Tag: August 1922
Blockade Runners Brought to Heel: Customs Crack Down on Smugglers
In a daring midnight raid, a United States subchaser, the Hansen, captured a British sloop, the Cormorant, off the coast of Greenport, New York, on August 26, 1922. The Cormorant, flying the British flag, was intercepted by Captain Dizer of the Hansen, who demanded to know the identity of the vessel and its cargo. The…
Coal Crisis: Black Market Deals Exposed in New Britain
August 24, 1922, will be remembered as the day the coal crisis in New Britain, Connecticut, reached a boiling point. A local coal dealer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed a shocking truth: he couldn’t even fill a hat with coal. The desperation was palpable as Main Street businesses struggled to keep their doors…
Skid Row Sorrow: Airplane Fears and Fiery Fists
In the sweltering summer of 1922, a peculiar insurance dispute unfolded in the offices of a Yorkville, S.C. agent. A prospective policyholder, seemingly too tall for his own good, was rejected due to the ‘danger of a fellow having his head knocked off by a skidding airplane.’ This archaic concern was raised by the agent,…
Deadly Dash on the Lincoln Highway: A Tragic Tale of Road Rage
On a fateful morning in August 1922, a devastating car crash shook the sleepy streets of Rock Island, Illinois. John Leveen, a 68-year-old tailor, met a tragic end when the Smith family automobile, in which he was a passenger, careened out of control on the Lincoln Highway, eight miles west of Clinton, Iowa. The gruesome…
Heartless Deceit: A Tale of Delayed Justice in 1920s South Carolina
In a shocking display of audacity, an East End resident of Yorkville, South Carolina, made headlines when he applied for a fire insurance claim over three decades after the alleged incident. The claimant, who wished to remain anonymous, approached the insurance agent and casually mentioned that a fire had ravaged his home, leaving only a…
France Cracks Down on German Debtors in Alsace-Lorraine
PARIS, August 5, 1922 – In a dramatic move to collect on her civil claims, France today launched a policy of mortgaging and seizing German properties within French borders, particularly in the disputed region of Alsace-Lorraine. Premier Raymond Poincare announced the first of five steps in a progressive plan, which effectively amounts to a massive…
France Catches Germany in Debt Trap: Premier Poincare’s High-Stakes Gamble
In a bold move, French Premier Raymond Poincare set his sights on Germany’s financial jugular, announcing a five-step plan to collect on France’s $800 million debt. The first step, launched at noon on August 5, 1922, sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community as France effectively mortgaged all German property within its borders, including the prized…
Rum Runner Ruse Foiled: 3,000 Bottles Seized, Pirates on the Loose
In a brazen attempt to evade the long arm of the law, a notorious rum runner was caught red-handed in Brooklyn, thanks to the tireless efforts of the U.S. Customs Service’s Dry Navy. On Friday, August 4, 1922, Inspector Hokensen and his team of four agents, led by Deputy Surveyor William R. Sanders, searched the…
Coal Heist: Miners’ Strike Turns Ugly in Indiana
In the depths of Indiana’s coal country, a simmering feud between miners and mine owners has erupted into violence. On the heels of a contentious strike, a group of coal miners armed themselves with pickaxes and marched on the mine, intent on disrupting production. But their plan took a deadly turn when a group of…
Harding’s Compromise: A Rare Peace on the Rails
In a stunning turn of events, President Warren Harding has brokered a tentative peace between warring railroad unions and employers in Washington, D.C. on July 31, 1922. After months of bitter strikes, the White House announced that Harding would propose a compromise that has already been agreed upon by both factions, virtually assuring peace on…
