The Flight of Daedalus and the Fall of Icarus

Woodcut printed by Riederer, Freiburg im Breisgau, 1493.

According to Greek mythology, Daedalus made a set of wings for himself and Icarus, his son in order to escape from the labyrinth of King Minos on the island of Crete.  Daedalus flew successfully from Crete to Naples, but Icarus did not.  Forgetting about his father's warning, Icarus flew so close to the sun that the wax on his wings melted, the feathers floated away, and Icarus plummeted to his death in the sea.

This woodcut is thought to be the first printed illustration of human flight.

Pardon Me Ma'am

One-eyed Charley Parkhurst was one of Wells Fargo's best and well known stagecoach drivers.  

Charley was a rough-spoken, tobacco chewing, cigar smoking, card playing individual.  Although sociable, Charley preferred sleeping in the stables with the horses rather than sharing quarters with the other drivers.

It wasn't until Charley Parkhurst died in 1879 that people discovered Charley was actually a woman.

"Charlene" Parkhurst was born in 1812 in Vermont, the same year that her mother died.  Sometime prior to 1817 her father dropped her off at a New Hampshire orphanage.


She later escaped from the orphanage by wearing boys' clothing, and found work in a livery stable.  She eventually made her way west, working in stables along the way.


She stayed in California after retiring from driving.  It was here that she cast a ballot in the 1868 Presidential election; perhaps making her the first woman to vote in the United States.


So, did she vote for Ulysses Grant or Horatio Seymour?

Charley is now resting in the Watsonville, CA Pioneer Cemetery.

Rainie Falls Trail Hike Along the Rogue River

The hike to Rainie Falls along the south side of the Rogue River is the perfect hike for a hot summer day.

The trail is well-maintained, although narrow and rocky.  Much of the 4 mile round-trip Rainie Falls Trail is shaded and offers spectacular views of the Rogue River.

 About a quarter of mile into the hike you'll see Grave Creek Rapids.

As you get closer to Rainie Falls the river gets deeper as the canyon walls constrict.

At about a mile into your hike, you'll see the remainder of one of the Sanderson Bridge footings that spanned this canyon.

 The Sanderson Bridge was built in 1907 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  This was a suspension bridge that was built to allow miners' to cross over the river.  The bridge was constructed of sturdy planks on the bottom, and a wire and rope network along the sides.  The only ones to use this bridge were men and mules, as no wagons or carts, could navigate the trails on either side.

You will see several streams coming from high up above.

This is a view of the trail on the north side of the Rogue River, where you'll notice shade is very scarce!  When it's 100 degrees out there, you'll appreciate being on the shady, south side of the Rogue.

  You'll hear Rainie Falls long before you glimpse your first view of it.

The view of Rainie Falls is beautiful, and well worth the short two miles it takes to get there.

To get there, take the Merlin-Galice Road until you see the Grave Creek Bridge. Park on the north side of the road, just before it crosses the bridge. The Rainie Falls Trail starts on the south side of the road.

Jesse James Remains On Display

The following article appeared in the Morning Oregonian on April 30, 1888. 

"Singular and Unsuccessful Show -- A short time since a fellow turned up in Ashland, from no one knew where, calling himself Dr. Sealy, and opened an exhibition, the chief and only attraction of which was the alleged remains of the notorious desperado Jesse James.  The show did not prove a grand success, and the few who visited it were apparently unable to tell whether the exhibit was the real carcass of the defunct desperado or not.  Wax figure, or whatever it was, it looked like Jesse James, and it bore all the bullet holes which marked the genuine remains of the departed celebrity.  The doctor had a companion who was supposed by some to be Frank James, but who did not seem inclined to exhibit himself.  After doing Ashland the whatever-it-was was boxed up and taken to Grant's Pass, where its exhibition did not pay expenses, so it was again boxed up and sent by express to Roseburg, where at latest accounts it remained uncalled for, the proprietor not having been seen or heard of.  From present indications it seems likely that the next appearance of this Jesse James "what-is-it"  will be at an old-horse sale."

Frank and Jesse James - 1872

 I went in search of the missing Jesse James "what-is-it" in its' last known destination of Roseburg, but the only thing I learned is that there are sure a lot of people named Jesse James!

What Is Patriotism?

 There are many, many definitions of patriotism.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines patriotism as:  Love for or devotion to one's country.  Here are a few notable definitions:

"Patriotism is not a short frenzied burst of emotion, but the long and steady dedication of a lifetime."   A quote from Thomas Jefferson

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiently or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else."   A quote from Theodore Roosevelt
 

"Patriotism is a salt against rottenness, a glorious spur to high endevour; it recovers the half-obliterated virtue of loyalty, calls every man to service, and ennobles great and small alike."   A quote from Percy Dearmer

"A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle." A quote from George William Curtis

 "Such is the patriot's boast, wher'er we roam,
His first, best country ever is at home."  A quote from Oliver Goldsmith 

Two Men Fall To Their Deaths From Train

This news story published July 2, 1906 comes from an out-of-state newspaper.

"Portland, Ore., July 1,--An Oregonian special from Glendale, Ore., says that as the north bound Southern Pacific passenger train pulled out of Leland station this morning, two unknown men attempted to board the front of the engine, missed their footing in some unknown manner and went under the train, instantly killing both of them.  The county coroner from Grant's Pass held an inquest, but nothing of consequence was learned.  The men were evidently workingmen, probably machinists from San Francisco.  Papers on one of the men indicated his name to be Al Fisher.  Nothing whatever was found on the other."

Image courtesy of: Eric Polk.  This particular engine was manufactured in 1909.

 Although Josephine County has seen it's share of train accidents over the years, the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad had a huge positive impact on the Rogue Valley.  The completion of the railroad gave us a much needed link to the rest of the country, both economically and socially.

 

If you're interested in learning about the history of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Oregon, I found this fascinating website: Southern Pacific in the Cascades.  It is filled with detailed stories and amazing photos.

A Letter Home

"September 4th, 1887
Dear Aunt,

Yours of the 21 came to hand several days ago but I kept neglecting writing to see whether we were going to stay here or not but we are not going to stay here now. we have concluded to go on through to oregon this fall, though it will be pretty cool on us I expect. for we have had a right smart ice here in the vallies that is the reason we dont like here. it is so cold in the winter it snows here sometimes untill the trains can't run, so you know that it must be pretty deep. if it was not so cold I think we would like here. wages is good here, money is plenty & Game is plenty deer & Elk, Bear. the men are going out on a big Hunt before we start out again I guess. they will bring in a wagon load of game in (which) you never saw the like of fish in your life mostly all Trout, they are right of spoted, I wish you and boys was with us. we have not heard from uncle Jess since we left him. I have writen back but havent got any answer yet. I dont know what is the reason unless the mail has got missplaced, Aunt I hope Lee has got well & stout by this time. I wish I could have been there to gone with Jake, to the picnic & I would like to be thare now to go to ____? meeting with you. I have read a heap about those Noted preachers & I would like to hear them. we dont have any meeting here only the Mormans & I dont care to go to hear them well I will have to stop writing for this time. I will write again before we get through. Lyda said she would write some. Ma has been sick for 2 or 3 days but she is better so I will close hoping this will find you well. from your Neice M Zemmer Sep 10th Aunt I thought I would write a few lines more as we will (leave) this place Tomorrow or next day to go up in the Mountains to Hunt & Fish there we will start on to oregon, we will be there a week you can send your next letter to Boice City Idaho, it will take us 3 weeks to go there. then I wont hear from you any more untill we get through so I will close for this time hopeing to hear from you when I get thare from your loveing Niece Mollie Zemmer Tell Jake we will try to have our pictures struck as soon as we can & send them to him."

Trail ruts near Guernsey, Wyoming - photo courtesy of Chris Light

This is a letter Mollie Zemmer wrote to her aunt Mary Jane Warren Zemmer while living in the Wyoming Territory.