September 30 - October 6: James Dean is killed after crashing his Porsche 550 Spyder and a curse is born from the wreckage - Cruiser HMS Curacoa is cut in half by RMS Queen Mary - Joseph Charles begins a morning ritual, one that would last 30 years and bring joy to thousands.
September 30, 1955
James Dean's wreck. At approximately 5:45 pm, actor James Dean is killed soon after crashing his Porsche Spyder in Cholame, California. His car crashed after a Ford sedan driven by university student Donald Turnupspeed turned left cutting him off. Although later ruled an accident, Turnupseed did not see Dean's low profile car until it was too late; the result turned one man from an actor into a legend.
With Dean's death, the wreckage of the car was sold and parts salvaged, and a series of unfortunate accidents gave rise to the legend of the curse of 'Little Bastard', Dean's cars nickname.
After the crash the insurance company declared the car a complete write off and paid Dean’s father 'fair market value' as a settlement. The wreck was then sold to a Dr Eschrich who dismantled it and installed the Porshe engine into his own car... he was soon involved in an accident himself.
The garage much of the wreck was housed in, awaiting display, caught fire but barely touched the car itself. The cause of the fire was unknown.
Legend also states that the transmission and tyres were all placed on other vehicles that would become involved in fatal car crashes and numerous other injuries are attributed to the wreck.
Dean was not alone in his car during his fatal crash. Mechanic Rolf Wutherich was also badly injured but survived. Twenty years after the event saw him stab his wife 14 times before he himself was killed in a fatal drink driving accident, another twenty years after that.
With Dean's death, the wreckage of the car was sold and parts salvaged, and a series of unfortunate accidents gave rise to the legend of the curse of 'Little Bastard', Dean's cars nickname.
After the crash the insurance company declared the car a complete write off and paid Dean’s father 'fair market value' as a settlement. The wreck was then sold to a Dr Eschrich who dismantled it and installed the Porshe engine into his own car... he was soon involved in an accident himself.
The garage much of the wreck was housed in, awaiting display, caught fire but barely touched the car itself. The cause of the fire was unknown.
Legend also states that the transmission and tyres were all placed on other vehicles that would become involved in fatal car crashes and numerous other injuries are attributed to the wreck.
Dean was not alone in his car during his fatal crash. Mechanic Rolf Wutherich was also badly injured but survived. Twenty years after the event saw him stab his wife 14 times before he himself was killed in a fatal drink driving accident, another twenty years after that.
October 02, 1942
Illustration showing the Queen Mary baring down on the HMS Curacoa. HMS Curacoa was destroyed when the ship it was escorting, Ocean liner RMS Queen Mary, collided with it. Queen Mary was transporting 10,000 American Troops over to Europe, making a 'zig zag' course in order to evade possible offensive measures by enemy U-Boats.
Unfortunately the Curacoa, a Cruiser, had engines which were not up to the task and at one stage, rather then zigzagging, took up a different position. The Queen Mary cut across the path of the Curacoa, striking it in the middle and cut it in half.
It only took six minutes for the curacoa to sink, and although the Queen Mary was in a position to help the crew, she was ordered to continue on her path due to risk of U-Boat attack. It took some time for help to get to the crew of the Curacoa and unfortunately only 99 out of the 338 serving onboard survived.
The Queen Mary is currently a hotel, museum and restaurant and can be found at Long Beach California. She has quite a haunted reputation with ghosts believed to include those of many of the sailors killed on the Curacoa that day in 1942.
Unfortunately the Curacoa, a Cruiser, had engines which were not up to the task and at one stage, rather then zigzagging, took up a different position. The Queen Mary cut across the path of the Curacoa, striking it in the middle and cut it in half.
It only took six minutes for the curacoa to sink, and although the Queen Mary was in a position to help the crew, she was ordered to continue on her path due to risk of U-Boat attack. It took some time for help to get to the crew of the Curacoa and unfortunately only 99 out of the 338 serving onboard survived.
The Queen Mary is currently a hotel, museum and restaurant and can be found at Long Beach California. She has quite a haunted reputation with ghosts believed to include those of many of the sailors killed on the Curacoa that day in 1942.
October 06, 1962
Joseph Charles, The Waving Man On this morning, Joseph Charles went out to his front yard, and as a neighbour waved good morning to him he returned the greeting. The following morning the same event played out, but soon Charles began to wave to other neighbours, friends and soon complete strangers.
It was from his front yard in Berkeley, California, that Charles would perform his morning routine for the next 30 years, bringing a bit more happiness and brightness to people’s days as they drove past. He wore bright yellow gloves so his waves could be better seen, and always had a bright greeting for anyone within hearing distance.
On 14th March, 2002, a decade after he had stopped his routine, Charles passed away. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people who all waved as his casket left the church.
Even today, a decade after Charles death and twenty odd years after he stopped his morning routine, people still remember the waving man. His gloves are held in the Berkeley History centre. Every March 22 (Charles birthday), between 7:30 and 9:00am, people make their way to his old house and celebrate, waving at everyone who passes on their way to work.
It was from his front yard in Berkeley, California, that Charles would perform his morning routine for the next 30 years, bringing a bit more happiness and brightness to people’s days as they drove past. He wore bright yellow gloves so his waves could be better seen, and always had a bright greeting for anyone within hearing distance.
On 14th March, 2002, a decade after he had stopped his routine, Charles passed away. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people who all waved as his casket left the church.
Even today, a decade after Charles death and twenty odd years after he stopped his morning routine, people still remember the waving man. His gloves are held in the Berkeley History centre. Every March 22 (Charles birthday), between 7:30 and 9:00am, people make their way to his old house and celebrate, waving at everyone who passes on their way to work.
Ashley Hall 2013
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