Chief  Two  Moons

   One of the most colorful and controversial generals in U.S. history was General George A. Custer. Had it not been for his premature death at the age of 37, he would have emerged from the pages of history as little more than a footnote.

    But, it was his death in the face of overwhelming odds that permanently sealed his place in history. Most Americans are familiar with Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But, few are familiar with the stranger than fiction mistakes this seasoned war veteran made that led to he and 210 cavalrymen being wiped out. Fewer still are familiar with the treasure buried in the Black Hills that bears his name.

   Custer's elite force, the vaunted Seventh Cavalry, was comprised of 650 men. They were assigned to put down an Indian uprising in the Black Hills that stretched from present day North Dakota to Montana. The land was regarded as sacred to Native Americans. However, prospectors had discovered gold in the area and soon a gold rush began bringing prospectors by the thousands to the area much to the chagrin of Indian leaders. Desiring to stop the white encroachment,  the Indians began assembling in what was soon to become the greatest race war in U.S. history.

    In June of 1876, the Seventh Cavalry departed Fort Abraham Lincoln destined for Little Bighorn to put down the uprising and protect the prospectors. The men were promised five months back pay when they arrived at the Little Bighorn River. The Army was notorious at the time for falling behind on paying the soldiers. Morale was very low and Custer feared paying the men ahead of time would result in mass desertions.

    Once the men were encamped on the Little Bighorn River more than $25,000 in gold coins and paper currency was distributed. The money and other needed supplies had been delivered by the steam ship Far West.  It was here that Custer made the first of several mistakes that sealed his fate and the fate of his men.  As the supplies were unloaded, Custer noticed the men taking two Gatling Guns off the ship. These guns were the early version of machine guns and could spew out hundreds of rounds of bullets in seconds. Custer looked the guns over and, in his classic cocky and arrogant demeanor, said "put them back on the ship. We won't need them."

     The next day he led his men into battle. He was warned by his scouts to turn back as they had seen the village and there were more Indians than they anticipated. Seriously outnumbered but still over confident in his abilities, Custer divided his command among three commanders. He took 210 men and proceeded north where he foolishly allowed himself to trapped in a valley and he and his men were all killed in less than 30 minutes.

    It was 50 years later that Chief Two Moons, a Cheyenne chieftain, disclosed some information that came as a surprise to many and sent treasure hunters scrambling to the Black Hills.

    According to the old chief immediately after the battle the Indians began robbing and mutilating the bodies of the soldiers. While rummaging through their pockets they found the gold coins that had been paid to the soldiers the day before. The Indians considered this to be blood money and placed the coins into a saddle bag. The bag was then buried in the foothills. Two Moons then drew a map to the treasure and gave the map to W.P. Montcure, an entrusted white trader that lived on the reservation in Busby, Montana.  

    Moncure agreed not to look for the treasure. For reasons known only to him, Two Moons wanted Montcure to eventually give the map to the tribal council which would go out and retrieve the treasure in 1986, the 110th anniversary of the battle. Montcure put the map inside the old chief's tomb when he died. In 1966, someone broke into the tomb of Two Moons and stole the map.

    Since then, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been searching for the map and the treasure. Was the story a hoax perpetrated by an old Indian chief or was it real? If it were a hoax the federal government would not have wasted time and money investigating the theft of the map.       

   This is one of 50 strange but true stories in a new book written by Michael Williams. The book is entitled "Stranger Than Fiction: The Lincoln Curse." The stories will leave the reader convinced that perhaps Mark Twain was right when he said "truth is stranger than fiction."

   Michael Williams has written for more than 30 newspapers and magazines including the Civil War Times Illustrated, The Civil War Courier, the Associated Press and the Knoxville Journal.

    The book is 187 pages in a softbound edition with numerous photos. The book can be purchased from amazon.com for $19.95 plus shipping and handling or you can save shipping cost and save $2 on the purchase price by ordering a signed copy directly from the author. Send $17.95 to P.O. Box 6421 Sevierville, TN. 37864.

 

      Some  would  consider   President  John Quincy  Adams  to  be  a  male  chauvinist  by  modern  standards.  In truth, he was simply a product of his time. At  the  time  of  his  presidency (1825-1829)  women  had  few  rights. They couldn’t vote or own land, nor did they have a right to an education. The best a young girl could aspire to was to grow up, marry and become a house wife. Few jobs outside the home were held by women. Essentially, women were second-class citizens. This unequal role thrust upon women of the period was widely accepted by a consensus of American men and Adams had no intention of changing what he perceived as a perfect system.

     Gradually, there began a movement advocating social change in regards to women’s rights. Known as women’s suffrage, the movement had little public support in the early nineteenth century because many women who advocated suffrage supported the movement in silence. Fearing the wrath of their husbands if they made their opinions public, they simply kept their opinions to themselves.

     If the women’s suffrage movement were to gain any momentum they would need someone of great influence to lend his support. Perhaps, the women’s movement needed someone such as the President of the United States. 

     There was one problem. Like most other men, President Adams felt that a woman’s place was in the home and opposed women’s rights. Therefore, he would not even address the issue and rarely was he asked to discuss the subject. If the issue were to be addressed then a woman reporter would have to discuss the issue with Adams.  The problem was that no newspaper would hire a woman reporter, as journalism was a man’s job.

     Enter Anne Royal. She was the advocate the suffrage movement needed even if her tactics were questionable. She began to print her own progressive newspaper advocating suffrage.  She publicly challenged Adams to discuss women’s rights with her, but he refused. She made repeated requests for an audience with the president but was curtly rebuffed each time. Gradually, she grew frustrated and began to stalk the president looking for an opportunity to discuss the issue with him. In modern times, Anne’s tactics would have gotten her arrested. But, the law was different in the 19th century. There was no law that would have forbidden her from pursuing the president. Besides, there was never any malice in her intent. She simply wanted to speak with him about an important issue. 

     She frequently walked past the White House and began watching the president studying his comings and goings. To illustrate how tenaciously she pursued the president, she discovered an opportunity to meet with him one morning—it was before sunrise while she was observing, or stalking, him. She learned that President Adams liked to go skinny-dipping in the Potomac each morning at 5 a.m.  The following morning she put her plan into action.

   She waited patiently in the forest overlooking the White House. Then as dawn slowly overtook the darkness she saw the president emerge from the back door of the White House. Fortunately, for her, there was no secret service in those days. Therefore, when the time was right, she would have the president at her mercy. 

    The president began walking down a path to the Potomac. Anne followed undetected at a distance. She gave Adams time to disrobe and get into the water. Convinced he was in the water she then made her move.

    Adams swam for about an hour. Then he began swimming back toward shore unaware of Anne’s presence. He stood up and began walking toward shore when he heard someone say “Good morning, Mister President.”  Startled, he looked up and realized that Anne was sitting on his clothes on a tree stump.  Surprised, he quickly turned and sat down into the water to cover himself. Remembering he was a gentleman, he smiled and politely asked Anne to please leave so he could get dressed.  She answered his request with a stern “No.”

   Adams, taken aback, repeated his request. Again, she refused to leave until he heard her arguments for women’s rights. Adams was stunned. Although he was naked, he was still the President of the United States and he was being held against his will by a woman. How dare she? 

     By now, he was becoming angry. He again requested that she leave. When she refused he threatened to have the soldiers arrest her. “Go get them” she responded. 

    Realizing she would not be reasoned with he was running out of options. He had tried every way he could think to reason with her but to no avail. Finally, there was one other option. He would try to reason with her with a tactic men have used with women since the dawn of man. He began begging and pleading. Still she refused.

    Faced with no options, Adams agreed to hear her arguments. He was embarrassed as he sat in the water for more than an hour discussing women’s rights. When she was convinced she had made her point Anne got up and walked away, thus, ending the strangest press conference in history.

   This is one of 50 strange but true stories in a new book written by Michael Williams. The book is entitled "Stranger Than Fiction: The Lincoln Curse." The stories will leave the reader convinced that perhaps Mark Twain was right when he said "truth is stranger than fiction."

  Michael Williams has written for more than 30 newspapers and magazines including the Civil War Times Illustrated, The Civil War Courier, the Associated Press and the Knoxville Journal.

   The book is 187 pages in a softbound edition with numerous photos. The book can be purchased from amazon.com for $19.95 plus shipping and handling or you can save shipping cost and save $2 on the purchase price by ordering a signed copy directly from the author. Send $17.95 to P.O. Box 6421 Sevierville, TN. 37864.

For more information click on this link http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Than-Fiction-Lincoln-Volume/dp/1463714858/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335520495&sr=1-1

             

 Is the Lincoln family cursed? Since 1865 four American presidents have been assassinated. Each time a president is murdered he is in the company of a member of the Lincoln family. 

    Sevier  County News editor Michael Williams has written a book that is currently available on Amazon.  “Stranger Than Fiction: The Lincoln Curse”  is a collection of 50 stories  that prove, in the words of Mark Twain, sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction.

   According to Southern lore, a dying Confederate, versed in the dark arts, placed a curse on the Lincoln family on the day General Robert E. Lee surrendered.  Soon afterwards, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and calamity befell everyone who assisted or abetted the Lincoln family. In the next 98 years three more American presidents were assassinated. Each time an American president has been murdered, he was in the company of a member of the Lincoln family.

    Mary Lincoln was with her husband the night he was shot. Robert Lincoln, the president’s eldest son, was with his father when he died the next morning. Robert Lincoln was in the company of President Garfield when he was gunned down 16 years later. The same Robert Lincoln was in the company of President McKinley when he was felled by an assassin's bullet 20 years later. Evelyn Lincoln, personal secretary of President Kennedy, was near the president when he was slain 62 years later. Is it a curse or coincidence? Either way it proves truth can be stranger than fiction.

   Read about how medical bungling killed President Washington who was accidentally bled to death and marvel at the antiquated medical procedures that prompted one doctor to propose resurrecting Washington shortly after he died.

   Read how President Garfield died as a result of medical bungling. Why did a Japanese soldier go on fighting World War II for 29 years after it had ended?

   Examine the photo of Abraham Lincoln's ghost taken by a spirit photographer and decide for yourself is it authentic or a hoax?

   Muse at the antics of love starved sailors who almost took their ship apart and attempted to set sail in the dilapidated vessel to gain the affections of several island women.

   Read about the origins of the custom of awarding presidential pardons to turkeys. Read about the deadly wolf peach and how it became a part of the American diet.

   You'll be intrigued by the bizarre deaths of several prominent people including a well-known detective who died from biting his tongue.

   Learn of General Custer's lost treasure and of the American president who once gave a press conference in the nude.

   Who was the queen whose corpse received a coronation after she died?

   Why was an elephant publicly executed in East Tennessee?

   Read about the wayward outlaw who was given the nickname "The stupidest outlaw in the west."

    Read about the outlaw who started a movie career that spanned several decades after he was shot to death.

   You'll be mystified at Mark Twain's premonition of his brother's death. It was a premonition that came eerily true. And imagine how you would feel if you woke up one morning and read your own obituary in the paper. It happened to Mark Twain.

   These and many other stories will leave the reader convinced that perhaps Twain was right when he said "truth is stranger than fiction."

   Michael Williams has written for more than 30 newspapers and magazines including the Civil War Times Illustrated and The Civil War Courier.

   The book is 187 pages in a softbound edition with numerous photos. The book can be purchased from amazon.comfor $19.95 plus shipping and handling or you can save shipping cost and save $2 on the purchase price by ordering a signed copy directly from the author. Send $17.95 to P.O. Box 6421 Sevierville, TN. 37864. 

 

                                      

                                                      Amy Greene

  For years, East Tennessee's own  Amy Greene had toiled as an aspiring writer with hopes of penning a national best seller. Her dreams came to fruition with the publication of the best selling novel "Bloodroot" which has received rave reviews and sent the humble author from Russellville on a national book tour.

  Her work has been compared to Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" by author Wally Lamb who wrote "Greene's novel has everything I savor in fiction. Flawed but sympathetic characters, a narrative as unpredictable as it is engaging, and a setting rendered with such a vivid palette of local-color detail that you'd swear you were there."

 Greene's novel is the saga of Myra Lamb, a wild girl with mysterious, haint blue eyes who grows up on remote Bloodroot Mountain. Her grandmother, Byrdie, protects her fiercely and passes down “the touch” that bewitches people and animals alike. But when John Odom tries to tame Myra, it sparks a shocking disaster, ripping lives apart. Bloodroot is the dark and riveting story of the legacies—of magic and madness, faith and secrets, passion and loss—that haunt one family across the generations.

  Born in Morristown, Greene makes her home in Russellville with her husband. Having grown up in East Tennessee, she is familiar with culture of the mountain people and the isolation that sets them apart and often makes them appear to be living in a time warp. Greene describes the mountain life as being like "a paradox, with mysticism in the area that has an isolating effect."

  She drew from her own experiences to craft the characters that formed the basis of the story.

   "Of all the characters, Byrdie was the easiest to develop," Greene said. "She was a lot like my Mother and my aunt. John Odom was the most difficult to create. He was abusive and I have never been in an abusive relationship."

  The publication of her novel took the aspiring writer by surprise. After years of seeking a publisher, Greene attended the Swanee Writer's conference where she made several contacts that helped make her dream a reality.

  "It has been a whirlwind,"Greene said. "I have done numerous interviews on TV, radio and newspapers. I have been sent to San Francisco to start a book tour and made part of the Random House bureau of writers. I have become more comfortable with public speaking now."  

  While there has been talk of making "Bloodroot" into a movie, Greene says its only in the talking stages at this point. While the book ended with unresolved issues, Greene says she has no immediate plans to write a sequel.

  "If you tie up a story with a bow where everything ends perfectly, then the story has no life beyond the pages," Greene said. "If there is too neat an ending, then the stories end. I have no regrets. Maybe one day I might revisit the characters, but right now I am not interested."

 Currently, Greene is devoting her energies to her next novel which is the process of editing.The novel is the story of the Longman, the spirit of the Tennessee River.

                   

  After selling out headlining concerts in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville, ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum brings its Need You Now Tour to the Knoxville Civic Coliseum this Friday Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.

   “I feel like we were just writing songs for our very first show at this small club in Nashville,” said Hillary Scott. “I can remember being so nervous to perform in front of just a handful of people that night and to think now we’re beginning to headline our very own tour is unbelievable. We have our fans to thank for following us every step of the way and can’t wait to show them what we’ve worked up!”

    The Hollywood Reporter commented of the group’s momentum, “In only a few short years, country trio Lady Antebellum has risen from obscurity to superstardom…the group is attracting the sort of rabid fandom that clearly signals they're no flash in the pan.”

   The Grammy Award-winning trio’s TRIPLE PLATINUM album NEED YOU NOW debuted at #1 on Billboards Top 200 chart and has already spawned the multi-week #1 smash hits “Need You Now”, “American Honey” and “Our Kind Of Love”. Lady A’s current single, “Hello World”, is already in the top 20 and appears destined for another #1 spot.

   Lady Antebellum first took country music by storm in 2008 with the release of their self-titled PLATINUM certified debut album, which generated the hits "Love Don't Live Here," "Lookin' For A Good Time" and their #1 hit "I Run To You."

  Tickets are $49.50 plus a service charge and can be purchased  by calling 877-995-9961 or 865-656-4444. 

 

                                   

                                                          Harry Houdini 

    It was 85 years ago today, Halloween, 1926, that legendary magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini died at Grace Hospital in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 52. Houdini's  death was the result of peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix. Houdini had once vowed that he would escape the spirit world, if it were possible, to contact his loved ones.

  If anyone could escape the spirit world, Harry Houdini would be the man to do it.

  Houdini became world famous, in the 1890s and early 20th century, as a magician but was known more for his mind boggling escapes. He had escaped from straight jackets while being suspended upside down from flag poles. He had escaped a locked trunk that had been dropped into a frozen river and he stunned the warden of Scotland Yard Prison by escaping the prison that many believed was escape proof. Nothing could hold the Great Houdini.

 Shortly after his mother's death, the grief stricken Houdini began consulting spiritualists and mediums in hopes of contacting his dearly departed mother. He quickly saw through the parlor tricks utilized by these con artists who frequently excelled at swindling grieving people out of their money.

  Houdini began exposing these fraudulent mediums and attacking the spiritualism movement. He quickly made legions of enemies among the spiritualists. At the time he lived, the spiritualism movement was a rapidly growing belief attracting many. The religion was rooted in a philosophy of making contact with the dead through seances. Grieving family members seeking to contact their dead relatives eagerly handed over large sums of cash to the mediums in exchange for helping them make contact. Houdini, and others like him, exposed these phonies and the spiritualism movement  suffered a demise of its own.  

  Houdini once told his wife, Bess, that when he died he would contact her if it were possible. The couple devised a coded message he would give Bess so that she would know she was in the company of her departed husband.

  Following his death, Bess conducted seances each year in an effort to contact him from the spirit world.  Each year for 10 years, Harry Houdini failed to make contact leaving Bess to conclude that her husband had slipped the surly bonds of this life and entered into a realm that even he could not escape.

  The widow of Harry Houdini, Bess, ended her attempts to contact her dead    husband's spirit in 1937.

  Although, Bess ended her attempts to contact Houdini in 1937, seances continue to be held each year at various locations across the nation. Today at 1:26 p.m. the exact moment Houdini died, a seance was held at the Houdini Museum in Scranton Pennsylvania.

  Did Houdini return? According to Dorothy Deitrich, director of the Houdini Museum, during the seance, the candelabra that was used, suddenly began to burn brightly. After the seance ended and the attendees left the museum, a hawk was sighted sitting on the chimney outside the museum. Coincidentally. Houdini used a hawk in his show shortly before he died. Was this a sign from Houdini? If so, it wasn't the first.

   Dietrich recounted another instance that occurred on the fiftieth anniversary of Houdini's death in a picture of Houdini performing his water torture trick fell from the wall. No one was near the picture when it fell.  

                            Have a safe and happy Halloween  

I was probably around the age of four years old when my papaw, that's grandfather for those who aren't from the south, started taking me to visit his brother in the nursing home.  From what I remember, it was normally once a month and always on Sunday afternoon.  I loved going!  I was always so excited; the nurses were always as kind to me as were the residents.  My great uncle always let me straighten his covers for him.  If he felt like being up, I could help push his wheelchair.  We always took him some type of candy, usually the peppermint patties that come in a box.  He would always share them with us and to this day they are still my favorite.  He was always so quiet, gentle, and kind, he never frightened me.  I never remember being afraid of any of the residents, they were just like the folks I was accustomed to being around at church or family gatherings.  They just lived in town instead of out in the country and they need a little extra help.  They were always telling stories about their lives growing up, their families, asking me questions, teasing me, just being normal folks.

 

I can still remember when, how, and where my mother had to break the news to me that he had passed away.  He was the first person I had ever really known that died.  I believe that was when I first realized exactly what a nursing home really was.  The aging process and death became a very real thing to me at the ripe old age of six.  As other friends and family would have to be cared for in the nursing home, I would visit but the carefree attitude I once had was gone.  The innocence of a young child had been squelched at his passing.    

 

I had the great pleasure of hearing a very lovely story that happened within this year.  A friend of mine whose mother had been cared for at one of our local nursing homes was entering the building for a visit when she was welcomed by the wonderful fragrance of roses.  As she entered her mother's room there was a beautiful arrangement of roses.  Not sure what the occasion was, she began to question the staff and was delighted to learn that not only had her mother received this gracious gift, but the other residents as well.

 

A very prominent businessman in our little town of Sevierville had gotten married and after the ceremony, he instructed the florist to deliver the roses to the residence of the nursing home.  My friend was so moved and appreciative that someone would remember her mother and others who are not so often thought about.  This most gracious individual was Mr. R.B. Summitt.  He did this not for notice or recognition, but to bring some enjoyment to those who just need a bright spot in their world, a beautiful bloom, a sweet fragrance, perhaps a long forgotten memory. 

 

So many times we see these stories with pictures and commendation for public service.  But, who was it really for, the person giving or for the recipient.  I commend Mr. Summitt for his generosity and for his quiet giving.  He hasn't a clue that this story is even being made known.  That is what is called true graciousness.  I hope that you will consider this when you decide who to do business with around our little town. 

 

Let's keep our eyes and ears open to what is really going on in Sevier County and see who is giving back to our community.  Let's look at how we can be gracious and kind and quiet in our giving.  Let us recognize those who are always willing to lend a hand, or brighten a day, or just lend an ear.  When it's all said and done, it's the little things in life that make it worth living.

--

Karen Patrick

   A Tennessee man recounts the tragedy that left him floating in shark infested waters for 5 days leaving more than 800 servicemen dead.

  "It was living a nightmare" Edgar Harrell, 86, said of his wartime experiences.

   Harrell was born in Golden Pond, Kentucky and joined the Marine Corps. Shortly after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, that led to the U.S. entry into World War II.  

  Harrell reached the rank of corporal and was assigned to the U.S.S. Indianapolis. On the night of July 30, 1945, the 21-year-old Harrell was working night watch on the cruiser.

 "We had just left the Philippines destined for Tinian Island," Harrell recalled. "We had dropped off a top secret shipment in the Philippines. It was so secret our captain didn't even know what it was. We were told to get the shipment to the island as soon as possible because every day wasted costs American lives."

  The Indianapolis set sail from San Francisco and sailed 5,500 miles in 10 days. After the top-secret cargo was unloaded, the Indianapolis set sail for Tinian.

  Months later, Harrell, along with other survivors, discovered the shipment they delivered were components to the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima and helped bring an expedient end to the war. 

  Then came that fateful night of July 30 that set into motion a series of events and blunders that culminated in the worst loss of life in the history of the U.S. Navy.

 "I had just finished my shift at midnight. I went down below deck to get my blanket and pillow," Harrell said. "It had been so hot that Captain McVay gave us permission to sleep on deck where it was cooler. I was getting ready to lie down under a gun turret. Suddenly, there was an explosion."

 The Indianapolis had been torpedoed by a Japanese submarine under the command of Commander Mochitsura Hashimoto. Six torpedoes had been fired. Four missed and two hit their target with deadly accuracy. The second torpedo slammed into the ship's magazine bringing a second and third explosion that sent shock waves over the stricken vessel.      

  "There were men running around with flash burns and some had severe burns," Harrell recalled." I saw one officer walk up from below deck. When he came into view I realized he was in shock. He had large pieces of charred flesh hanging from his body. He was badly burned."

 Captain Eugene McVay gave the order to abandon ship. Harrell and countless others grabbed life jackets and took the plunge into the ocean.

 "From where I was I watched as the mighty ship rolled over on its side," Harrell said.    

 The still night air was filled with the sounds of men shouting, water splashing, and the roar of a raging inferno and the anguished cries of the injured and dying. 

 "As the ship was rolling over I saw several men jump from the deck to the water," Harrell said. "Some jumped as the ship rolled. I saw several men fall into the propellers where they were cut to pieces."  

 Within moments the hulking ship sizzled as she slipped beneath the waves into the murky depths. Chaos and confusion reigned as McVay tried to restore some semblance of order.

  "It was pitch black out there," Harrell said. "McVay ordered us to huddle together to get into groups so we could be accounted for and to ensure our safety. There were 80 men in my group. Most of us had life jackets. Some didn't."

 Once everyone was assembled groups, McVey conducted a head count. Of the 1,197 men onboard, 900 had been safely evacuated and were treading water. 

  When morning came most of the men seemed optimistic that rescue would soon come. Little did they realize the worst was yet to come.

 "When morning came we were in bad shape," Harrell said.  "Many of the men had been burned or wounded and some had broken bones."

 The intense tropical heat and the massive oil slick from the ship compounded the problems of the injured.

 "Many men were covered with oil that had leaked from the ship. It was 110 degrees in the peak of the day," Harrell said. "To make matters worse there were ocean swells as high as 12 feet."

  As the day wore on many began to experience hallucinations from the heat and dehydration.  Some had accidentally drunk salt water. Others, who were extremely thirsty, believing that a little salt water, could do no harm, attempted to sate their thirst with ocean water. The salt water caused the men to hallucinate.

  Soon, several men attempted to swim to islands that proved to be mirages. Several sailors attempted to swim down to the ship and never resurfaced. Another sailor, suffering hallucinations became convinced his buddy was a Japanese soldier and attempted to strangle him.

  Within hours the next of the survivors' tribulations arrived in the form of a dreaded blood-thirsty predator with an insatiable appetite for human flesh as it swam up from the depths.

 "I saw a man get excited and he started shouting 'I see an island' Then he started swimming away. Then I heard a blood curdling scream and the water around him turned crimson red and began to churn and then I saw half his body float to the surface and the lower half was gone." Harrell recalled. 

  A scene from the movie "The Mission of the Shark" based on the Indianapolis tragedy.

 

 The hapless sailor had just become the first of what would be many victims of shark attack as a massive school of sharks numbering in the hundreds began a merciless feeding frenzy. Over the next four days hundreds of sailors would die as the sharks returned time and again and picked off the sailors one by one.

 "We tried to keep everyone together," Harrell said. "We could fight them off if we were in groups. Then someone would get separated either by a wave or maybe they were too weak to hang on to anyone, then the sharks would get them. Every time a straggler got separated from the group he became a target for shark attack. 

  "After three days in the water, we wondered where rescue was. Of the 80 men in my group only 17 were left."  

  The stench of the water was over powering. Dead bodies floated randomly about and every hour a shark would return to grab a dead body or pull a living sailor to a grisly death. The still tropical air was frequently shattered by the anguished cries of sailors being devoured by the sharks.

 "I remember I was exhausted," Harrell said. "I laid back and began to nap and I felt something bump against me. I opened my eyes and next to me was a corpse. He was covered in oil and bloated. He had begun to decay. It was horrible. I wanted to swim away but I realized if I started thrashing the sharks would come. So I realized it was safer to stay near the corpse."

 On the fourth day the survivors were exhausted, dehydrated and ill. 

 "Swallowing oil causes severe dehydration and nausea. A friend of mine, Spooner, has salt in his eyes and he got to where he couldn't blink. He lost his eyesight and it was months before he could see again," Harrell said.

 Then the sailors heard a low humming on the horizon. Moments later an American airplane came into view. At first there was jubilation as the sailors thought they were about to be rescued. But, their joy was short lived when they found themselves faced with death, yet again.  

  "As the plane approached, those of us who had strength started shouting. Then I saw a sight that made my blood run cold. The bomb doors were slowly opening. They were about to bomb us," Harrell recounted. "The pilot was about to drop bombs to destroy what he thought was a Japanese submarine. He had seen the oil slick and thought it was a sub. At the last conceivable moment the co-pilot realized we were survivors.  He shouted to the pilot not to drop the bombs. If he had done that we would have been blown to bits."

 The plane circled around to get a better look then circled again and opened the bomb doors.  But instead of dropping bombs, the plane dropped life jackets and life rafts. The co-pilot, Lieutenant Gwinn, later reported he saw more sharks than people in the water. Within hours rescue ships arrived to pick up the survivors. Rescue continued until early the next morning. Harrell and Spooner were the only two that remained in his group. Of the 900 that treaded water five days, only 317 remained. The navy estimated the sharks killed half those men and the rest died of exposure and injuries. Their bodies were eaten by the sharks as well.  Few bodies were recovered.

  Most of what was recovered was a few torsos, arms, legs, and other body parts," Harrell said. "The incomplete bodies were impossible to identify." 

  The survivors were pulled from the water and taken to a hospital in Guam where they eventually recovered. Suffering from a perforated appendix, Harrell spent three months in the hospital and nearly died.  During his hospitalization he learned the Japanese had surrendered and the United States had won the war.

  At the conclusion of the war, Harrell returned to civilian life and went to work for Pella Windows where he eventually retired.

  Peace would not be forthcoming for Captain McVay. In the wake of the nation's worst naval disaster in history, naval commanders needed a scapegoat and it would take little time to find one.

  "The Navy investigated and McVay became their scapegoat. He did nothing wrong," Harrell said. "He was court martialed."

    Navy regulations clearly state that zigzagging is at the captain's discretion when hostile submarines have been sighted. Since none had been sighted, McVay had followed Navy protocol.

  "His superiors had screwed up," Harrell said. "Their mistakes cost lives and McVay was blamed. But, he was innocent. He was a good captain."

  In an unexpected move, McVay's lawyer called Japanese Commander Hashimoto to testify on McVay's behalf. Under oath Hashimoto testified that even if the Indianapolis had zigzagged it would have made no difference because the Japanese submarine was too close for McVay to evade attack.

  McVay was convicted and given a reduction in rank. His career was irreparably damaged by what the Navy termed as his dereliction of duty. The following year Admiral Chester Nimitz restored McVay's rank. Nonetheless, the captain was haunted by the tragedy. 

  "For years he received hate mail from the families of the victims who blamed him for everything," Harrell said. "He saw little of it because his wife would hide it from him. Then she died in the 1960s and he found some of the letters."

  On November 6, 1968, McVay committed suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Of the 350 ships sunk in World War II, McKay was the only man court martialed for losing his ship. In the months before his trial, McVay made numerous inquiries as to why his men were left in the water for five days with no rescue. He never received an answer. 

  "It all came down to his superiors messed up and they needed someone to blame," Harrell said in defense of his captain. "Several years after McVay died, declassified Navy documents revealed what happened that night.

                       

After 5 days rescuers came to the rescue of the survivors while sharks continued to to prey on the dwindling crew.

   On the night the Indianapolis was sunk, a distress signal was sent out. According to Harrell, the documents reveal those distress signals were received by three admirals. None of which responded. 

  "One of the admirals was drunk," Harrell said. "Another had left word he didn't want to be disturbed. The third thought it was a clever Japanese trick to get American ships into the area so that they could be attacked."

 In light of the evidence, Congress gave McVay a long overdue full exoneration in 2000.  Of the 1,197 men aboard the Indianapolis, only 317 were rescued from the water. Time has taken a toll on the survivors. Today only 74 survivors are left. Only three are from Tennessee. 

   The Indianapolis tragedy was the subject of a 1991 movie entitled "The Mission of the Shark" starring Stacy Keach as McVay.  Many remember Captain Quinn recounting the tragedy of the Indianapolis in the movie "Jaws."

                      

Survivors reunite every two years to remember their fallen comrades.

 

A memorial was built to honor the victims and the survivors in Indianapolis.

   Edgar Harrell now makes his home in Clarksville, Tennessee where he lives with his wife of 63 years, Ola Mae. 

  The Harrells have two children. Their son, David, helped his father write a book about the incident entitled "Out of the Depths."

 Harrell lectures at churches and civic meetings about his wartime experiences.

  "Throughout the ordeal, I never lost faith that God would rescue me," he said. "I must have prayed a hundred times during those five days.

   "When I meet young people today who are going through personal problems, I tell them a little about my story. I tell them if God can help me get through what I am going through he can help you get through what you are going through."

  For more information about the Indianapolis tragedy, visit Harrell's Web site at  www.indysurvivor.com.

                              

                             .

                           Edgar and Ola Mae Harrell

 This week marks the 150th anniversary of the day 29 East Tennessee counties attempted to secede from the Confederate States of America and form their own state, The State of East Tennessee, and remain loyal to the Union.

  It appears as if the Confederacy was a loosely confederated nation with parts of several states attempting to break free and declare their independence. Winston County, Alabama, was one such county, after county elders met and declared themselves to be the Free State of Winston. The Free State of Jones in Mississippi was another. The State of East Tennessee was yet another.

                                          

   Thomas A.R. Nelson opposed secession but later defended former Confederates after the Civil War in court.

 Secession from the Union may have been popular throughout the middle and western part of the Volunteer state. But, 29 East Tennessee counties rejected the move. Among those that rejected seceding from the United States was Sevier County whose voters rejected secession by a vote of 96 percent against.

  When secession came, delegates from 28 of the 29 dissenting counties called  a special convention to discuss their options. The first meeting was held in Knoxville on May 30-31. During this meeting Congressman Thomas A.R. Nelson was appointed President of the Convention and future President of the United States Andrew Johnson (Who was serving as a U.S. senator) spoke for two hours urging the delegates not to yield to the fanaticism that threatened the nation.

  The second round of meetings took place June 17-20 in Johnson's hometown of Greeneville. The convention was attended by delegates of all 29 counties. The convention concluded with delegates agreeing on several resolutions. They agreed to create their own state and remain neutral in the war. East Tennessee would form militia companies and prepare to defend itself against a Confederate military invasion.

 The statue of President Andrew Johnson stands near the site where the East Tennessee Convention took place. 

  Shortly after the Greenville meeting, delegates from the East Tennessee Convention presented their resolutions to the state general assembly who rejected the proposal. 

  The state general assembly offered the delegates a compromise. The general assembly assured them none of their residents would be conscripted into the Confederate Army. Governor Isham Harris dispatched Confederate forces to East Tennessee to protect the few secessionists of the area and to forge a reconciliation with the region. 

  In response, many of the convention members fled the region and some went into hiding. The dissidence did not abate. Later, in 1861, the county elders in Scott County met and decided to declare themselves the Free and Independent State of Scott.    

 

 

Editor's note; This week the Seviercountynews.com begins a new weekly feature entitled "This week in history." The feature is a recounting of the most seminal moments in American History and the impact those events had on Sevier County. The stories will feature interviews with some local people who may have played a role in those events or may have some insight into those watershed moments in history. The feature can be viewed in our blogs section by clicking on the tab labeled blogs.

                   June 8, 1861, Tennessee Secedes From The Union. 

   Begining in December of 1860, one by one, the southern states began to secede from the union by calling conventions within their states and drafting ordinances of secession. The union was dissolving for a variety of reasons still debated by historians 150 years later. Among those issues were state's rights.

   By February of 1861, seven southern states had drafted ordinances of seccession declaring themselves free and independant from the United States of America. These states formed a new nation, The Confederate States of America. But, Tennessee was not among those states. 

  At the secession convention held in Nashville in February, Tennesseans rejected secession by a vote of 54 percent to 46 percent. For now, it appeared as if the Volunteer State would remain loyal to the United States. But, all that changed on April 12,1861 when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumpter in South Carolina. The attack was a calculated move intended to extricate Union forces from the fort and evict Federal forces from the state. 

   In response to the attack, President Abraham Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 Federal troops to man southern forts. To southern leaders this was seen as a full scale invasion.

  Congressman Horace Maynard of East Tennessee was a staunch unionist. He questioned Lincoln's call for troops as an act of aggression.

  "For what purpose could such an Army be wanted except to invade, overrun and subjugate the southern states," Maynard said. 

  Passions were running high over the Fort Sumpter attack when the second convention of secession held in June. Strong support from the middle and  western regions was instrumental in getting the ordinance of secession passed and Tennessee became the last state in the south to leave the union. While the state passed the resolution there were many in the east that were staunchly loyal to the north. In 29 East Tennessee counties, 82 percent of the voters rejected secession and chose to remain loyal to the nation whose struggles they had shared for so long. In Sevier County a whopping 96 percent of the voters had rejected secession.     

  Despite dissent from the eastern portion of the state, Tennessee seceded from the Union on June 8, 1861 setting into motion a series of events that would divide the state as much as it divided the union.

Hi, I'm Luke, and I'll be sharing some photos and stories about living and studying in Manchester, England over the next few months. I am a graduate of Sevier County High School and am currently a junior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I'm doing a pre-law program here at The University of Manchester this semester and hope to attend law school in the US in a couple of years.

The picture below was taken at York Minster cathedral in the city of York, England. It's one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, and parts of the building were constructed as early as AD 1080. I visited York last weekend, and the cathedral was probably the most impressive building I've ever seen. It also has an interesting history in that before there was a Christian presence in York a Roman basilica stood on the same site. Some of the original Roman walls and columns are still intact in the basement area of the current cathedral. The rest of the city was great as well, except for the particularly English weather--sleet/rain, wind, and cold. I'm jealous of the recent East Tennessee sunshine and warm days!

It's been a while since I have been to Food Lion. I rarely cross the intersection needed to get there, but I can see why people who live on that side of town like Food Lion. It is very clean and I like the layout. I was not too impressed with the produce though, which is expensiver for the quality. Again, I found California strawberries. I just can't see buying them when FL has superior ones. I must say though that Krogers had Florida strawberries this week.

I found all the brands I shop for in this store-just not as many varieties of each. I actually liked not having to scour endless rows of soups and baked beans. Am I the only person who gets tired of too many insignificant varieties of products? The prices on some products are very low. I use Cary's sugarless syrup to flavor many foods, including hot tea and oatmeal. It is on sale this week for $2.69 narly $1.00 less than Kroger. Food City only carries the small bottle and charges too much for it.

After food products I headed to household neccessities which got my attention right away with a great price on Cascade action packs. They do save using too much dishwashing powder.

In the future when I'm on my way to CoOp early on Saturday morning, I plan to stop at Food Lion. Maybe it's the smaller square footage, or maybe it was the friendly employees that made me feel like I was shopping in a small town store. Maybe my cashier who just borrowed a value card from the man behind me in line when mine wouldn't work all contributed to a good visit. I'm just one shopper, but I like Food Lion.

 Youth league basketball players get a pep talk from their coach.

Some people want to experience a professional basketball game during their life time. There’s nothing like seeing the best of the best at their profession compete on the same stage. I have personally been lucky enough to attend a NBA game myself, and there is nothing quiet like the experience. There is also something about seeing basketball in its purest form, though, that a true fan of the game can appreciate.

Luckily for basketball fans, Sevier County offers us many opportunities to see the game in a way that all fans of the game can enjoy it.

The kids playing in our county in programs like the First Baptist Chuch of Sevierville Upward Basketball Program are not getting paid when they go out and play the game. They are not celebrities or aspiring rappers, like the athletes we see in professional basketball today; they all just enjoy the opportunity to go out and compete with their friends. Even the college game now-a-days is more about an individual trying to get into the NBA than it is about building team camaraderie.

The kids in our local high school programs and in the First Baptist Church of Sevierville Upward Basketball Program have more of a desire to play the game than some professionals because their only motive to play is the love of the game and not the money or fame that may come with the professional game.

This past Saturday I attended an Upward Basketball game that involved 2nd graders. There were no fireworks during the pregame introductions and there was no one who ran to the scorers table to throw chalk in the air (see LeBron James) but they were giving their all just for the fun of playing the game. The environment may be a little different from that of what you would find at an NBA game but, you still have your screaming parents, entertaining coaches, and your questionable calls. That’s just one of many aspects of the game that is offered in our county.

If you don’t have time on your weekends to fit an upward game into your schedule then maybe you can catch a local high school game during the week. The in-county rivalries can be very intense, and the talent level of some players may come as a surprise if you have not been out lately to enjoy one of these games.

As you can see there is a variety of options that is offered for the basketball fan in our county. You don’t always have to drive to Knoxville, Memphis or Atlanta to enjoy good quality basketball game; it’s right in our on back yard.

Audrey Yates gets things rolling at the “Hot Properties Event.”

Area Realtors and real estate professionals gathered at the City of Sevierville council chambers Thursday for a new and exciting marketing event, “Hot Properties.”

In the past 10 to 15 years real estate marketing has become a very technologically oriented process. Most real estate professionals communicate via e-mail, Internet and social media sites. While most interested buyers search the Internet for properties that would fit their needs and budget, “Hot Properties” was started in Florida as a way to help market properties the old fashion way, face to face. Judy Bell of Fidelity Title Company first heard about the idea and shared it with Audrey Yates of Smoky Mountain Title. This first event was sponsored by Smoky Mountain Title and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Co.

More story and photos after the jump.

This week I am reporting on Kroger's prices and products. Keep in mind that I only discuss the things I buy.  Your experience may be totally different.

I entered Krogers in the produce section and  found they are still selling California strawberries. Florida berries are ripe and delicious so that's one item I would rather get at Food City, however, the pickling cucumbers looked good so I got some.  

Moving on to the meat section, I notice that Wright's bacon is still cheaper at Krogers than Food City. Wright's must have a new owner because since last Fall their prices have almost doubled. For example, a 3lb. bag of bacon used to sell for about $ 10. Now it is about $18. Food City sells the 1.5 lb. bag for $10.00 though!

Talking about high prices, Progresso soups are  $2 and$2.20 currently at Kroger. F.C is running them at $1.30. Smuckers NaturalCreamy Peanut Butter is $.60 cheaper at Food City. So this week's shopping at Kroger is giving Food City a lot of free press. 

My pet peeve area at Kroger this week was the paper towel area. There were large empty spots of sale items and other displays were not priced. So I hauled a store brand up front and had the cashier scan it. Over $10.00 for an 8 pack. I dragged them back and didn't buy any paper towels at Kroger this week, but the Ocean Spray Lite Cranberry juice in 12oz. bottles is on close out. 

Last week I called Minute Maid and was informed that they discontinued the orange juice I used to buy. What gives with these juice sellers?

I know grocery stores hate cherry pickers, but when items are clearly out of line, beware.  I will go to two stores. Next week I'll be shopping at Food Lion.  I can't wait to see what I can't find or will refuse to pay for. But  maybe everything will be great. 

Again, I will say that your shopping experience may be totally different than mine because you buy what your family eats.  Do you have pet peeves or favorites from your weekly shopping excursions?

Do you shop at just one grocery store each week?  Can you find the brands and varieties you and your family like? I wish I could, so I set out to see which local grocery store came closest to filling my buggy in one trip. After all, every one wants to get shopping done quickly while finding the nutritious foods they prefer.
       
Yesterday I tried Food City. Things didn’t go well. They hid the boxes of 20 canned Coke products that sell for $5.99, and I would never pay $4.44 for a 12 pack. I settled for 1 6 pack of 16.9 plastic cokes. Someone who I suspect is disturbed has redistributed the store’s stock, and shopping became a nightmare by the time I reached the coffee/tea isle and discovered that tea had been removed. It now lives next to and across from soft drinks in case you are looking.

The McCormick chili seasoning I’ve been using for decades is gone. Replacing it are only store brands. I realize these store brands probably make more profit for the grocery, but who wants to take that chance on a big pot of chili? I left without any.

Shredded Parmesan cheese was moved, but not by several isles like some other items. I found it and had a good laugh because next to it I found horseradish. I fail to see any relationship in these products. Do you? I better commit it to memory in case I ever need any though.

Last, I trotted down the same isle to pick up a 6 pack of Tropicana orange juice in 8 ounce plastic bottles. Gone. Closeout. All of this means that I went home without items I came to Food City to buy. Next I’ll go to Kroger, followed by Food Lion. How are you doing at the stores?