1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

We celebrate Abrham Lincoln's birthday  this Thursday FEB 12th-
In late 1864, a young man was waiting for a train in Jersey City, New
Jersey.
The platform was crowded, with passengers standing close to the edge
as trains arrived and departed. It was an ordinary scene—busy, noisy,
and unremarkable.
At some point, the young man lost his footing.
Accounts differ on exactly how it happened, but what's consistent is the
result: he slipped into the narrow space between the platform and a
moving train. It was the kind of accident that, in the 19th century, often
ended badly.
Before the train could pull fully away, someone nearby reacted.
A man reached forward, grabbed the young man by the collar of his
coat, and pulled him back onto the platform. The incident was over
almost as quickly as it began.
There was no crowd reaction. No report in the papers. No sense at the
time that anything unusual had occurred.
Two strangers crossed paths for a few seconds—one falling, one
helping—and then went on with their lives.
The man who had nearly fallen was Robert Todd Lincoln.
He was in his early twenties and traveling at the time, having recently
served briefly on General Ulysses S. Grant's staff. Although his last
name was recognizable, Robert generally tried to stay out of the public
eye.
The man who pulled him to safety was Edwin Booth.
Edwin Booth was already well known. He was one of the most respected
stage actors in America, particularly admired for his Shakespearean
performances. He was considered serious, disciplined, and
professionally dedicated.
Neither man knew the other's identity at the moment it happened.
Later, when Robert learned who had saved him, he wrote Edwin Booth a
letter thanking him for his quick action. Edwin kept the letter and later
spoke of the incident as one of the proudest moments of his life.
At the time, there was no larger meaning attached to it.
That came later.
Several months after the incident on the platform, on April 14, 1865,
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in
Washington, D.C.
The man who shot him was John Wilkes Booth.
John Wilkes Booth was also an actor—and he was Edwin Booth's
younger brother.
The assassination immediately made the Booth name infamous. While
John Wilkes Booth became one of the most recognizable figures in
American history, the effects extended far beyond him.
Edwin Booth had no involvement in the assassination. In fact, he had
openly disagreed with his brother's political views and was horrified by
the crime.
Nonetheless, public reaction did not easily separate the two.
In the weeks and months following the assassination, Edwin Booth
withdrew from public life. His reputation suffered, not because of
anything he had done, but because of his family connection.
There are historical accounts suggesting that Edwin considered ending
his acting career altogether. He felt a deep sense of shame, despite
bearing no responsibility for his brother's actions.
Eventually, with encouragement from colleagues and friends, Edwin
returned to the stage. Over time, he rebuilt his career and remained a
major figure in American theater. He later helped establish The Players
Club in New York, a gathering place for artists and performers.
Even so, his name was never fully separated from the assassination.
Robert Todd Lincoln's life also continued in public service.
He later served as Secretary of War and as the United States Minister to
Great Britain. Over the years, people noted that he had been present or
nearby during three presidential assassinations—his father's, James
Garfield's, and William McKinley's.
This led to later speculation and myth-making, which Robert himself
dismissed. He disliked the attention and rejected any idea that the pattern
meant something more than coincidence.
The brief encounter on the train platform remained a quiet footnote in
history.
A moment when Edwin Booth saved the life of Robert Lincoln—months
before Edwin's brother would take the life of Robert's father.
The episode stands out not because it altered the course of history, but
because it reveals how easily history compresses people into names and
associations.
Two men met as strangers.
One helped the other.
Neither could have known how their families would soon be linked
forever.
It's a small moment—but one that history didn't forget.

Todays story explains the controversy which still surrounds the untimely death of 21 year-old Pocahonts, the daughter of a Powhatan chief who, thanks to her trust in Capt. John Smith and willingness to accept English presence in the New World, became a pawn of English colonialism and, according to her tribe's oral tradition,  was likely killed for her kindness when she was poisoned while on board a ship leaving Engaland ihn March of 1617- the same ship and Captain which had kidnapped her just a few years earlier to "christianize" her. 
Our storyline today:  1616 Pocahontas, with husband JohnRolfe and son Thomas, reach England on a mission to promote the English/Native Indian alliance in the New World and hopefully raise money for a new church and school for native peoples. 
Pocahontas and 12 of her tribe attached to the delegation  tour London! Pocahontas ,now Lady Rebecca, is invited to attend a Chrisatmasplay and meets the King and Queen~Later she meets Capt.John Smith, who comes to see her, and she is initially overwhelmed due to her being told in Virgina thast Smith was dead- later she rebukes him for not contacting her~Likely treachery done by Smith's detractors the reason for his severe injury~Pocahontas works closely with Church ofn England officials to ask them to finance a vchurch and sachool for Indian children, idea which is acted upon~the funds raised during her visit went intio the construction of the Colle of Henrico (Richmond area) which was detroyed in 1622 by a Powhatan uprising- but later renewed at a diffent location- resulting in the beginnings of the College of William &n Mary in Williamsburg.
Then the sudden sickness and death with hours after boarding the ship which was wo take them home- she dies suddenly-  some say smallpox?- not believed by historians- Mattaponi Oral tradition states that she told her sister that she has been poisoned~ suspects are Capt Argyll and even her husband- who may have been using her and her notoriety for his own gainThe primary research revealing Mattaponi oral traditions of treachery, poisoning, and sexual violence was conducted by Dr. Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow and Angela L. Daniel (also known as Silver Star). Their collaborative work resulted in the 2007 book, The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History, which published these sacred oral traditions for the first time. 
Key Researchers & Contributors
Dr. Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow: A Mattaponi tribal historian and the eldest son of Chief Daniel Webster "Little Eagle" Custalow. He was designated from a young age to learn and preserve the tribe's sacred oral history.
Angela L. Daniel ("Silver Star"): A doctoral student in anthropology at the College of William and Mary at the time of publication. She worked closely with Dr. Custalow and his father, Chief Webster Custalow, who encouraged her to document their history to ensure its preservation.
Chief Webster "Little Eagle" Custalow: The late Mattaponi chief who served as a primary source for the researchers. He was instrumental in authorizing the public release of these historically guarded accounts. 
Significant Findings of Their Research
Through their interviews and compilation of oral tradition, these researchers documented several accounts of English treachery: 
Death by Poisoning: Their research indicates that Pocahontas was murdered by poisoning at a final dinner with John Rolfe and Captain Samuel Argall to prevent her from exposing English deceptions to her father.
Systemic Sexual Violence: They recorded clear tribal traditions stating Pocahontas was repeatedly  abused during her captivity in Jamestown, specifically by Governor Thomas Dale.
Paternity of Thomas Rolfe: The oral history they documented asserts that her son Thomas was not John Rolfe's child but was the result of physical abuse by Thomas Dale.
Exploitation of Tribal Members: They noted the tradition that Powhatan women accompanying Pocahontas were exploited, with some sold into servitude or slavery in Bermuda to remove witnesses to these events. 
While these findings have been debated by conventional historians who rely on written colonial records, the work of Custalow and Daniel remains the authoritative source for the Mattaponi sacred oral history.

In part two we cover the finding of the Pendleton bow section with all hands lost, and the rescue of the Ft. Mercer bow and stern sections in high seas off Cape Cod. At the end- parts of a Cape Cod Times interview with Andrew Fitzgerald; portions of the Coast Guard memorial flag ceremony for Berne Webber with words from USCG Master Chief Petty Officer Jack Downey; also included a Disneyworld tribute for Andrew Fitzgerald. Credits given in this episode to ,The Finest Hour' authors Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. There were dozens of heroes involved in the 1952 rescues and they didn't all make this story but their courage and sacrifices are appreciated, as is the U.S. Coast Guard Service and the men and women who served and who serve today.
The Finest Hours is a 2016 American action thriller film directed by Craig Gillespie and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The screenplay, written by Eric Johnson, Scott Silver, and Paul Tamasy, is based on The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman.[9] The film stars Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz, and Eric Bana, and chronicles the historic 1952 United States Coast Guard rescue of the crew of SS Pendleton, after the ship split apart during a nor'easter off the New England coast 
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Part One- Saving the crew of the Pendleton- On February 17th, 1952, a wicked nor'easter tore through New England, leaving 42 deaths n its wake. The cyclone winds, driving snow and sleet, and 70 foot waves caused havoc off Cape Cod, causing two huge T-2 oil tankers to break in half- leaving over 80 crewmen and officers in all 4 ship sections at the mercy of the ocean. The US Coast Guard was alerted first to one of the ships, the Fort Mercer, and sent their cutters and lifeboats out in extremely dangerous waves to try to save any survivors. When the shocking news came that a second tanker had been broken in two- there was only one small lifeboat left to go after it- but first it had to survive what was known as the Chatham Bar- a shoal so dangerous that no one believed this boat would make it. But the unofficial motto of the Coast Guard was and is- "You have to go out there...you don't have to come back". And they went.
The Finest Hours is a 2016 American action thriller film[ directed by Craig Gillespie and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The screenplay, written by Eric Johnson, Scott Silver, and Paul Tamasy, is based on The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman.[9] The film stars Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz, and Eric Bana, and chronicles the historic 1952 United States Coast Guard rescue of the crew of SS Pendleton, after the ship split apart during a nor'easter off the New England coast 
Get all of our shows at one website: WWW.BESTOF1001STORIES.COM
CALLING ALL FANS.. REVIEWS NEEDED
SUPPORT OUR SHOW BY BECOMING A PATRON! www.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork. Its time I started asking for support! Thank you. Its a few dollars a month OR a one time. (Any amount is appreciated).
YOUR REVIEWS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS AT APPLE/ITUNES AND ALL ANDROID HOSTS ARE NEEDED AND APPRECIATED! LINKS BELOW...
 
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Make Sure to catch Dickens GREAT short story 'The Wreck of The Golden Mary' NOW at 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales!
FOUND IN THE FOOTNOTES  CHARLES DICKENS AND THE STAPLEHURST RAIL CRASH
Podcast Script – Charles Dickens and the Staplehurst Rail Crash
As many of you know,I'm a huge fan of classic literature and four of our 1001 podcasts are packed with 
My renderings of  short stories and novels from the greats like Robert Louis Stevenson, O. Henry, and 
Charles Dickens- just search 1001 Classic Short Stories and you'll see what I mean.  Charles Dickens gave 
usGreat Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol,
And many more …
This is a mostly unknown story about Charles Dickens which I had never known-- until I found it in the footnotes.
Picture this.
It's a warm June evening in 1865. The countryside of Kent is slipping
past the windows of a train bound for London. Inside one of the first-
class carriages sits one of the most famous writers in the English-
speaking world — Charles Dickens. He's tired, he's thinking about
deadlines, and beside him is something priceless: the handwritten
manuscript for a new novel, Our Mutual Friend, not yet finished, not yet
safely delivered to the public.
Then — without warning — the world breaks apart.
The bridge ahead has collapsed. The train plunges into open space.
Carriages snap loose and tumble into the river below. Iron screams,
wood splinters, steam hisses into chaos. In moments, what was a quiet
journey becomes one of the worst railway disasters of the Victorian age.
And somehow — impossibly — Charles Dickens survives.
He climbs out of a shattered carriage suspended over the river. He tends
to the wounded. He witnesses death at arm's length. And before he
leaves the wreckage, before he allows himself to process the shock, he
does something extraordinary:
He climbs back into the ruins to retrieve his manuscript.
Tonight's episode is about that moment — the Staplehurst rail crash,
the night Charles Dickens cheated death, and how a single train accident
quietly reshaped the final years of one of literature's greatest voices.