Navy marksmen from DEVGRU, commonly known as SEAL Team Six, deployed on Bainbridge's fantail, opened fire and killed the three pirates with bullets to the head. On Sunday, April 12, Bainbridge captain Commander Frank Castellano concluded that Phillips' life was in immediate danger, based on reports that a pirate was pointing an AK-47 automatic rifle at his back. Muse agreed to leave the lifeboat to negotiate with Navy officials on board the Bainbridge, leaving his three fellow pirates on the lifeboat with Phillips. On April 9, a standoff began between the Bainbridge and the pirates in the Maersk Alabama lifeboat, where they continued to hold Phillips hostage. Phillips was held captive in the lifeboat by Somali pirates for five days. Federal Bureau of Investigation secured the ship as a crime scene. An 18-man marine security team was on board. Aasheim had previously been captain of the Maersk Alabama until Richard Phillips relieved him eight days prior to the pirate attack. ![]() Captain Larry Aasheim then assumed command. On Saturday, April 11, Maersk Alabama arrived in Mombasa, still under U.S. Maersk Alabama then departed from the area with an armed escort, towards its original destination of the port of Mombasa. On April 8, the destroyer USS Bainbridge and the frigate USS Halyburton were dispatched to the Gulf of Aden in response to the hostage situation, and reached Maersk Alabama early on April 9. The lifeboat was carrying ten days of food rations, water, and basic survival supplies. "We returned him, but they didn't return the captain," said second mate Ken Quinn. Muse was handed over to his fellow pirates, but the four Somalis then reneged on the exchange and left in the lifeboat, taking Phillips with them. ![]() The crew attempted to exchange the captured Muse for Phillips.Īccording to a crew member, the pirates got into the ship's rescue boat with the captive Phillips, but it would not start, so the crew dropped a lifeboat and met the pirates to trade prisoners and switch boats. The crew later successfully lured one of the pirates, Abduwali Muse, into the engine room and overpowered him, stabbing him in the hand in the process and keeping him tied up for some 12 hours. As the pirates were boarding the ship, the crew members locked themselves in the engine room. ![]() "In that area of the world, any blip on your radar is of concern," said Phillips, "I always told my crew it was a matter of when, not if." The 28-foot lifeboat where Phillips and the four Somali pirates were held up as seen from a US Navy Boeing ScanEagle UAV.Īccording to Chief Engineer Mike Perry, the crew sank the pirate speedboat shortly after the boarding by continuously swinging the rudder of the Maersk Alabama, swamping the smaller boat. The ship was carrying 17,000 metric tons of cargo, of which 5,000 metric tons were relief supplies bound for Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda. With a crew of 20, the ship had departed from Salalah, Oman en route to Mombasa, Kenya. With these advisories in effect, on April 8, 2009, four Somali pirates boarded the Maersk Alabama when it was located around 240 nmi (440 km) southeast of the Somalian port city of Eyl. Maritime Administration, following NATO advisories, released a Somalia Gulf of Aden "advisory to mariners" recommending ships to stay at least 600 nautical miles (1,100 km 690 mi) off Somalia's coast of east Africa.
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![]() ![]() ![]() The rear section is highlighted by a one-piece LED taillight strip. Visually, the facia is highlighted by crystal LED combination headlights, while the side profile features a dynamic waistline, ripple D-Pillar, and sporty wheel hubs. Further, the electric SUV has a ground clearance of 175mm. In terms of dimensions, the BYD Atto 3 has a length of 4,455mm, a width of 1,875mm, and a height of 1,615mm. The fast charging feature enables charging from zero to 80 per cent in 50 minutes, while the charging time via an AC unit is 9.5-10 hours. The five-seat SUV is capable of sprinting from zero to 100kmph in 7.3 seconds and offers a driving range of 521 km as per ARAI tests. The permanent magnet synchronous motor is powered by a 60.48kWh Blade battery which generates 201bhp and 310Nm of torque. Mechanically, the BYD Atto 3 is based on the Born EV platform (e-Platform 3.0). The BYD Atto 3 Special Edition is priced at Rs 34.49 lakh (ex-showroom) and it is limited to 1,200 units. The vehicle gets an exclusive Forest Green colour. OPENING NIGHT - Thursday, March 30: 1 admission from 3 p.m. The Jimny is all set to rival the Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha.- Available in exclusive Forest Green colourīYD has launched the special edition variant of the BYD Atto 3 at the ongoing Auto Expo 2023. Our Cincinnati Auto Expo brings you convenient opportunities to experience the. The Maruti Jimny be priced within a range of ₹5.50 to ₹8 lakhs. While a 5-speed manual is standard, the Maruti Jimny will also come with an option of a 4-speed Automatic Transmission (AGS, probably). The Jimny’s K15B engine is rated at 100 bhp and 130 nm of torque. The Jimny will be available with a 1.5-litre KB15 petrol engine that powers the current Maruti Ciaz and the Ertiga. The third offering my Maruti Suzuki will be the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. The Brezza will compete with the likes of Nissan Kicks, MG Hector, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and the Tata Harrier. It is expected to be priced between ₹7 to ₹12 lakhs. The car will also feature LED projector headlamps and an updated Bosch-sourced SmartPlay studio infotainment system. The new Vitara Brezza will also include a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Maruti has got rid of the Fiat-sourced 1.3 DDis multi-jet diesel engine. The Vitara Brezza, which has been Maruti’s prodigy in the sub-compact SUV segment will be getting a new BS6 complaint 1.5- Litre petrol engine. The second vehicle will be the all-new 2020 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. The WagonR EV would be propelled by a 50KW electric motor and is expected to generate an average mileage of 200 Km per full charge.T he initial pricing in the range of ₹10 to ₹15 lakhs. Suspected to be the WagonR EV, it has been in the testing phase from the last 10 months. This EV was spotted number times in Gurugram with no guise and a temporary number plate. One of the marquee events of The International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers OICA. A signature event, that witness the best minds coming together on a single platform to showcases all that is best in the automotive world, in terms of products, technologies, concepts and trends. The very first model by Maruti Suzuki is highly anticipated to be the electric version of the WagonR. Auto Expo is one of the world’s premier auto shows. It is being highly speculated that Maruti could showcase upto 3 new car model at the 2020 Auto Expo in Greater Noida. India’s largest carmaker Maruti is all set to make its statement at the 2020 Auto-Expo and is likely to showcase some promising debut car launches. You May Also Like: Maruti Suzuki Still At The Top | Car Sales Report | September 2019 However, this has not deterred the Maruti Suzuki from launching new car models like the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso, the new WagonR, and the XL6. The Indian automotive sector was hit by the worst sales slump in over two decades with the car companies showing a negative YoY in 2019. Maruti Suzuki has been going through a tough time in the Indian market. ![]() Entry-level applicants that do not elect to Bypass AT Basics, first attend an AT Basics course virtually at home, before completing required training courses at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. Initial selection does not guarantee placement into federal civilian service. ![]() 'My time working in Air Traffic has been rewarding and fun! I can’t think of a better public service profession!' - Brian Throop, Vice President of Air Traffic Servicesīecause of the serious nature of this work and zero margin for error, the training regimen and proficiencies needed to become an air traffic control specialist, are demanding. Smaller facilities have more standard dawn to dusk operating hours. Larger air traffic control facilities operate continuously, and employees may rotate among day, evening, and night shifts, along with weekends and holidays. Most air traffic control specialists work full time, and some work additional hours. Other factors include, experienced controllers who were directly hired to facilities.Īs a federal employee, air traffic control specialists receive a benefits package that rivals, if not surpasses, those offered in the private sector, with a variety of insurance, retirement, leave and flexible spending options for employees and their families. ![]() The annual salary for more advanced controllers who have completed on-the-job training varies with the location of the facility and the complexity of the airspace. The salaries for entry-level air traffic control specialists increase as they complete each new training phase. The approximate median annual wage for air traffic control specialists is $127,805. This elite group of more than 14,000 FAA air traffic control specialists provide a vital public service to guide pilots, their planes and 2.7 million daily passengers from taxi to takeoff, through the air and back safely on the ground. Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based OrganizationsĮvery minute, every hour, every day, there are men and women working to ensure the safety and efficiency of our national airspace system.Critical Infrastructure & Public Venues.Certificated Remote Pilots including Commercial Operators.Legislation & Policies, Regulations & Guidance.Data & Research Subnav: Data & Research 1.Airport Safety Information Video Series.Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Program.Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program.General Aviation & Recreational Aircraft.Vintage & Experimental Aircraft Program.Aviation Safety Draft Documents Open for Comment. ![]() Some Japanese crosswords are numbered from top to bottom down each column, starting with the leftmost column and proceeding right.Īmerican-style crossword clues, called straight or quick clues by those more familiar with cryptic puzzles, are often simple definitions of the answers. Numbers are almost never repeated numbered cells are numbered consecutively, usually from left to right across each row, starting with the top row and proceeding downward. For example, the answer to a clue labeled "17 Down" is entered with the first letter in the cell numbered "17", proceeding down from there. Typically clues appear outside the grid, divided into an across list and a down list the first cell of each entry contains a number referenced by the clue lists. One of the smallest crosswords in general distribution is a 4×4 crossword compiled daily by John Wilmes, distributed online by USA Today as "QuickCross" and by Universal Uclick as "PlayFour". an easy puzzle may be referred to as a "Monday" or a "Tuesday", a medium-difficulty puzzle as a "Wednesday", and a truly difficult puzzle as a "Saturday". solvers to use the day of the week as a shorthand when describing how hard a puzzle is: e.g. Their larger Sunday puzzle is about the same level of difficulty as a weekday-size Thursday puzzle. The New York Times puzzles also set a common pattern for American crosswords by increasing in difficulty throughout the week: their Monday puzzles are the easiest and the puzzles get harder each day until Saturday. For example, many weekday newspaper puzzles (such as the American New York Times crossword puzzle) are 15×15 squares, while weekend puzzles may be 21×21, 23×23, or 25×25. Puzzles are often one of several standard sizes. Grids forming shapes other than squares are also occasionally used. ![]() "Free form" crosswords ("criss-cross" puzzles), which have simple, asymmetric designs, are often seen on school worksheets, children's menus, and other entertainment for children. Two of the common ones are barred crosswords, which use bold lines between squares (instead of shaded squares) to separate answers, and circular designs, with answers entered either radially or in concentric circles. Substantial variants from the usual forms exist. Most puzzle designs also require that all white cells be orthogonally contiguous (that is, connected in one mass through shared sides, to form a single polyomino). For example, if the top row has an answer running all the way across, there will often be no across answers in the second row.Īnother tradition in puzzle design (in North America, India, and Britain particularly) is that the grid should have 180-degree rotational symmetry, so that its pattern appears the same if the paper is turned upside down. In contrast, crossword grids in Britain, South Africa, India, and Australia have a lattice-like structure, with a higher percentage of shaded squares (around 25%), leaving about half the letters in an answer unchecked. In such puzzles, shaded squares are typically limited to about one-sixth of the total. Every letter is checked (i.e., is part of both an “across” word and a “down” word), and usually, each answer must contain at least three letters. In North American newspapers and magazines, crossword grids feature solid areas of white squares. The objective is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases that intersect with each other. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.Ī person works on a crossword puzzle in the subway, New York City, 2008Ĭrossword puzzles are a popular word game that typically consists of a square or rectangular grid of black and white squares. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. ![]() This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. Parking Infoīall Arena parking lots open 3 hours prior to the start of the event. Tickets and Pit Passes now available for purchase online here through Ticketmaster (fees may apply). to noon (Event Ticket & Pit Pass required for entry) To Buy Monster Jam Tickets Event Ticket & Pit Pass required for entry) Please verify all deals and events with the business or venue, before ordering or making plans. Some events and activities may be canceled or postponed with little to no notice. As always, prices, hours and participating locations may vary. However, details may change without notice or errors may occur. And Myranda Cozad in Scooby-Doo looks to lock in the championship.įriendly Reminder: Double-Check Beforehand Mile High On The Cheap thoroughly vets every item published and strives for 100% accuracy. ![]() Bernard Lyght makes his debut in Megalodon. ![]() Tristan England returns to competition in Earth Shaker. The Arena Championship Series West features eight skilled athletes fighting for the championship while putting on a spectacle, constantly innovating and always entertaining.īrandon Vinson gets behind the wheel of the legendary black and green wrecking machine Grave Digger, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles-per-hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action seen around the world. The Arena Series West Champion will receive a highly coveted automatic bid to the prestigious Monster Jam World Finals to compete for the title of World Champion, scheduled for May 2022 in Orlando. Engineered to perfection, the 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks push all limits going head-to-head for points in Freestyle, Skills, Donuts and Racing competitions.
This means you will pay interest on interest. ![]() Lump sum at the end of the delayed payment period. The interest will be added to your account as a Interest is calculated from date of order and compounded daily. If you are eligible for BNPL your offer details will be May be different to the values shown here. The delayed payment period and qualifying minimum order value is subject to offer and your account status and Items and those not ready for immediate dispatch).īNPL for 6 months when you spend £ or more.īNPL for 9 months when you spend £ or more.īNPL for 12 months when you spend £ or more. The delayed payment period starts from the date of order (including pre-ordered First Floor, Skyways House, Speke Road, Liverpool L70 1AB.īNPL is an interest-bearing option that allows you to delay payments on your purchases for up to 12 monthsĭepending on how much you spend. Goods and services provided by Shop Direct Home Shopping Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Very Pay credit is provided, subject to status, by Shop Direct Finance Company Limited. Offer will not be applied if code WELCOME is not entered at the checkout and cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. Non-eligible items: iPhone 15 models, Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 and SE, PlayStation 5 consoles, Google Pixel 7 models, egg2, digital downloads, insurance products, delivery & installation services. If so we will credit your account with a voucher of 20% of your remaining eligible order. Returned items will reflect the discounted price.īenefit will be capped at £100. A £100 credit will be applied to your new account once the order has been dispatched. If you make returns that bring the value of your order below £500 then the credit will be reversed. Maximum benefit is £100.Ģ0% discount will be applied to each individual item in basket. Max £100 backĪpply for Very Pay and enter WELCOME at the checkout. If you have a non-BNPL balance, you will still need to make at least your minimum payment as shown on your statement.Ģ0% back on your first credit order. What is excluded from BNPL? The costs for delivery, installation services and monthly insurance products cannot be placed on BNPL.ĭo I still have to pay my monthly minimum payment? Yes, allocating payments to BNPL will not cover the minimum payment on your account. This will be included within your account minimum payment request every month and cannot be repaid using Take 3. Any outstanding balance plus the interest will now become payable.Īs the outstanding balance, plus the interest now form part of your payable balance they will attract interest at your account rate, meaning you will pay interest on interest. If you have not paid the cash price in full or have only made a partial payment, a lump sum of interest will be charged to your account. If you have paid the cash price in full before the end of the delayed payment period, you will not pay any interest. ![]() What happens after the delayed payment period? You can allocate your payment to the specific BNPL you wish to pay off. How do I make a BNPL payment? To make a full or partial payment simply log into your account. Remember, if you choose not to pay the cash price before the end of the delayed payment period a lump sum of compound interest will be charged to your account. Making partial payments without clearing the cash price in full will reduce the amount of interest charged at the end of the delayed payment period. ![]() How to avoid paying interest? You can avoid all of the interest by paying the cash price before the end of the delayed payment period, this can be done in one full payment or multiple partial payments. The interest will be added to your account as a lump sum at the end of the delayed payment period. How is interest calculated? Interest is calculated from date of order and compounded daily. If you are eligible for BNPL your offer details will be confirmed in checkout. The delayed payment period and qualifying minimum order value is subject to offer and your account status and may be different to the values shown here. Subject to eligibility, you may choose from:īNPL for 6 months when you spend £50 or more.īNPL for 12 months when you spend £300 or more. The delayed payment period starts from the date of order (including pre-ordered items and those not ready for immediate dispatch). BNPL is an interest bearing option that allows you to delay payments on your purchases for up to 12 months depending on how much you spend. ![]() In today’s environment, you would probably be well-advised to have audio/video recording throughout the interview. It should have no wall hangings or artwork that the suspect may concentrate on during the inquiry. Notwithstanding, I will refresh your memory on some of these rudimentary points in the interest of being thorough.Ī room used to interview a suspect should be void of as many distractions as possible: it should be austere, preferably without windows, and give the suspect little to focus on. I am quite certain that most of you will have heard some of this from basic training. In a suspect interview, however, the rules change. It is a good example of what I call “Elements of a Crime for Dummies” because those instructions are designed to communicate to a group of laypeople what they must identify in the evidence in order to convict.Ĭlearly, the more elements you are able to hit on when conducting your interviews, the more likely you are to convince the prosecutor, a jury and a judge that a statutory violation occurred and that your defendant violated it. A favorite practice of mine is to look up or acquire a copy of the jury instructions for the particular crime I am investigating. Many investigators dance around the core issues for far too long it is important to ask direct and probing questions that establish the elements of the crime. The key to a successful witness interview is to ensure minimal contact between the witness and other civilians who may influence the person’s recollection of events and to extract as much information about the incident or offense under investigation as possible. In a witness interview, the investigator can be more rigid in the Q&A because you want to maintain control of the dialogue and avoid wandering off-topic, which an excited civilian who has just witnessed a traumatic or frightening event may naturally tend to do. KEEP WITNESS INTERVIEWS ON-TOPIC AND DIRECT In order to soften that misconception, I am more inclined to use terms like witness or suspect interview. To a civilian, the word likely conjures up visions of hot lights and a smoke-filled room with an inquisitive and accusatory man angrily hovering over the suspect. Therefore, when testifying in front of a jury or in a deposition, I tend to avoid using it. ![]() Over the years, largely as a result of how it has been portrayed in television shows and cinema, the word “interrogation” has developed a negative connotation. ![]() ![]() Lamentably, the banality of this technique has rendered it somewhat archaic and rather ineffective. The “good cop/bad cop” routine was originally designed to allow one of the two investigators to create a bond with the suspect or subject by distinction. This, as a police interrogator, is the first hurdle you have to overcome. (Getty Images)īuilding rapport with the person you are interviewing is a key factor in keeping them talking and in inducing trust human nature is such that a person is more likely to be open and honest with someone they view as a kindred spirit as opposed to someone they view as an adversary. The key to success is to find ways of keeping your subject talking…about anything. ![]() ![]() One of the other things that Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition has is a 3.5mm single audio jack, so most wired headsets will be compatible with the device. Wifi, the phone signal will use different levels of power, so Wi-Fi is recommended over 5G for connections for longer battery life. As a reminder, though, using 4G/5G for streaming vs. Luckily, Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition has a USB-C connector to it so you can charge from a power source (or portable battery) so that you don’t run out of power quickly. This means that you drop about half a percent per minute, leaving the actual life of the Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition with streaming a game to about 2-3 hours in total. ![]() While the official Tech Specs (image above) says that the Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition uses minimal battery from your phone, during my playthrough, I found my battery going from 100% to 90% in about 20 minutes. This controller is very bare bones and has next to no weight to it since there is no battery in the Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition itself, relying on your own phone’s battery to power the controller. The Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition is basically a connected controller for the sides of your Android phone (There is an iPhone version for those of you who enjoy owning a brand over a good phone… Fight me!), and that’s it. If you’re looking for something lightweight and easy to keep with you in your bag while you travel, then the Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition is perfect for you. ![]() For example, “floating” floors-typically laminate-consist of interlocking floorboards that use no adhesives this easy-to-install design is popular with DIYers. Ceramic or porcelain tile requires a stiff, flat surface underneath to prevent cracking.ĭifferent types of flooring are installed in different ways, some of which are DIY-friendly. Solid wood flooring, for example, cannot be installed directly over concrete and is a poor choice for humid areas such as basements and baths. The type of flooring you choose will be determined in part by where you plan to install it, and over what type of surface. Installed cost: $2 to $6 per square foot. Top-of-the-line LVF can cost as much as or more than the best solid wood and laminate floors, though it costs less to install. Higher quality LVF can do a good job of mimicking the look of stone, tile, or wood.Ĭons: Installing traditional vinyl is seen as a budget play, and even the best LVF still looks like vinyl up close. ![]() Regular vinyl comes in rolls and is glued in place LVF typically comes in tiles or planks that click together for easy installation. Both are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), but LVF is thicker and more rigid, and it typically has more protective top layers. This flooring type comes in two main varieties: traditional vinyl and luxury vinyl flooring (LVF). It’s also waterproof, so it’s a great alternative to tile in wet rooms such as baths and kitchens, where it provides a forgiving surface underfoot. Pros: Vinyl flooring is especially good at fending off wear, dents, scratches, discoloration from sunlight, and stains. Installed cost: $4 to $9 per square foot. (According to the National Wood Flooring Association, wear layers of less than 2.5 mm usually can be recoated but not completely refinished.) If you anticipate that you may need to refinish your engineered wood flooring, check with the manufacturer or retailer before you buy. Depending on the thickness of the top “wear layer,” some engineered wood flooring can be refinished once or twice, and some cannot be refinished. Well-installed, high-quality engineered wood can be as durable as solid wood.Ĭons: Engineered wood performed about the same in our denting and wear tests as did solid wood and laminate, but fewer engineered wood products earned top marks for wear. This flooring uses a thin veneer of real wood or bamboo over structural plywood, making it a cost-effective choice. Pros: Because engineered wood is made of thin layers of wood sandwiched with adhesives, it can withstand higher levels of humidity and is less likely to expand and contract than solid wood flooring. “Though supply chain woes are not what they were during the pandemic, it can still be more profitable to ship cars and appliances than flooring, which could decrease the supply options of flooring available or drive up the cost.” "A large quantity of hardwood, marble, and porcelain is produced in or sourced from Europe and Asia’s forests and quarries, requiring transport via shipping containers," says David Steckel, home expert at Thumbtack, which connects consumers to home service professionals. While experts say supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic have largely dissipated, they add that the availability of building products like flooring is bound to fluctuate. ![]() No matter what you choose, it’s wise to have a backup choice. “The average hardwood plank is now 7 to 7½ inches wide.” “We’re also seeing wider products and longer lengths,” he says. ![]() Among solid hardwoods, domestic species like white oak, red oak, walnut, and maple are growing in popularity, says Brett Miller, a spokesperson for the National Wood Flooring Association. Sustainable flooring options include linoleum, bamboo, hempwood, cork, and even cement tiles made with carbon recovered from factory emissions. High-end vinyl planks can imitate tropical woods like koa, mango, and teak, or wide, hand-hewn hardwood boards. For example, today’s porcelain tile can closely mimic the look and texture of wood, though it’s far more durable. Laminate floors, which can mimic the look and properties of many materials, can work almost anywhere-as long as you like the look.Īdvances in flooring materials have broadened options at a range of prices. Solid hardwood and engineered wood floors add warmth and "give" to hangout and lounging areas, such as bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and dens. Porcelain tile suits rooms where things get busy, wet, and messy, like entries, mudrooms, playrooms, and baths. When choosing new flooring for your home, remember that each type-from hardwood to vinyl-has its place. ![]() Here, she inscribed her most elegant clues for us. Its ballroom features two meticulously crafted Tiffany art-glass windows. The house teems with allusions, symbols and mysterious encryptions. Even these basic truths, of up and down, and light and dark, could be subverted. Bull’s-eye windows give an upside-down view of the world. ![]() In one room, Winchester laid the parquetry in an unusual pattern: When the light hit the floor a particular way, the dark boards appeared light, and the light boards, dark. Another has a secret door identical to one on a corner closet-it could be opened from within the room, but not from without, and the closet drawer didn’t open at all.ĭetails are designed to confuse. One room has a normal-sized door next to a small, child-sized one. A linen closet as big as an apartment sits next to a cupboard less than an inch deep. Cabinets and doors open onto walls, rooms are boxes within boxes, small rooms are built within big rooms, balconies and windows are inside rather than out, chimneys stop floors short of the ceiling, floors have skylights. ![]() A staircase, one of 40, goes nowhere and ends at a ceiling. At first glance I was deflated, for the unusual reason that from the outside, the house wasn’t entirely weird.īut the drama of this house, like the drama of Winchester’s life, was unfolding on the inside. I must have been hoping that the house would yield up its secret to me. I keenly anticipated my first visit to the Mystery House. Eventually, Winchester became the muse for my book on the history of the American gun industry and culture.Ī postcard showing the Winchester Mystery House circa 1900-05Ĭourtesy Flickr/ San Jose Public Library California Room When I heard her ghost story from a friend in graduate school, I was enthralled. Haunted by conscience over her gun blood fortune and seeking either protection or absolution, Winchester lived in almost complete solitude, in a mansion designed to be haunted. A relative said many decades later Winchester fell “under the thrall” of a medium, who told her that she would be haunted by the ghosts of Winchester rifle victims unless she built, non-stop-perhaps at ghosts’ direction, for their pleasure, or perhaps as a way to elude them. A spiritualist in the mid-1800s, when plenty of sane Americans believed they could communicate with the dead, Wincehster became terrified that her misfortunes, especially the death of her husband and one-month old daughter, were cosmic retribution from all the spirits killed by Winchester rifles. The answer: Her building is a ghost story of the American gun. In 1911, the San Jose Mercury News called Winchester’s colossus a “great question mark in a sea of apricot and olive orchards.” Over a century later, the San Francisco Chronicle was still baffled: “the Mansion is an ornately complex answer to a very simple question: Why?” She had apparently forgotten about it and built over it. It had two chairs, an early 1900s speaker that fit into an old phonograph, and a door latched by a 1910 lock. Winchester hastily sketched designs on napkins or brown paper for carpenters to build additions, towers, cupolas or rooms that made no sense and had no purpose, sometimes only to be plastered over the next day. She built her house with shifts of 16 carpenters who were paid three times the going rate and worked 24 hours a day, every day, from 1886 until Sarah’s death in 1922.Īn American Penelope, working in wood rather than yarn, Winchester wove and unwove eternally. After she moved from New Haven, Connecticut, to San Jose, Winchester dedicated a large part of her fortune to ceaseless, enigmatic building. Her father-in-law Oliver Winchester, manufacturer of the famous repeater rifle, died in 1880, and her husband, Will, also in the family gun business, died a year later. Winchester had inherited a vast fortune off of guns. In this provocative and deeply-researched work of narrative history, Haag fundamentally revises the history of arms in America, and in so doing explodes the clichés that have created and sustained our lethal gun culture. The Gunning of America: Business and the Making of American Gun Culture |
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