USS Fulton (SP-247)-- Part 2: A Minesweeper

This USS Fulton was built as a steel-hulled tug in 1909 by the Staten Island Shipbuilding Company at Port Richmond on Staten Island for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co. to tow barges carrying rail cars.  It was named after inventor Robert Fulton who was being honored in New York City's Hudson-Fulton Celebration on the centennial of the development of practical steamship technology.

The Navy acquired her under charter on 30 April 1917 during World War I.  She was to be a minesweeper.  After arming with a single  1-pounder gun, she was commissioned  on 22 September 1917 with her two officers and 16 men assigned to the Third  Naval District.  On 11 April 1918 her official name was reduced to SP-247.

The Navy returned her to its previous owner, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad on 12 August 1919.

Don't Need It Anymore.  --Cooter

And Another USS Fulton (SP-247)-- Part 1

Still researching ships by the name of the USS Fulton and Wikipedia has two more ships by that name.  Thus USS Fulton served at the same time as the Fulton that started off as the U.S. Navy's first submarine tender.

From Wikipedia.

The fourth USS Fulton(SP-247) later USS SP-247 was a commercial tug built in 1909.  She was commissioned by the Navy as a minesweeper in 1917 and served in the Third Naval District and returned to her previous owners two years later.  She was used until the 1960s, often under the name of Catherine Carroll.

It was 93.5 feet long, 25.2 foot beam, crew of ten as a minesweeper and armed with one 1-pdr. gun.

--Cooter

USS Fulton (AS-1)-- Part 4: Panama Canal Zone, Asiatic Fleet and a Disastrous Fire

The Fulton was recommissioned  on 2 December 1930 as a gunboat and had duty as a survey ship in the Panama Canal Zone.  It was reclassified as the USS Fulton (PG-49).  It conducted surveys  in the area until 1932 when it went to San Diego and made preparations to join the U.S. Asiatic Fleet.

Her assigned station was Hong Kong where the ship arrived in November and then made voyages to Cavite  Navy Yard in the Philippines and cruised along the Chinese coast from Hong Kong to Canton until March 1934.

On this day a fire broke out amidships.  As the ship appeared to be sinking, the crew was taken off by the British destroyer HMS Wishart and merchant ship SS Tinian.  Three of the crew suffered injuries.    The crew was taken to  the Royal Navy Dockyard at Hong Kong.  The British destroyer HMS Whitshed stood by the burning Fulton until the fire was put out.  An American tug arrived  to tow the Fulton to Hong Kong where emergency repairs were made and she was towed to Cavite.

The United States Department of the Navy  later passed thanks along to British authorities for their service.

Damage to the Fulton was considered too great and she was decommissioned  on 12 May 1934 and scrapped later that year.

The Story of a Ship.  --Cooter

USS Fulton (AS-1)-- Part 3: Service By the Panama Canal

I have been writing about the USS Fultons that have been in the U.S. Navy over the years, starting with the first one at the end of the War of 1812 in my Not So Forgotten blog, the second one which was in the Civil War in my Running the Blockade blog and the third one here in this blog.

There was also a 4th Fulton that served in WW I  and the fifth and last one served in World War II and during the nuclear submarine age.  I'll be writing about the fourth one in this blog and the last one in my WW II blog.

The USS Fulton (AS-1) was the first navy ship specifically built to take care of submarines in 1914 as that branch was growing.

During this time, the Fulton took part in maneuvers and war games  and served as station ship in New London.  In 1923, she was reassigned as a tender to the submarine fleet at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone. During he next years, the Fulton took part in exercises off both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the canal.  It returned to Philadelphia in 1925, was decommissioned and placed in reserve.

--Cooter

USS Fulton (AS-1)-- Part 2: Sponsored By the Granddaughter of Robert Fulton

Laid Down 2 October 1913, launched 6 June 1914,  commissioned 7 December 1914, decommissioned  5 October 1925, recommissioned 2 September 1930, reclassified as a gunboat (PG-49) and decommissioned  12 May 1934.  Scrapped 1934.

226.6 feet long, 35 foot beam,   complement 6 officers and 129 enlisted.  Armament two 3-inch and one 1-pdr. antiaircraft gun.

Originally to be named the USS Niagara, but renamed  Fulton 10 Feb. 1913.  Launched  6 June 1914 at New London Ship and Engine  Company, Groton, Connecticut.  The ship was sponsored by Mrs. A.T. Sutcliffe, granddaughter of Robert Fulton, for whom the ship was named.

During her first six months, the Fulton tended submarines in Norfolk,  Charleston, New York and  Newport, then, after overhaul, arrived in New London on 2 November 1915 and became  the base ship for the newly-formed Submarine School in 1918.  Through 1922, this was her main base of operations with submarines along the U.S. east coast.

--Cooter

USS Fulton (AS-1)-- Part 1: The Third USS Fulton 1914-1934

From Wikipedia.

I have been writing about the first USS Fulton in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog.  It was originally named USS Demologos and was designed by Robert Fulton.  When he died, the name was changed in his honor.  It did not see much service.

The second USS Fulton was launched in 1837 and was destroyed during the Civil War and I am writing about that in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Naval Blog.

Well, this i the third USS Fulton, so I figured to go ahead and write about it in my Cooter's History Thing blog, so here goes.

The USS Fulton (AS-1) was a submarine tender launched in 1914 in the early years of the submarine service.  It was reclassified as a gunboat (PG-49) in 1930 and decommissioned in 1934.  It was teh first U.S. Navy ship designed specifically for tending to submarines.

--Cooter

An Interesting Tidbit on Cubs Attendance in 1965

From Baseball Refernce.com.

In these days of the Cubs selling out Wrigley Field most games, here is something interesting about attendance back in 1965.

The Cubs opened the season at home against the rival St. Louis Cardinals.  You'd have to figure a sellout.

Game 1 vs. Cardinals:  Attendance;  19,751  This game ended in a 10-10 tie
Game 2   9,358  Won 3-1
Game 3   3,569   Won 7-3

Game 8 vs. Cincinnati Reds  6.752   Lost 9-2
Game 9   3.813   Won    3-2
Game 10  vs. Milwaukee Braves   4,281   Won  3-1

Where'd All These Current Cub Fans Come From?  --Cooter

Then, There Was Roberto Pena of the Chicago Cubs

Mr. Hazle certainly made an impression with the Milwaukee Braves when he first came to the major leagues, but I remember a player named Roberto Pena from the Dominican Republic who made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs and made quite the impression in 1965.  I watched it all on the Cubs TV station, WGN, which has it last games being televised this season.

At the time I was just getting interested in baseball.  Had Roberto Pena continued his career hitting like that I might well have become a Cubs fan instead of White Sox.

In his first game with the Cubs, the season opener, Mr. Pena hit a home run off Bob Gibson and went 3 for 6 scoring two runs and three RBI.  In his second game, he hit 1 for 3 with another home run off Curt Simmons, scored two runs and one RBI and went 1 for 4 in the third with one RBI..

And that was his season highlight for the Cubs  as in 51 games and 170 at bats, he got 37 hits, batted .218 and hit no more home runs.  He was sent to the minors part way through the season.  In 1966, he played just six games for the Cubs and after that played one year each in Philadelphia, San Diego and Oakland and two years with Milwaukee.

His career stats:  587 games, 1907 At Bats, 174 hits, Batting Average .239 AL and .248 in NL, and 13 Home Runs.

Another Fast Start That Fizzled.  --Cooter

Baseball's Bob "Hurricane" Hazle-- Part 3: Batted .556 in First Dozen Games

The first-place Milwaukee Braves swept the second-place St. Louis Cardinals on August 9-11, which went a long way towards sealing the National League pennant for the Braves.  The first two games of the series were blowouts, and Hazle had seven hits and five RBI.  He batted a torrid .556 in his first dozen games.

For the season, Hazle  batted .403 in 41 games, with seven home runs and 27 RBI.  On the next-to-the-last game of the season, he broke  a no-hit bid by Cincinnati's Johnny Klippstein with a two-out eighth inning single.

Then, he appeared in four of the seven World Series games that year, hitting just two hits for an ineffective .154 batting average.  However both of his Series hits came in the seventh and deciding game,  Hazle scored the first run in the 5-0 victory.

Despite having just 154 at bats, he finished  fourth in the 1957 Rookie of the Year voting.

After a bad start in 1958, he was traded to Detroit  After a stint in the minors, he retired in 1960.  he died in Columbia, South Carolina in 1992 at the age of 61.

Well, That Was Quite the Year for Mr. Hazle.  --CootCane

Baseball's Bob "Hurricane" Hazle-- Part 2: Quite the Call Up!

BOB HAZLE  (1930 to 1992)

Played three years in the majors with the Reds, Braves and Tigers. He was a member of the 1957 World Series Champion Milwaukee Braves.  Played 101 games in his major league career, batting .310 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs.  Most all of that coming in his late season call up from the minors for the Braves in 1957.  He was a big reason they got to the World Series.

In music he would be called a One Hit Wonder.

Born in Laurens, S.C.

Hazle is best-known for his meteoric play for the Braves in 1957 when he was called up late in the season to replace injured outfielder Bill Bruton, but didn't play until the Braves' 100th game.  In less than three weeks, from August 9 through August 25, he batted .473 with 5 home runs and  and 19 RBI in just 14 games.

This unexpected burst of offense earned him the nickname of "Hurricane" after Hurricane Hazel which had struck his home state of S.C. in 1954.

That Was Some Start to His Career.  --CootHazel

Cost of Cigarettes Up to 20 Cents in 1919

From the March 20, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"The high cost of smokes, as well as matches has been thrust upon users of the weed, and it is rumored about town that a lot of fellows are going to swear off.  Cigarettes that used to cost 10 and 15 cents are now selling for 20 cents in many stores, while in some places the proprietor has added just the war tax.

Matches formerly selling for a cent a box are now selling two boxes for five cents, and in addition, they are marked on the box as 'war quality' that means about every other one usable."

These costs were for a pack of cigarettes.  Of course, now with the cost of a pack of cigarettes at $6 to $8, that sure doesn't seem so bad.

--CootSmoke

Baseball's Bob "Hurricane" Hazle-- Part 1: 1957 Milwaukee Braves

While going over a post on my August 21, 2007, Down Da Road I Go blog, I came across a mention of this baseball player who had an interesting nickname and had one unbelievable major league baseball career after being called up from the minors by the 1957 Milwaukee Braves and helping them get to the World Series.

I was talking with another Milwaukee Brewer fan at the Kenosha County Fair in Wilmont, Wisconsin.  I back the Brewers if they are not playing my 2nd favorite MLB team, the Chicago Cubs, or favorite one, the Chicago White Sox.  I didn't get interested in baseball until around 1964 and so didn't know anything about the Milwaukee Braves (before they moved to Atlanta and after they moved from Boston), other than some of their key players like Warren Spahn, Eddie Matthews and Hank Aaron.

I was looking at the 1957 Milwaukee Braves team roster on Wikipedia, and there were actually quite a few players I had heard of before.  Here are the players I had heard of before:

Del Crandall
Red Schoendienst
Del Rice
Joe Adcock
Bob Buhl
Frank Torre (Well, older brother of Joe Torre.)
Lew Burdette  (Buhl and Burdette from their time with the Cubs.)
Juan Pizarro  (From his time with the White Sox.)
Wes Covington
Andy Pafko

Lots of History Here.  --Cooter

Deaths of 9-11 Responders Continue to Rise

From the September 12, 2019, Chicago Tribune  "Deaths of 9/11 first responders from related illnesses on rise" by Cindy Dampier.

New York City detective Tom Frey talks about the most devastating assignment of his career.  "We were going down there, just trying to find anyone who was alive," he says of the hours and days after the attacks.  "We were digging in, moving concrete with our hands, basically just trying to find anyone who was alive.  I was never lucky enough to find a survivor, but we did all we could."

Instead, he found himself tending to the dead, sifting through the debris brought to a Staten Island landfill looking for any trace of evidence that could shed light on the horrific attack.  He searched for plane parts and human remains, all parts of a landscape rendered unrecognizable by pulverizing destruction and a pervasive layer of gray dust.

"On the job, I've seen plane crashes, people jumping out of windows, hanging themselves, subways derailed -- all sorts of things.  But you're never prepared for something like this."

America never would be the same.  Neither would Tom Frey.

Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)-- Part 3

Continued from my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II and Not So Forgotten: War of 1912 blogs.

Alan Jackson

*******************

Did You Look Up to Heaven for some kind of answer

And look at yourself  and what really matters?

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real politician man

I watch CNN

But I'm not sure  I can tell you

The difference between Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus

And I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith, hope and love are some  things He gave us

And the greatest is love.

****************

That song got me then and gets me now.

Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park At the Movies-- Part 1: "Blues Brothers" and "A League of Their Own"

From the May 5, 2019, Chicago Tribune Sports Section  "Ballpark Stars:  Movies, TV shows have often shot scenes at Wrigley or Comsikey: by Phil Rosenthal and Tim Bannon.

The new Netflix movie "The Last Summer," is set in Chicago, but mostly filmed in Cleveland, except for the scenes inside Wrigley Field.

Here are nine memorable movie and TV scenes at the two ballparks over the last 40 years:

1.  "THE BLUES BROTHERS"  (1980)

A great cameo for Wrigley.  When the American Nazis were looking for Jake and Elwood Blues, they got their address as 1060 West Addison, only to find Wrigley Field at that address.

2.  A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN" (1992)

The tryout for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League took place at Wrigley.

--CootWrig

The Ten Best-Ever Chicago Bears-- Part 11: From Danimal to Nagurski to Sweetnness

Okay,  Time for the Ten Best-Ever Bears.

*  Means I've Hear of Them  **  Means on the '85 Bears.  DaBears!!

10.  Brian Urlacher*

9.  Dan Hampton**  "Danimal"

8.  Doug Atkins*

7.  Bulldog Turner*

6.  Bill George*

5.  Sid Luckman*

4.  Gale Sayers*

3.  Bronko Nagurski*  Now, how's this name for a football player?

2.  Dick Butkus*

1.  Walter Payton**  "Sweetness"

To see the entire list, click on the 100 Greatest Bears label.

It Just Had to be Sweetness.  --CootBear

A Real Tootful in 1918

From the December 19, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"A Chicago man accompanied by 'a friend'  came out here last evening, and having been employed by the government 'hadn't touched a drop' for some time, and when released from work immediately began to tank up.

"When the couple arrived here both were well soused and the young man, rather talkative, started something in Bell's restaurant and the proprietor and police had to finish."

Making Up For Lost Time I Reckon.  --Cooter

Ranking the 100 Best Bears-- Part 10: McMichael, Dent and Singletary

*  I've heard of him.  **  On the '85 Bears.


20..  Red Grange*

19.  Devin Hester*

18.  Steve McMichael**

17.  Stan Jones

16.  George Connor*

15.  Joe Stydahar

14.  Richard Dent**

13.  Danny Fortmann

12.  Mike Singletary**

11.  Mike Ditka**

So surprising that there would be so many of these 100 Best Bears who were on the 1985 Bears, Super Bowl XX Champions.

Sure enjoyed seeing the members of the 1985 squad out on the field before the Packer-Bear game last night.

'85 Bears.  Best Ever.  --CootBear

And the All-Time Best Bears Player? You Probably Knew All Along

Today, the Chicago Tribune arrived at its choice for all-time best Bears player.  You knew it and I knew it.  Walter Payton.  I just started really liking the Bears in 1974 so got to see the entire Payton saga.  When he had the ball, excitement was about to happen.

Opponent defensive players hated to see Payton running at them, with or without the ball, as they knew they were going to get a mighty hit.

Anyway, I will continue with the other Bears in the Top 100  as I am now up to #20.  I hope the Tribune puts this out in a magazine or book.  I'd sure buy one.  I've especially been enjoying reading about the old-timers.  That George Trafton was something else.

--DaBearDog

Ranking the 100 Best Bears Ever-- Part 9: Papa Bear

*  I've heard of them   **  On the '85 DaBears

30.  Ed Healey

29.  Lance Briggs*

28.  George Trafton*  He's the one I wrote about in the Decatur Staleys-Rock Island Independents rivalry.

27.  Joe Fortunato

26.  Olin Kreutz**

25.  George Halas**  Papa Bear

24.  Bill Hewitt

23.  Jay Hilgenberg**

22.  George McAfee*

21.  Jimbo Covert**

Ranking the 100 Best Bears Ever-- Part 8: Fencik and "Peanut"

*  Means I've heard of him  **  One of the '85 Bears, Super Bowl XX Champions.

40.  Luke Johnsos

39.  Gary Fencik **

38.  Charles Tillman*  "Peanut"  He could sure make you fumble.

37.  Ken Kavanaugh

36.  Rick Casares*

35.  Harlon Hill

34.  Paddy O'Driscoll*

33.  Ed Sprinkle

32.  George Musso*

31.  Link Lyman

--CootBear

Ranking the 100 Best Bears-- Part 7: " Double D" and Buffone

I am hoping that the Tribune will put these stories out in a magazine or book.

*  I've heard of the player   **  On the '85 Bears team.

50.  Larry Morris

49.  Dave Duerson **   The Double D.

48.  Doug Buffone*

47.  Matt Forte*

46.  Fred Williams

45.  Joe Kopcha

44.  Johnny Morris*

43.  Rosey Taylor

42.  Ray Bray

41.  Richie Pettibone*

Da Bears.  --DaCooter

Ranking the 100 Best Bears-- Part 6: Wondering Who the #1 Bear Is Going To Be?

From the August 9, 2019, Chicago Tribune.

The Tribune is now down to the Top Ten players.  

Just wondering who the #1 is going to be?

My money is on Walter Payton. Of course, on those 1985 Bears who won Super Bowl XX.

We should know by Wednesday or Thursday.

"Sweetness"   --DaCoot

Talking Football Rivalry-- Part 4: "Trafton Would Be Running For His Life"

While all this was going on, George Halas slipped an envelope containing the Staleys' share of the gate receipts into George Trafton's trousers.

Fans blocked Trafton's path to the taxicabs waiting outside the stadium, so he took off on foot, sprinting down the road toward the bridge over the Mississippi River to Iowa, with the angry mob at his heels.  He was saved when a curious motorist slowed down to ask what was going on.  Trafton said he was late to catch a train and the motorist let him in and sped off to the Davenport train depot.

When Trafton caught up with his teammates there, Halas asked for his envelope, which reports said held between $3,000 and $7,000.  Trafton asked his coach why in the world his coach had entrusted him with the money.

Halas said in his 1979 biography "Halas By Halas", "I knew that if trouble came, I'd be running only for the money.  Trafton would be running for his life."

Now, That Is Some Rivalry.  --Cooter