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Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 20:19:24 GMT -6
That's true, Scout; but I gave up a long time ago on getting much of a correct account of the fights from the general run of the Battlefield employees. The first guy I met there in 1958 was very knowledgeable and strictly history-oriented. Since sometime in the sixties, the "interpretation" given at the Battlefield has changed enormously, and one might be forgiven for thinking that all of the changes were not for the better.
I was speaking of Gerard in a strictly personal sense. He was always helpful and accomodating to me - never asked my opinions or volunteered his own. For example, if I wanted to go somewhere that was not "open" to the public, he would simply have me sign a "hold harmless" waiver, and let me proceed at my own peril. Only once of about ten times was my request refused, and then very politely, with reasons given.
Once when I decided on the spur of the moment to stay in the area for a few extra days and wanted to access the Collections [two weeks' notice was generally required], he arranged it for me. I've never forgotten his kindnesses, and have been able to accept the other stuff.
Besides which, my own attitudes toward the events and the participants have changed more than somewhat over those same years.
Gordie
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Curley
Jun 19, 2008 20:01:41 GMT -6
Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 20:01:41 GMT -6
bc:
Burkman was Custer's striker and had been for several years. He is the protagonist of Old Neutriment, which presents itself as a biography [or autobiography "as told to"]. He was crude, uneducated, and a real character - jus the sort to appeal to Custer's propensity for drawing the unusual to him. Burkman was, according to him, ordered to stay with the pack train and take care of Dandy, the dogs, and Custer's baggage.
The rifle was likely Custer's Remington sporter. The revolvers are difficult to identify. Bloody Knife's looks as if it might be an 1873 Colt's SAA, but I'm not sure that they were available at that time. The other one seems to be non-blued or to have a nickel finish. It could be one of any number of cap and ball or cartridge revolvers - it's very hard to say.
Gordie
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Curley
Jun 19, 2008 16:56:28 GMT -6
Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 16:56:28 GMT -6
Michael:
Not to start another one of those lengthy "discussions" which result in a whole bunch of nothing, but do you happen to recall any other mention of one of Custer's dogs being found dead near him on Custer Hill? I don't recall running into this story before [it's been a while since I read Burkman, or Libbie's books and letters]. Gordie
PS - I'm sure that I've seen another identification for that bearded trooper - Tuttle or Nunan, I think, although I can't remember where I saw it. The NDN in the tent doorway is definitely not Curley - the hair is all wrong, even were he of the correct age.
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Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 16:45:47 GMT -6
The latest news from the "Do you know where your feet are?" front.
Four hours or so ago, it was announced that the latest find was a hoax [nice hoax!!]. The foot was in fact an animal paw [species not named] put in a sock and shoved into the running shoe, semi-covered with seaweed so that the reality would not be readily apparent. Then, I suppose, strategically placed so as to be easily discovered [on the beach directly in front of a popular RV campground].
The truth was discovered by the ME who made the initial examination, and probably took all of two minutes [including removal of the seaweed]. My guess is that the finder is in for a round of tough questioning.
Gordie
Off through the hail, like a pack of angry wolves on the trail, we are after you dead or alive - we are out to get you dead or alive. And if you're the one, better run, better run away - Son throw your gun, throw your gun, throw your gun away. Here come the Mounties to get the man they're after today......................
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Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 16:31:59 GMT -6
I think that it is likely a work-in-progress. A month or so should bring changes.
Gordie
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Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 16:29:05 GMT -6
Good man, that Baker chap. I found him to be always pleasant,and available to listen to my gripes. All of the Superintendents I encountered were easy to get along with, and very approachable, with one exception who shall remain nameless.
Gordie
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Curley
Jun 19, 2008 16:24:38 GMT -6
Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 16:24:38 GMT -6
If the one is Tuck, then the other is probably Blucher [in a second incarnation, I think].
Gordie
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Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 11:00:14 GMT -6
I just Googled Thus I Refute Beelzy, which is apparently rather famous. The author was John Collier and the father and son were named Big and Small Simon. I didn't get it entirely right, which is hardly surprising after 30 or 40 years, and the last line is not correctly quoted, but pretty close.
Check it out for yourself - it is well worth the few minutes it takes to read it.
Gordie
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Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 10:44:44 GMT -6
Actually, it sorta reminds me of an old short story titled "Thus I Refute Beelzy," which was the story of a little boy who one day was playing in the garden, scratching in the dirt with a stick when he accidentally [you had to guess at this, since it was only in retrospect that it fit] summoned up the Devil, who told him that his name was [you can call me] Beelzy.
His mother, of course, told him that this was all a matter of his imagination, and that Beelzy wasn't real, and the child replied that he was, and that she wasn't real. The mother then said [as often happens] just wait until your father gets home, and you'll see what's real.
The little boy said he wasn't afraid, because Beelzy said that if anyone tried to hurt him, he would come like a lion, and eat them up. His mother thereupon sent him upstairs to his room.
When the dad came home, she told him the story, and the dad dutifully trudged up the stairs. In a few moments, there came a shriek from that general direction, and the mother said to her visiting lady friend "Hurry, that was not little ," and they ran to the stairs and started up.
The final lines of the story, and I've obviously never forgotten them, are:
"They found the shoe on the second landing, with the foot still in it - like some small morsel which had dropped unnoticed from the jaws of a cat."
I immediately thought of this story when the first foot was found. You can see why.
Gordie
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Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 10:30:38 GMT -6
OHHHHHH. You iz a BAAAAD MAN!!
Gordie
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Post by biggordie on Jun 19, 2008 8:28:45 GMT -6
There should have been TWO!!
In the unfathomable way of official agencies, it was cheaper to send two packages than one containing the contents of the two [sorta like when it's cheaper to buy two small sizes than one giant size of some product at the supermarket].
Gordie
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Post by biggordie on Jun 18, 2008 19:49:07 GMT -6
bc:
I think that they are afraid to jump the gun[and label them as the result of a serial killer] before they can identify any of the footsies via DNA. The sites where the feet were found are rather widespread. Four of them were on the Island, or on different nearby Gulf Islands. Two were found on islands just off the mainland.
Since the Gulf is the location of many airplane and fishing boat accidents, there is some speculation that the feet may have come from same - so they are attempting to get comparison DNA samples from family members of lost men, and from reported "missing" men. The RCMP tends to be ultra-cautious in these matters.
If you were not aware, the RCMP acts as the Provincial Police Force in all of the western provinces, and several of the maritime provinces as well. They also serve as the municipal PD in many cities and towns which find it easier to farm out their policing to the Mounties, rather than handling the responsibility themselves. All they have to do is pay the freight, and then refer any complaints to the force.
All of the wash-up locations so far have been within areas under the jurisdiction of the RCMP. Five of the feet were right feet - all of them were male, and all were found in running shoes of different sizes. I'm not at all certain that the first site could properly be termed a wash-up location - it seems to me that it was too far in, and up, from the beach for the tide to reach. I think the theory was that it had washed up and been re-located by some critter dragging it.
Not having been in the investigative business for several years, I am not prepared to boldly declare SERIAL KILLER!!!, but I will state for the record that:
a) there was more than one victim, and b) I will not be wearing my trainers any time soon
Regards,
Gordie
PS Stay tuned - although the US news people may not cover this story for more than three days, what with the horrible floods and all, it isn't going to go away up here.
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Post by biggordie on Jun 17, 2008 8:58:07 GMT -6
Wasn't it Packer [if that's his true identity] who feasted on TWC's body, and held a private BBQ the night of the 25th? Or was that more liberal hogspittle.
I think Packer and Chapman were major players in the conspiracy, much as Carvill and Dean - or was that Torville and Dean? - were in the plot against Clinton [take your pick of which].
Of course, the big, bad, media - principally CNN - was in on it as well. I'm just not sure who led the plotters and what exactly they hoped to accomplish as an end [maybe the hacking of the computerized, unauditable voting machines]. Touch here, and guess what happens - you'll never be able to find out.
They [the Coloradoans, Colorado-ites, Coloradans, -ists -ians] eat most any old thing, new thing, whatever. When you see "sprouts" on the menu, you had best beware.....................
Gordie CCKC*
*Custer Conspiracy Knitting Club
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Post by biggordie on Jun 17, 2008 0:07:03 GMT -6
As to the stops - no, unless that neat ;itt;e restauramt os the one the bus stops at for a break.
As to valuables - I've never had a problem - I'm old and decrepit - and don't know of anyone who has.
As to boom boxes - you are requested to use headphones, and most people use Ipods or equivalent personal MP 3/4/5s. My experience last year was that cell phones are a bigger annoyance; but I found that a gentle "Speak more quietly, please. My shrink says noise can set me off at any minute," does the trick.
My bus trip took me from Vancouver to Seattle to Boise to Salt Lake City to Las Vegas to Denver to Colorado Springs to Cheyenne to Billings to Spokane to Seattle to Vancouver and lasted several days on the bus [15 days total]. Aside from the bathroom facilities being less than deluxe, and only one coach showing movies, the experience was a pleasant one, and the seats were as good or better than most airplanes I've been on.
I hadn't done the long distance bus thing for forty years , and wasn't sure that I could handle it because of my bad back and my artificial hips, so I cut down on the circle tour considerably [by half]. Much to my surprise, I came through the trip relatively unscathed, and am pre-planning my next one in a couple of years [next year is the UK, by tour bus].
Short hauls should be much easier to take.
Gordie
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Post by biggordie on Jun 16, 2008 16:30:54 GMT -6
It's probably cheaper to take the bus - and you can go when you want to. Well almost when you want to.
Gordie
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