In California’s Spanish and Mexican days, no one was safe from ambush or attack from about Christmas to the first day of Lent. Eggshells (cascarones) filled with confetti or cologne were dashed on the heads of unsuspecting friends and foreigners alike. Imported from Spain to Mexico, this custom was described as, the season for breaking egg shells having arrived, the young men and women procure as many of them as they can, and woe betide the young fellow who breaks an egg on a female’s head where there are four or five young women, they will be sure to take ample revenge by breaking us many on his head as they can possibly find an opportunity for, generally drenching him from head to foot with cologne water.
The Arabia was a side wheeler steamboat that sank in the Missouri River, on September 5, 1856, when it was gored by a submerged tree snag. The ship sank quickly, without loss of life, except for a mule that had been forgotten and left tied up. It was rediscovered in 1988 by local treasure hunters, an HVAC guy, his sons and some of their friends, near Kansas City. In the 130 years since its sinking the river has shifted, and the boat was found half-a-mile from its present-day course, beneath forty-five feet of mud, under a farmer’s field. The farmer gave permission to dig up his field, provided that they were done in time for spring planting. Over the course of one winter the wreck of the Arabia was excavated. Much of its 200-ton cargo was recovered. The following eyewitness account of the sinking was given by a Mr. Able D. Kirk:
“We embarked on the boat in Saint Louis and had been on the water about ten days. The boat was heavily loaded with freight but did not have a large number of passengers. One evening when many of the passengers were at supper the boat struck a snag. We felt the shock and at once the boat started sinking. There was a wild scene on board. The boat went down till the water came over the deck and the boat keeled over on one side. The chairs and stools were tumbled about and many of the children nearly fell into the water. Several of the men on board seized the lifeboat and started for the shore, but they came back and the women and children were put in the boat. They called for a small man to go with the boat and I was small and got on board. The river bank at the point were we landed had been carving off and was very steep. I climbed out and pulled the women ashore. Horses and wagons came down from Parkville and took us to the hotel for that night. Many of the trunks and valises were taken off the boat and stacked up in the woods near the river. That night they were broken open by thieves, and all the valuables were taken out. We were taken on the steamboat, James H. Lucus, and when we went aboard all that could by seen of the Arabia was the top of the pilot house. That sank out-of-sight in a short time.”
The recovered cargo fills a museum now. The ship was like a veritable floating Walmart of its day, full of every kind of trade good one could imagine. All bound for the western frontier. The amateur treasure hunters knew nothing about the recovery and care of the many items found. It was learned on the job. Word has it that the museum will be closing in November, a victim of parking or rather the lack thereof. There is talk of relocating, but no decisions have been made.
I am watching the BBC/PBS TV series Victoria and am about halfway through the second season. Three seasons have been produced and currently there no plans for any subsequent seasons. By the conclusion of this show the protagonists, Victoria and Alfred should still be relatively youthful, with plenty of life still ahead of them. This post’s title aside, I have enjoyed watching this TV series. The title is a quote attributed to the queen and championed by my sister-in-law. Putting aside all of the domestic turmoil that constitutes so much screen time, what I like best about this show are the interventions of real-world history that manage to be featured. one in particular comes to mind. Victoria and Alfred are vacationing in the north of England with Prime Minister Robert Peel. Peel shows Albert a then new steam locomotive that he is championing and takes him for a ride in it, which Albert loves. Returning Victoria is upset with Albert, because of the danger of these engines of change that she perceives. Albert is able to overcome her fears, and the scene shifts back to the locomotive where the crew chief is congratulating his men for not having accidently killed His Royal Highness. His self-satisfaction is short lived though, because at that moment Her Majesty arrives also expecting a ride on this newfangled train.
Buckingham Palace
The other thing that I love about this show is the love story between young Victoria and Alfred. Their passion for each other is like a ray of sunshine in what is otherwise a dark and foreboding household. There are so many competing interests that it is hard to come to grips with them all. On her ascension to the throne, Victoria was only eighteen. She was mired in unhealthy relationships with people who wanted to control her. With Alfred she found a friend. Who she could trust. Who helped her be the great leader that we now know her as.
