September 10, 2009

Today's Inadequate Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

The Ballantyne's Department Store Fire on November 18, 1947, remains the worst fire disaster in New Zealand history. Forty one people died in the blaze, mostly employees who had failed to evacuate the second floor workrooms at the time of the fire. J. Ballantyne & Co, located at the corner of Colombo Street and Cashel Street in Christchurch, employed about 300 people at the time of the fire. Many of these worked on the second floor in various departments, including millinery, dress-making, and bookkeeping. When the fire was first noticed, at 3:31 in the afternoon, the owners were informed and the fire department was called. The shopping area on the first floor was evacuated by sales employees. When firemen arrived shortly after, they initially did not realize there were still people on the second floor of the building. Many of the victims on the second floor died of smoke inhalation as they tried to leave via fire escapes. Kenneth Ballantyne was the last person to be rescued by firefighters. A commission later determined that the fire response was inadequate and the building did not meet fire codes, though it had passed its last inspection.

Culled from: Wikipedia
Generously suggested by: Robyn

September 30, 2009

Today's Restrained Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

Bilboes were a method of restraint which consisted of a long iron bar attached to the floor. Free to slide along the bar were a number of hinged iron rings which were riveted about the ankles of the prisoners, forcing them to sit or lie down until the restraint was released. Some prisons in Britain also found bilboes invaluable for securing prisoners who were being flogged, and indeed the punishment cell in Newgate Prison was given the name of the Bilboe or Bilbow. The word is a corruption of the Spanish town Bilboa, for when the Armada was defeated in 1588, chests of these shackles were found in the galleons, reputedly to pinion English captives. In actual fact similar devices were widely used for naval prisoners on board ship and the Royal Navy was equipped with them until the 18th century. Doubtless that was how they found their way to the West Indies, where they were used during the slave trade era. Ten or more slaves would be secured in bilboes, being released each day before being taken to work in the plantations.

Culled from: Rack, Rope and Red-Hot Pincers

You can get your own personal bilboes from Irontree Works. What a nifty Christmas gift!