Dr. Physick's Black Cherry Soda

In 1807 the pioneering Dr. Philip Physick of Philadelphia, Pa. introduced to the American people a carbonated beverage for which he believed would  aid in the relief gastric disorders. Later, flavoring was added to make the concoction more palatable and thus "America's First Soda" was born.

Today Dr. Physick's great-great-great grandson, J. Del Conner, share's his ancestor's legacy by bottling the original formula for the enjoyment of the public. Bottles of black cherry flavored soda can be purchased at Dr. Physick's historical home at 321 South 4th St., and other shops around the Independence Mall area.

I got my first sample while taking a carriage tour with my parents. As we were narrated on the history of the buildings surrounding us our driver curiously pulled over in front of the Physick House, wrapped on the door, and out popped a man in period costume with big bushy eyebrows. After a few seconds of whispering shared between the two, our guide continued with stories for our historical enlightenment.

A moment later out comes Mr. Connor, Dr. Physick's descendant, with three bottles of soda. After our thankyou's were exchanged we continued our expedition with a tasteful, old fashioned, and original souvenir that made our experience all the better. We drank happily while taking in the sights and I have to say I can't imagine a better way to experience Philadelphia for the first time!

Richard III Rages On

It's quite fascinating when you can match a skeleton to significant events that happened in history. It is especially true, for some reason, when in life that person had a truly terrible reputation. And the more mysterious the story surrounding the person the better.

The finding of King Richard III's skeleton under a parking lot in 2012 in Leicester, England is absolutely fascinating. This is a guy who participated in the Wars of the Roses, conspired against his nephew's, the tragic "Princes in the Tower," in order to steal the crown, and is the last English king to have died in battle, thus ending the Plantagenet dynasty introducing the Tudor's.

His severe scolioses left his back deformed, and although not entirely true, it is the reason modern cinema exaggerates his character by portraying him as a hunchbacked tyrannical monster.

Though, if you look further into his reign, you find evidence that he did have the welfare of his subjects in mind putting in place specific laws designed to protect them from nobles who would exploit them. Unfortunately, we will never really know if Richard III was as nasty as history tells us or if he was simply an unfortunate product of his time.

Currently, there is fierce dispute between the current members of the Plantagenet family and Leicester University over who has final authority over Richard's remains. His modern relatives exclaim that he should be brought back to his home in York and re-interred properly...with the dignity due a one-time-king of England. They fear that if left to the University Richard would only be used to promote the University's hidden agenda's leaving him unable to rest in peace.

The University, on the other hand, claims they would not use him so shamefully and that he would have all the honor and respect due him. And if it weren't for them, Richard would not have had this last chance for glory, having stayed forever forgotten under the black top of an insignificant car park on campus grounds.

The vote is still out.

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Richard III was born into a world of political turmoil, resulting from the ongoing feud between two branches of the ruling Plantagenet family. They were the York's (Richard III's line) and the Lancastrian's (Henry Tudor's line). Their skirmishes are legendary and are referred to as the "War of the Roses" because both their herald's were of roses, one white, one red... which symbolized their closeness to the English throne.

Richard was eight years old when his father, a brother, and an uncle were killed at the battle of Wakefield in 1460. As a result Richard essentially lived in hiding and was eventually forced to flee the country. The struggles he endured throughout his young life caused him to grow-up much faster than most children and may also explain his callous demeanor.

Richard's fortune changed for the better when his brother Edward seized control of the crown. He was created Duke of Gloucester and supported his brother vehemently. (Not so with another brother who tried Edward's patience once too often; George was executed as a traitor in 1478.) Richard's loyalty and skill with a sword earned him favor with his brother the king and was named Lord Protector of Edward's heir, Edward V. Richard would hold authority over the kingdom until Edward V was crowned.

On his way to London, Edward V and his escort, Earl Rivers, were intercepted by Richard (Gloucester) and the Duke of Buckingham. Edward was taken to the Tower of London where his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, joined him. The princes were initially told it was for their own safety, but this was a farce.

Intoxicated with the taste of absolute power, Richard (Gloucester)  schemed to take the crown for himself. He convinced the royal council to declare the marriage between his late brother King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville invalid...making Edward V illegitimate and unable to assume the throne. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was now King Richard III.

The two princes, now clearly prisoner's in the Tower, mysteriously disappeared shortly thereafter. Though their exact fates are unknown, it is speculated that Richard had the boys murdered in order to prevent any future rivalry.

It may have been ruthless, but if you put yourself in his shoes...this kind of treachery Richard had known since since his early childhood; to him the act was logical and necessary.

Richard died in 1485 of a traumatic head injury at the battle of Bosworth Field. The victor, Henry Tudor, had Richard stripped naked,  carried off on the back of a horse, and buried without the customary honors of kingship. In fact, archaeological evidence suggests that he was hastily buried in a grave too small to fit the entire measure of his body.

His skull was smashed up against the back wall, his  bones are riddled with wounds intentionally placed there in order to humiliate him,  and his hands rest as if they were still bound together at the time he was interred. It is not known if he was taken to Grey Friars Church to begin with, but that is where he lay undisturbed for centuries. Over time, the church became ruin, and eventually the exact location of the church was lost to history...until it's re-discovery centuries later in 2012, underneath a car park Leicester.

The Earp-Clanton Scandal

With all great stories you tend to wonder what is real and what is not? For me, the gunfight at the OK Corral fits into the "do we even know the whole story" category.

A new theory suggests that what really ignited the fire between the two groups was a secret pact made between Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton. Up until then their dealings had been entirely business (as far as we know). But when their plans are sabotaged by forces outside of their control, it leaves only dangerous secrets between them to linger on. Could they trust each other not to tell? As fear turned into paranoya, things became personal.

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Wyatt had wanted to be elected sheriff. So he thought that if he brought the "cowboys" (as cattle rustler's were called) to justice he would earn the majority of votes from the public. With this in mind he rendevued with Ike Clanton, whom Wyatt believed to be one of the cowboys leaders.

In this meeting Wyatt made an offer Ike couldn't refuse. If Ike would tell him when and where to find the main offenders he would give Ike all the reward money...which amounted to a small fortune back then. Ike couldn't walk away from such a sweet deal...especially in an area where life was harsh and money hard to come by. The only stipulation was that Wyatt had to keep this quiet...or Ike was a dead man.

The problem came when Wyatt's main targets were killed before he could catch them. The new turn of events left both Wyatt and Ike in a precarious predicament...because now the deal could not go through and the scandalous information they shared between them could destroy them if word ever got out. And this is the catalyst that changed the course of history!

After a while Ike began to lose his cool. He went from bar to bar drinking heavily and one night in a drunken stooper declared to everyone "he was going to kill himself an Earp." And it is from here that most people know the story.

I don't know if it is true or not, but that's a cool addition to the story.

One Master To Catch Another!

“O dear Sir, nobody can save me but you O God, my God. I shall be murdered unless you save me.” - William Chaloner to Isaac Newton.

Everyone knows that Sir Isaac Newton was a scientific genius. But very few people are aware of his appointment as head of England's treasury and the lengths he took to capture the conspirators responsible for the collapse of the currency system.

By order of the king, Newton applied his talent for deduction in successfully apprehending members of numerous counterfeiting rings. He employed a vast network of spies to haunt taverns and prowl less desirable establishments. Newton himself searched the more dismal streets of London looking for clues, and on one occasion, by mere chance, overheard a man whose bragging led to the arrest and conviction of the most talented counterfeiter of the age... Newton's own nemesis William Chaloner.

By all respects William Chaloner was as much a genius in the science of metallurgy as Newton. In his youth Chaloner apprenticed as a blacksmith which is undoubtedly where he developed his early interest and skill in manipulating metal compounds. As his techniques advanced, so did the amount of false coins put into circulation. (Which ultimately resulted in the devaluing of metal currency across the kingdom.) The effect hurt every gentleman's pocket, except for his own.

Newton understood the complexities of chemically binding metal to metal and the skill it took to arrive at the ideal consistency with every batch. He too was impressed by Chaloner's work. But to be compared with another man, criminal or otherwise, was more than he could bare. Newton's spite went beyond anything to do with the Mint.

By the time Newton became involved with the treasury Chaloner already had a long history of talking his way out court convictions. But now he was up against Newton. Chaloner put up his customary good fight, but Newton had an ace in the whole...or three to be exact. He tracked down and enlisted the aid of witnesses whom Chaloner had, at one time or another, double-crossed. They happily obliged Newton giving testimony of Chaloner's offenses against them.

The testimonies  ultimately clinched the win for Newton and Chaloner was sentenced to hang. Chaloner exclaimed his innocense, but those who had authority to change his fate turned him a deaf ear, including Newton. This time his silver tongue could not save him.

Chaloner was taken to Newgate prison to await his punishment. After taking the sacrament he was led to the Tyburn Tree (gallows) where, to every spectator's amusement, he dangled and danced the "hangman's dance" for several minutes before finally succumbing to suffocation. Though, many a man attended the event... Newton did not show. It was his final bitter way of saying Chaloner was never his equal.

Note: In those days wealthy men paid the hangman to make their death come quickly. Ironically for him, Chaloner now had no money to pay him.

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In the late 1600's certain scientific experiments were seen as witch craft and banned by the church. Alchemy at that time was one of those practices and Newton was obsessed with it. Had he been careless, Newton could have hung just as easily as Chaloner did.

One other theory as to why Newton was so resolute in finding and convicting Chaloner was so that he could legally confiscate Chaloner's notes on metallurgy. Newton had secretly been trying to turn various metals into gold, but had failed.

Beyond the gold, though, was an even greater prize which Newton coveted; immortality. The turning of a metal into gold was thought to be the next to the last step necessary for achieving a concoction called "the elixir of life." Legend boasts that it could make a man immortal.

Many of Newton's notes on the subject are written in code. Some have been deciphered, but largely the meaning of the notes written in symbols remains elusive. The one about the lion is thought to be the key to solving Newton's formula for the "elixir."

Newton died in old age. And, though not through any potion, he eventually did became immortal through his legacy as the father of physics and as one of the greatest minds that ever lived.