Chicago's Bohemian National Cemetery-- Part 7: Wanda Stopa Burial Site

Chicago's youngest and first assistant U.S. District Attorney was a brilliant Polish immigrant named Wanda Stopa.  She had been one of two women to graduate from John Marshall Law School in 1921.  But just three years after graduation, Stopa left her career, married a Russian count then fell in love with a rich, married advertising executive, Y. Kensley Smith, who paid for her to live in New York.

When Smith refused to leave his wife Geneivieve, nicknamed Doodles, Stopa showed up at their Palos Park home on April 24, 1924, intending to kill Smith's wife.  She took a shot, but it hit the couple's elderly caretaker, Henry Manning, killing him.

Stopa went on the run, killing herself by swallowing poison in a Detroit hotel room.

Approximately 10,000 Chicagoans turned out for her wake and funeral.

Influenza Epidemic Victims, Butler Co., Pa.-- Part 2: Immigrants

Just north of the West Winfield Township in Butler County, Pennsylvania,  is a silent, sobering place known as the Wooden Cross (or Black Cross) Cemetery.  In the early 1900s, many Polish and Slovak immigrants moved to this area in western Pa. to work in the expanding  limestone mine, sand plant, brick yards and tile works in the area.

However, in 1918, many of these men were exposed to  the influenza virus which turned into the worst pandemic ever in terms of those affected and those who died.

Many of these men died without a church, organization or family that would make sure they received a proper burial.  Like many immigrants of the time, these men had left their families behind and come to the new country to establish themselves.

At the same time, local, state and federal  governments refused to fund burials for them.  So, these men were buried here.

Destroyers at D-Day

From Wikipedia "List of Allied Ships at the Normandy Landings."

There were seven battleships, five heavy cruisers, twenty light cruisers and 139 destroyers and escorts.  Of interest, not all were British (85 ships including Canadian ones)or U.S. (40 ships).  There were also 7 Free French and 7 other Allied ones ( 2 Greek, 2 Polish and 3 Norwegian).

According to yesterday's article, three British and three U.S. destroyers were sunk at D-Day.

However, according to this list, just the USS Corry (DD-463) was sunk during the invasion on June 6, 1944.  Also a Norwegian destroyer (see below)

The others were sunk at later dates:

HMS Boadicea (H65) torpedoed and sunk June 13 June
HMS Fury (H76) mined June 21 and not repaired
USS Glennon  (DD-620)  Hit a mine June 8, sunk by German artillery June 10
USS Rich  (DE-695)  Sunk by mine June 10
HMS Swift  (G46)  Mined and sunk June 24 off Normandy

HNoMS Svenner  (GO3)   Norwegian   destroyer  Hit by German torpedo and sunk off Normandy at dawn, June 6, 1944

--Cooter

WW I Ending-- Part 3: Allies Break Through Hindenburg Line and German Army Retreating

OCTOBER 5, 1918

The Allies break through the last remnants of the Hindenburg Line.

OCTOBER 6 AND 7, 1918

The state of Yugoslavia proclaimed signalling the beginning of the break up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in central Europe which had existed for six centuries.

Poland proclaims itself independent from the Russian Empire.

OCTOBER 13, 1918

The German Army  involved in a general retreat from a 60-mile  portion of the Western Front. in France.

OCTOBER 23, 1918

Wilson informs Germany that any negotiations could not include current German military leaders.    Ludendorf disavows this and is forced to resign by the Kaiser.  Civilians are now to do most of the negotiating.  This was the basis of the military's "stab-in-the-back" defense after the war.  They had been sold out by the civilians.

--Cooter

WW I & Ethnic Chicago-- Part 6: Demonstrations and Czechs

On March 3, 1918, Chicago's Poles gathered at the Coliseum to welcome Ignace Jan Paderewski, celebrated pianist and leader of the Polish independence movement.  he reported that a newly-formed Polish army was fighting in France.  His wife said that he would not play the piano again until the war was over and Poland independent.

At demonstrations all over Chicago, flags of ancient nations about to be reborn were flown.  Some Lithuanians wanted to throw in their lot with Poland, remembering that at one time their country and Poland were in a dual kingdom.

Sometimes these demonstrations came to near rioting.

Chicago neighborhoods, such as  Pilsen and South Lawndale, were home to more Czechs and Slovaks than any other place on earth except for Prague.

--CootCzech

How About a Kosciuszko Day?-- Part 2: Early Leader of Universal Human Rights

The write, Mary Wisniewski, of Polish descent herself, says that Tadeusz Kosciuszki was also an American Revolution hero, but his name was much harder to pronounce (I am still having to look at the spelling when typing it).

However, he is more than just a symbol to pride and heroism.  He opposed the oppression of Jews and peasants in Poland and slavery in America.    He was an early leader for universal human rights.

Born in 1746 and a graduate of the Corps of Cadets in Warsaw, he studied in France and then worked as a tutor in Poland.  He fell in love with his employer's daughter and was severely beaten by her father's servants when they tried to elope..

Kosciuszko then went to France and eventually to North America where he joined the Continental Army.

--DaCoot

17th Century Shipwreck Found Off Swedish Coast in 2012

From the June 1, 2012, Free internet Press by Intellpuke.

Amateur divers found a Swedish Royal Navy vessel that sank off Stockholm in 1660 reportedly with a cargo of of gold and jewelry.  It is believed to be the Resande Man (meaning traveling man).

However, the cargo, which was being carried to Poland as a gift from the Swedish government, was not found.  The ship sank in the Baltic Sea in November 1660.

The ship was found on May 17, 2012.  The wreck is in poor shape and the divers are about 90% sure it is the Resande Man, but haven't found the ship's bell for proof.

The ship was 25 meters long and 7 meters wide, half the size of the Swedish warship Vasa, which infamously sank on its maiden voyage in 1628.

In August 2011, divers found the wreck of the Mars, flagship of King Erik XIV's fleet which sank in the Baltic Sea in 1564.

Always Great to Discover a Lost Wreck.  --Cooter