One Hundred Years Ago

[Rix Gins]

Another double header at Chicago's Comisky Park on July 18, 1917.  The White Sox win the opener 4 to 0 over the Washington Senators thanks to the fine pitching of Joe Benz, who also hit a double during the game.  https://www.reddit.com/r/whitesox/comments/6o29l6/july_18_1917_game_1_joe_benz_shuts_out_the/?st=j5a00im7&sh=5056a8ce


1916 Sporting News baseball card of Joe Benz.  Public Domain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joe_Benz.jpg

Like one hundred years ago yesterday, the second game in the doubleheader proved to be more interesting.  The White Sox got off to a quick start with 4 runs in the first inning and try as they might, the Senators couldn't get back into the game.  The Sox won 7 to 4.  The Sox's Shoeless Joe Jackson scored his second homerun of the season during this game.  https://www.reddit.com/r/whitesox/comments/6o2j2c/july_18_1917_game_2_white_sox_hold_off_comeback/?st=j5a0dx0h&sh=140486d1


Shoeless Joe Jackson, Black Betsy in hand, during his 1913 season with the Cleveland Naps.  Public Domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shoeless_Joe_Jackson_by_Conlon,_1913.jpeg

[Rix Gins]

One hundred year old photos from the Imperial War Museums.

Schneider CA1 tanks on the training ground at Champlieu, 18 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205358235

Soldiers buying tea tickets at the 33rd Division Horse Show at Cavillon, 18 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237809

Soldiers looking at the prizes offered at the 33rd Division Horse Show at Cavillon, 18 July, 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237810

An officer jumping his charger at the 33rd Division Horse Show at Cavillon, 18 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237807

The white goat mascot of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Photograph taken at the 33rd Division horse show at Cavillon, 18 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237803

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 18, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/2017/07/18/witley-july-18-1917/

[Rix Gins]

There was a partial solar eclipse on July 19, 1917 but I think that you would have had to have been in the southern polar regions to have seen it.


Solar eclipse map of path on earth.  Attribution: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC - http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Official work for NASA

[Rix Gins]

https://youtu.be/phBjy2KUQTA

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.


Looking up Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Mich, July 19, 1917.
https://www.loc.gov/item/det1994022013/PP/

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museums.

Plotting reference: 28B 6abc Key feature: Land E Boesinghe.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205230738 

Wrecked machinery of Fosse 6 and 6bis of the Lievin mines, 19 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205323249

Ruins of Fosse 6 and 6bis of the Lievin mines, 19 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205323248

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 19, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/2017/07/19/witley-july-19-1917/

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

The Hartford Republican, July 20, 1917.



The Tonopah Daily Bonanza, July 20, 1917.

DEATH VALLEY SCOTTY LIVING THE SIMPLE LIFE AT AN OASIS

  Death Valley Scotty is an al fresco farmer. This means that he is enjoying a life of ease at the expense of an angel from Chicago who is said to be putting up for his services at the princely rate of $250 a month with everything furnished and nothing to do.

  This discovery was made by W. A. Ray, the Nye county surveyor, who was down in the vicinity of the Lost Burro mine the other day and ran across the Death Valley optimist in Grapevine Canyon. Scotty was there larger than life enjoying the tropical temperature of 125 in the shade and having plenty of shade at that. He was attired in his customary blue flannel shirt and black trousers but did not wear the black overcoat that he disported when he visited Goldfield in the hottest day of the summer of 1908.

  Scotty told the Tonopah engineer that he was drawing down $250 a month as caretaker of a colony of tent houses built by a Chicago millionaire who has a son suffering from incipient tuberculosis. The tents were there to corroborate his statement and they carried a hallmark of being born in the purple for they were built of polished oak floors and hard wood sides, oiled and varnished. These sides were carried up about four feet and then surmounted with canvas with newfangled ventilators and windows with movable shades convertible into awnings.

  Nobody was in sight and the only signs of life in the vicinity to share the enjoyment with Scotty, were the mules from his famous string. The site of the camp is an ideal one. Situated in the center of a wild orchard whose trees showed evidence of having been planted twenty years ago, there was no difficulty in picking all the pears, apples, grapes and plums. The trees were laden so heavily with fruit that the immense branches had to be supported by two by four scantlings. In this Eden of the desert Scotty found perfect repose while waiting for the return of one of his men who is in a Tonopah hospital suffering from blood poisoning.

  The old scout had been on the water wagon for some time and showed a disposition to cultivate close friendship with the contents of a demijohn which one of the visitors carried. Taking a large water tumbler he filled it to the brim and tossed it off without batting an eye. Then before the Ray party left he looked lovingly at the package and was told to help himself. Accepting the invitation, Scotty tossed off another bumper making both drinks equal a full pint.

[Rix Gins]

On 20 July 1917, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, blindfolded, drew the first draft number in the lottery to be called up: Number 258. Those drafted were to serve in the American forces during world War I.  Public Domain.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._draft_lottery.jpg   

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.


Photograph shows officer reading war laws to a regiment (12th Regt.) of American soldiers during World War I.  July 20, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

One hundred year old photos from the Imperial War Museums.

Crown Prince Wilhelm inspecting German troops at Charleville, 20 July 1917. On his left is Major-General Danner.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205264165

Battery of American 155 mm artillery guns in advance position near Froissy, 20 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205359142

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Byng George Gregge-Hopwood DSO. Unit: Commanding 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Death: 20 July 1917, West Flanders, Western Front. Major Stephen John Burton. Unit: 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Death: 20 July 1917, West Flanders, Western Front. Both officers were killed by the same shell, twelve days after being photographed.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205294028

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 20, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/witley-july-20-1917/

[Rix Gins]

https://youtu.be/286aZvaFGQE

[Rix Gins]

The Chicago White Sox welcomed the Boston Red Sox into Comiskey Park one hundred years ago yesterday.  The fans were treated to a tight duel until the 7th inning and that's when it all fell apart for Boston.  The Red Sox were ahead 2 to 1 but their pitcher started walking a number of White Sox players and the bases were filled.  Then a sacrifice fly and couple of base hits and Chicago forged ahead.  Boston changed pitchers but to no avail.  Final score, Chicago 5, Boston 2.  https://www.reddit.com/r/whitesox/comments/6oji63/july_20_1917_white_sox_take_one_back_score_4_in/?st=j5e9kxxx&sh=571882ed

Unrelated to the game, White Sox pitcher James "Death Valley Jim" Scott announced that he had volunteered to go and fight at the front.


Bain News Service,, publisher. [Jim Scott, Chicago AL (baseball)] Jim Scott [1914] 1 negative : glass.  Public Domain.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scott_3842841178_3bcb87ffaa_o.jpg

[Rix Gins]

One hundred year old photos from the Imperial War Museums.

AIR MINISTRY FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS COLLECTION.

(Notice the airfield down there?)
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205373592

Two officers and two NCOs of the Royal Field Artillery carrying ammunition over a foot bridge at Fampoux.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237814

Soldiers of the 9th Division using two salvaged sewing machines as a writing desk. Fampoux, 21 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237812

Lieutenant Valentine Leslie Douglas Uzielli. Unit: Royal Field Artillery. Death: 21 July 1917 Western Front.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205390090

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 21, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/2017/07/21/witley-july-21-1917/

[Rix Gins]

A cartoon and some photos from the Sunday Star, July 22, 1917.  (The Library of Congress)







     

James Norman Hall recovered from his wounds.  Here is his bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Norman_Hall

After the war, Hall spent much of his life on the island of Tahiti, where he and Nordhoff, who had also moved there, wrote a number of successful adventure books (including the Bounty trilogy). In addition to the various Bounty films, other film adaptations of his fiction include The Hurricane (1937), which starred his nephew Jon Hall; Passage to Marseille (1944), featuring Humphrey Bogart; and Botany Bay (1953), with Alan Ladd.

[Rix Gins]

The Chicago White Sox took on the Boston Red Sox in a follow up game that filled up Comiskey Park (22,000 fans) one hundred years ago, yesterday.  The fans really got their moneys worth, but in a way, they didn't.  It was a back and forth game that produced no winner at the end of the ninth inning.  The game being tied at 4 to 4 went into extra innings.  Nobody was able to score until Boston got one at the top of the 14th.  But then Chicago got one right back at the bottom of the inning.  It went for one more inning before the game had to be called due to darkness.  https://www.reddit.com/r/whitesox/comments/6osecc/july_21_1917_darkness_wins_red_sox_white_sox_game/?st=j5fo1vds&sh=94cf7be7

Buck Weaver didn't help the pace of the game in the 15th inning. He hit 17 foul balls in one at bat. So many that they ran out of baseballs and had to pause the game momentarily to grab some more. After the 15th it was too dark to continue and the game ended in a tie.

Buck Weaver in 1917.  Public Domain.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buck_Weaver_1917.jpg

[Rix Gins]

The Battle of Mărăști started up on July 22, 1917.  An interesting account of the battle can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_M%C4%83r%C4%83%C8%99ti

In a nutshell, Romanian and Russian forces went up against the Germans and they came out on top, having gained some ground and having took 2,700 prisoners.  The battle ended on August 1, 1917.


Romanian Model 1912 105 mm howitzers firing during the Battle of Mărăști.  Public Domain.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CasinValley1917.JPG

[albrecht]

A cartoon and some photos from the Sunday Star, July 22, 1917.  (The Library of Congress)

James Norman Hall recovered from his wounds.  Here is his bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Norman_Hall

When he was in the UK he lied and said he was a Canadian to GET into the war. (Think of decades later folks claiming to be Canadian, or fleeing there, to get OUT of a war). One the US joined the war he joined up with the US, got a lot of medals, and was a POW. Then there was his literary career. Quite a biography.

[Rix Gins]

When he was in the UK he lied and said he was a Canadian to GET into the war. (Think of decades later folks claiming to be Canadian, or fleeing there, to get OUT of a war). One the US joined the war he joined up with the US, got a lot of medals, and was a POW. Then there was his literary career. Quite a biography.

Interesting point.  Don't know the number but lots of US soldiers got a jump start by joining up in Canada.

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

Photograph shows Canadian Highlander soldiers and band marching in New York City. The Highlander regiments were in the United States in July of 1917 for "British Recruiting Week" which encouraged enlistment in World War I. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015 and The New York Times, July 22, 1917)

https://www.loc.gov/item/ggb2006000241/

[Rix Gins]

One hundred year old photos from the Imperial War Museums.

.AIR MINISTRY FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS COLLECTION

(Look at all those high explosive shell craters.)
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205375012

image: a view of a grand building with central spire and surrounding buildings in the countryside bordered by trees.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/23215

Panorama of the Chemin des Dames from a French observation post, 22 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205310361

Second Lieutenant Lionel C. Strange. Unit: 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Death: 22 July 1917, died of wounds, Western Front.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205389293

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 22, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/2017/07/22/witley-july-22-1917/

[Rix Gins]

One hundred year old photos from the Imperial War Museums. 

AIR MINISTRY FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS COLLECTION.  Production date 1917-07-23.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205373319

Private Philip George Holmes 44994. Unit: 2nd/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Death: 23 July 1917, killed in action, Western Front.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205301456

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 23, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/2017/07/23/witley-july-23-1917/

[Rix Gins]

From the Europeana Collections.


Korscharte Background Wischberg. (23 / 7.1917) K.u.k. Kriegspressequartier, light image site - Vienna
1. Public Domain - http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
http://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/9200291/BibliographicResource_3000073605006.html?utm_source=api&utm_medium=api&utm_campaign=api2demo


Charles I observed the progress of the counteroffensive in Galicia, which lasted from mid-July to early August. Here he is on the 23rd of July with the chief commander of the German Southern Army General Felix von Bothmer in the front area. 23 July 1917.
http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/TELRequest.aspx?p_ImageID=15566354. Public Domain - http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
http://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/9200291/BibliographicResource_3000073511215.html?utm_source=api&utm_medium=api&utm_campaign=api2demo

[Rix Gins]

Country singer Judy Martin (Eva Alaine Overstake) was born on this day, one hundred years ago.

Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Martin_(singer)


https://youtu.be/3hnI3xp-5v4

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

Photograph shows workers putting a propeller on an airplane at the Lowe, Willard & Fowler Engineering Company, College Point, Queens, New York City. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015)  1917 July 24 (date created or published later by Bain).

https://www.loc.gov/item/ggb2006000411/

Photograph shows the band of the 2nd Field Artillery attending a baseball game at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York on July 24, 1917. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015 and The Sun, July 24, 1917)

https://www.loc.gov/item/ggb2006000340/