Morbid Fact Du Jour for November 30, 2014

Today’s Very Hot Yet Truly Morbid Fact!
In 1929, a hot spring death resulted in the giving of a Yellowstone National Park place name. That year Georges Landoy, age 42, the editor of the French newspaper La Matinat Antwerp, Belgium, was visiting the Old Faithful area with a party of European journalists. On July 3, at 3:45 p.m., Landoy had been watching Grand Geyser erupt when he saw Castle Geyser begin its eruption. He ran toward Castle, not watching where he was going, and fell into a “very hot” spring, apparently present Belgian Pool. About fifty percent of his body was severely burned – “both legs to the hips,” the left buttock, and left hand. Landoy was taken to Old Faithful Lodge for first aid and then to the Mammoth hospital. He died on July 5, 1929 at 5:30 p.m.

Culled from: Death In Yellowstone

Walk – Don’t Run – to Castle Geyser

And Beware Belgian Pool!  Damn, it’s pretty. I really need to get to Yellowstone one of these days…

Disclaimer Du Jour!
 

I’m the first to admit that in order to fulfill the morbid fact quota, I frequently use online resources, and sometimes those resources turn out to be faulty. I try to verify information on more than one source before I post it, and I try to avoid any disreputable sites, but occasionally misinformation will seep through the blotting paper. When this happens, I will gladly admit to my error and send out a follow-up.

What really irks me, though, is when people write me to tell me that my latest fact is “filled with misinformation” without providing any clue as to what, precisely, is wrong. Or without providing an additional resource that might “set me straight”. Such is the case with a recent comment on the blog regarding my post about evil Nazi doctor Rascher:

“I do not know, what you intend with your article about Rascher but is full of mistakes. Obviously you just took over the contents and mistakes of other articles in the net. What sense does this make? What profit for the reader? Why do you not read a decent biography of the SS-Doctor?
The Marquis DeSpair”

Since I used Nova as one of my resources, and read through some of the Nuremburg trial notes, I felt pretty confident with the information so I asked Hubert Rehm (the critic) to let me know what was wrong. Thus far, no reply.

So… if and when he replies, I’ll be sure to let you know what was incorrect about the two facts I posted on Rascher. Until then, if anyone knows what he might be referring to, please let me know so I can pass it on.

Horrible Suicide
Sometimes Kate wrote to tell me of a fabulous Tumblr page created by a “librarian in Cincinnati” who is obviously a kindred spirit of The Comtesse. Hours of entertainment can be had reading about the most horrible of 19th century mishaps!  I invite you to partake in:

Horrible Suicide

Morbid Jewelry
I admit, I don’t have much use for jewelry.  Unless, of course, it’s antique jewelry, and specifically, CREEPY antique jewelry!  Check out these beauties, which include a few Memento Mori specimens!  (Thanks to Lady Morgana for the link.)

Early Jewelry Pre-18th Century

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