October 7 - 13: A murderer is found guilty after losing a duel against his victims dog - A meteorite smashes into a 1980 Chevy Malibu in Peekskill, New York - Twenty cruisers fitted with high tech sonar equipment scan the depths of Loch Ness searching for the legendary monster.
October 8, 1361
The half starved 'Dragon' Chevalier Macaire is locked in a deadly duel with a dog. This bizarre spectacle was called by King Charles the Great of France as a way to determine the outcome of what was essentially a murder trial.
Probably best to start at the start...
One morning in Autumn a gentleman in the court of King Charles was awoken by the sound of a scratching at his front door. Upon investigating the noise he found a dog standing there. He recognised it as belonging to one of his friends Aubrey de Montdidier. The dog was trying to get the man’s attention, but he ignored it and the dog wandered off.
For several days the dog visited the gentleman and other friends of Montdidier, but no one registered anything wrong, that is until they realised they had not seen Montdidier for quite a while. They called at his house to find no one there, except his dog, now half starved.
The dog was fed then once again attempted to get their attention, but they let him wander off into the night alone. The next time he was seen the dog was much more insistent, grabbing one of their shirts in his teeth and tugging gently, this time they decided to follow, and follow him they did.
He led them out of Paris and into the Bondy Forest. They continued on until the dog stopped at a tree and began to let out a howl and started to dig. The men joined the animal and there they found Aubrey de Montdidier who must have been slain many days earlier.
But who had killed him?
Probably best to start at the start...
One morning in Autumn a gentleman in the court of King Charles was awoken by the sound of a scratching at his front door. Upon investigating the noise he found a dog standing there. He recognised it as belonging to one of his friends Aubrey de Montdidier. The dog was trying to get the man’s attention, but he ignored it and the dog wandered off.
For several days the dog visited the gentleman and other friends of Montdidier, but no one registered anything wrong, that is until they realised they had not seen Montdidier for quite a while. They called at his house to find no one there, except his dog, now half starved.
The dog was fed then once again attempted to get their attention, but they let him wander off into the night alone. The next time he was seen the dog was much more insistent, grabbing one of their shirts in his teeth and tugging gently, this time they decided to follow, and follow him they did.
He led them out of Paris and into the Bondy Forest. They continued on until the dog stopped at a tree and began to let out a howl and started to dig. The men joined the animal and there they found Aubrey de Montdidier who must have been slain many days earlier.
But who had killed him?
Macaire is bested The mystery may have gone unresolved but for a chance encounter between the dog and a man named Chevalier Macaire. The dog lunged straight for Macaire upon seeing him, and it took many people to pry him off. This happened again and again – every time the dog saw Macaire. Suspicions were raised and King Charles sent for the dog to test out the situation. The dog was fine with everyone, although quite a fearsome looking 'beast', it had a gentle nature... that is until Macaire was brought into the room, and once again the dog went for him.
It turns out Macaire and Montdidier had been rivals, and with Macaire now fully under scrutiny as being the murderer, King Charles called for a trial and 'judgement by God's favour', essentially meaning a duel to the death... the loser to be seen as being in the wrong in this situation.
Stands were created and an arena constructed. The duel took place with Macaire being given a club and the dog (sometimes named 'Dragon') expected to use its teeth and claws. The dog was victorious, Macaire called for mercy while in the dogs grip and confessed to the crime.
Macaire was beheaded on the Isle of Notre Dame.
It turns out Macaire and Montdidier had been rivals, and with Macaire now fully under scrutiny as being the murderer, King Charles called for a trial and 'judgement by God's favour', essentially meaning a duel to the death... the loser to be seen as being in the wrong in this situation.
Stands were created and an arena constructed. The duel took place with Macaire being given a club and the dog (sometimes named 'Dragon') expected to use its teeth and claws. The dog was victorious, Macaire called for mercy while in the dogs grip and confessed to the crime.
Macaire was beheaded on the Isle of Notre Dame.
October 9, 1992
The Chevrolet Malibu featuring its 'ding' A meteorite which had been travelling through space at 8.8 miles per second slows down and breaks up over the US. At about 7:50pm one fragment slammed into a 1980 Chevrolet Malibu, parked in Peekskill, New York, at about 164 miles per hour. It dinged that car good.
Michelle Knapp was the owner of the Malibu and had only just purchased it for about $300US. However, now that a bowling ball sized piece of space rock had smashed through the car, it was worth a lot more – she sold it for $10,000US to a collector of meteorites.
The Peekskill meteorite, which had embedded itself into the driveway, was sold to three dealers for $69,000US.
Not a bad day for Michelle Knapp!
Michelle Knapp was the owner of the Malibu and had only just purchased it for about $300US. However, now that a bowling ball sized piece of space rock had smashed through the car, it was worth a lot more – she sold it for $10,000US to a collector of meteorites.
The Peekskill meteorite, which had embedded itself into the driveway, was sold to three dealers for $69,000US.
Not a bad day for Michelle Knapp!
October 11, 1987
Operation Deepscan, cruisers travelling the length of the loch in line “Loch Ness, or Loch Nis in Gaelic, is a large, deep freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands, which extends for about 37 km south west of Inverness. It is the second largest loch (lake) in Scotland, with a surface area of 56.4 km2, but is the largest in volume. It is 226m deep at its deepest point.
For centuries, witnesses have reported sighting a large monster with a long neck in Loch Ness, Scotland. Famous photographs have been proven to be hoaxes, but still the myth of the monster has persisted.
On 11 October 1987, "Operation Deepscan", a major sonar exploration of the Loch, was undertaken by a team of 20 cruisers. High-tech sonar equipment bounced sound waves to the bottom of the lake, electronically recording any contacts. Three sonar contacts showed up as crescent shaped marks, but the results of the sonar test did not indicate there was anything unusual on the bottom of Loch Ness. "
From Today .net
For centuries, witnesses have reported sighting a large monster with a long neck in Loch Ness, Scotland. Famous photographs have been proven to be hoaxes, but still the myth of the monster has persisted.
On 11 October 1987, "Operation Deepscan", a major sonar exploration of the Loch, was undertaken by a team of 20 cruisers. High-tech sonar equipment bounced sound waves to the bottom of the lake, electronically recording any contacts. Three sonar contacts showed up as crescent shaped marks, but the results of the sonar test did not indicate there was anything unusual on the bottom of Loch Ness. "
From Today .net
Ashley Hall 2013
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