Wiki Walks Chris Griesemer

Saving Private Ryan's Inspiration

They were five brothers who enlisted together to serve in World War II, only to all tragically perish aboard the same ship, leaving their Iowa family devastated and prompting a new military policy to prevent such a concentration of family sacrifice.

Can't Say I Blame 'Em

They turned their guns on the American colonies in exchange for a chance at freedom and land of their own. Over 200 years later, the villages founded by these enslaved Black soldiers who fought for the British in the War of 1812 still exist today as a unique ethnic community in Trinidad.



Merikins -- Wikipedia

Georgia Tann...just the worst

She was a woman who preyed on the desperate and poor, stealing their children to sell to wealthy families for massive profits. By the time her black market baby ring was exposed, Georgia Tann had torn apart over 5,000 families, subjecting the children to unimaginable cruelty and abuse. Prepare to have your heart broken by this shockingly dark chapter of American history.



Georgia Tann -- Wikipedia

Reusable Pills?

Back in the day, it was not uncommon for people to swallow a pill made from the semi-metallic element, antimony, in an effort to absolutely fill their britches to detoxify their intestines. Once they did that...they'd reuse that same pill. It could even be passed down as an heirloom for the grandkids to use one day. Grossssssss.



Antimony Pills -- Wikipedia

Episode Notes
A trash fire sparked an underground inferno that forced the evacuation of Centralia, Pennsylvania, turning it into a poisonous gas-filled ghost town. Oh, and it will probably keep burning for hundreds of years. Yikes!



Centralia, Pennsylvania

Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter

WikiWalks.net





Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes
President James Garfield was shot twice by an absolute mad-lad, Charles Guiteau, but however terrible his assassin was, he was nothing compared to President's doctor. Everything he tried made things a million times worse, including shooting beef and opium up the President's fanny. This tragic story just keeps on giving in the worst ways imaginable.



The Assassination of James Garfield

Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter

WikiWalks.net





Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks