve a paraplegic for the rest of his life.
At first, Christopher considered taking his own life, being unable to move his body and dependent on an oxygen tank for breathing. Eventually, he came to grips with his circumstances and dedicated his life to fundraising and research for his ailments. Incredibly, the former Superman went on to direct a drama called The Gloaming which won five Emmys, and he reprised the role once played by James Stewart in Hitchcock’s Rear Window.
Superman, indeed!
Musical Milestones
Fourteen years after what the band members called ‘a break’, The Eagles reunited in 1994 to perform in Burbank, California. On the heels of that show, the band embarked on their Hell Freezes Over tour which is the first in history to charge over $100 a ticket, an enormous amount in the mid-nineties.
Narratives
With threats from Islamic protestors to stop the show in 2012, Lady Gaga is forced to cancel her engagement in Jakarta, Indonesia. Citing the performer’s skimpy costumes and immorality, the protestors carried banners that read, Go To Hell Lady Gaga. Some cultures just aren’t ready for modern entertainment which begs the question why she was booked there in the first place.
Remembrance
Co-founder of one of Southern Rock’s best bands with his brother Duane, Greg Allman passed away from liver cancer in 2017. Once married briefly to Cher, Greg is also the composer of masterworks like Whipping Post, Midnight Rider and Melissa.
Notable Births
Two of cinema’s greatest horror film stars of the 20th-century share this birthday, Vincent Price in1911, and Christopher Lee in 1922. Seems appropriate for the week of a blood moon.
K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, PhD. Terry Trueman Dr Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca
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