The Day the Laughter Died

History 6 Minutes

From: Paul Andrews at lost-in-history.com:

One of the worst train wrecks in U.S. history happened with, of all things, a Circus Train.  It was carrying over 400 performers when another train rear-ended it in the dead the night; and they burst into flames. The horrific tragedy happened to the famous Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus at Dutchman’s Curve near Hammond, Indiana on 22 June 1918.  The circus train was stopped on the tracks for repairs. The circus train wreck killed 89 performers and roustabouts, and injured over 150 more.   How could such a terrible disaster have occurred during the Golden Age of railroads?  

The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was the third-largest in the U.S., a Midwestern version of the Barnum & Baily Greatest Show. The H-W Circus had some of the most excellently trained animals, well-known trapeze artists, and spectacular equestrian routines.  By 1918, the company employed around 250 performers – acrobats, trapeze artists, clowns, and wild animal tamers; not to mention all the roustabouts who kept it going.  Circus owner Benjamin Wallace purchased the Carl Hagenbeck Circus in 1907.  In just a decade, the combined circus grew into a million-dollar extravaganza, which even owned its own trains. 

The circus required two, 28-car trains to transport all the tents, performers, animals, and midway across the U.S. The expansion of railroads in the latter half of the 1800’s fueled a Golden Age for circuses, as well as railroads. By 1900, nearly 100 circuses traveled between U.S. towns and cities. Back then, live circuses were an unmatched spectacle of daring, humor, and shear amazement. When the circus came to town, it was an unofficial holiday, schools and stores were closed and even factories shut down.

The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus Side Show performers

The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus had just wrapped up 2 successful shows in Michigan City, Indiana.  They were now enroute overnight to Hammond, only 45 miles away. The first train contained the performing animals, tents, midway and most of the circus workers.  The second train carried the performers and the remaining roustabouts. It was standard to send the animals in the first train ahead of the performers. That way, the animals could be unloaded, penned, and fed. This practice saved all the circus animals, but doomed the performers.

The first train made it safely to Hammond that night without incident.  But engineers on the second were forced to stop that train to fix a “hotbox” or overheated axle bearings – a serious problem if not addressed. They were able to pull the first cars off on a side track, but five of the rear ones, including 4 sleeper cars, remained on the main track.  This should not have been a problem as the rail line was aware and turned on red warning lights along the tracks.

Around 4 o’clock in the morning on Saturday, June 22, an empty Michigan Central train, led by an experienced railroad engineer, Alonzo Sargent, was rapidly approaching on the tracks behind them.  He and his train were headed to the west coast to pick up U.S. army soldiers for The Great War in Europe (World War I).  Sargent knew he was following 2 circus trains that were going much slower than his empty train.

As the crew worked, and the performers slept, the empty train came barreling towards them.

The engineer blew past several red stop signals AND the frantically waving lanterns of the circus train’s engineers. All his experience and knowledge was for naught as Sargent’s train inexplicably slammed into the back of the stopped circus train at close to 45 mph. The collision was so loud that farmers asleep in the countryside were startled awake.  They dressed and went to see what on earth had occurred.  

When the Michigan Central train rammed into the red caboose of the circus train, it splintered the caboose like kindling.  Then it continued on into the four wooden sleeper cars, filled with sleeping circus performers. The empty troop train’s massive engine and steel Pullman cars tore easily through the 4 wooden cars as well. Dozens were killed instantly.

Henry Miller, the assistant lighting manager, was a survivor thrown from the wreckage with minor injuries. “I was in the last coach, and was asleep when we were hit. I woke to the sound of splintering wood … Then there was another crash, and another, and another … The train buckled on itself.”

To make matters worse, the circus cars were lit inside with kerosene lamps hanging on the walls.  They smashed and exploded, spewing flames across the shattered wood, rapidly igniting the 4 cars.   Wherever the oil splattered, the fire followed.  Some survivors not killed instantly managed to claw their way out of the debris.  Others desperately cried out for help before the hungry fire engulfed them.

All four sleeping cars were completely engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes.

Survivors from the front of the train were knocked out of their berths when their cars jumped the tracks.  They climbed outside into the dark night and saw the rear of the train ablaze.  They ran back to the shouts and screams of their surviving coworkers.  The uninjured survivors risked their own lives trying to rescue their companions trapped in the burning wreckage.  One acrobat, trapped beneath the wooden walls, was pulled out by a clown just as the flames were licking his legs.  But most weren’t so lucky.

Fire engines from both Hammond and Gary, Indiana rushed to the scene.  But delivering enough water to fight the huge fires was next to impossible.  The only supply came from the shallow marshes aside the tracks. Hammond also brought in a wrecking crane to dig people out.  But it couldn’t be used because the fire’s heat was too intense. The survivors could only stand back helplessly and watch the four train cars burn.

The aftermath of the Hagenbeck–Wallace Circus Train Wreck in Hammond, Indiana

By dawn’s pink light, the burning cars were consumed down to blackened metal wheels and smoking heaps of ashes.  The engineer, Alonzo Sargent, and his fireman were uninjured and arrested by local police. Most of the dead were burned beyond recognition. The task of identifying the corpses was hopeless. Some survived the initial crash but succumbed to their injuries at the Hammond and Gary hospitals. Many of the dead were simple circus roustabouts, people who joined the traveling circus doing odd jobs.

The circus kept few records on their roustabouts, most of whom were immigrants.

When reports of the circus train wreck made the newspapers, scenes of unspeakable horror were retold to a shocked country.  89 people were killed and more than 150 injured. Railway investigators believed most victims died within the first minute after the collision.  Among the dead were some famous circus performers – wild animal trainer Millie Jewel, “The Girl Without Fear”; Jennie Todd, an aerialist in the Flying Wards; bareback rider Louise Cottrell; Wild West rider Verna Connor; the strongmen Derickx brothers; and the wife and sons of head clown Joe Coyle.

Five days later, 53 were buried in a mass grave plot.  As luck or fate would have it, the Showman’s League of America, a fraternal order, had purchased an area of Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, IL, for circus performers. When the coffins arrived, more than 1,500 mourners gathered to pay their final respects.   Only 5 of the 53 victims were identified.  Most were marked as “unknown,” or under markers like tent man, smiley clown, or 4 horse driver.

Mass grave for Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck victims.

The Showman’s League memorialized the mass grave with a statue of a stone elephant, its head and trunk drooping in sorrow. Today, that portion of Woodlawn Cemetery is known as Showman’s Rest.

In the aftermath, families of the deceased struggled with who they should blame. The circus company?  The railway? The engineer?  All of them pointed fingers at the others. Engineer Alonzo Sargent and his fireman Gustave Klauss were criminally charged with manslaughter. Sargent reportedly had fallen asleep and therefore responsible for the crash. In the 1910s, there was no oversight of train conductors.

Sargent had been awake on the job for over 24 hours, driving trains across the Midwest. A few hours before the accident, he’d eaten a heavy supper and taken some medication.  All that, plus driving a train in the dark of night, he dropped into a deep sleep. He had known circus trains were in front of him, but didn’t know one had stopped for repairs. Sargent slept through two warning signals as well as the waving lanterns from the frantic circus train engineers.

At the trial, the jury was dead-locked, and a mistrial declared.

The Indiana prosecutor decided NOT to re-try the case and all of the charges against the two men were dismissed. The Interstate Commerce Commission investigating the accident cited the use of wooden train cars as a contributing factor to the deaths. “We discourage the use of wooden cars on passenger trains and urge the substitution of steel ones. That is all we can do.”

What became of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus? Its owner and the surviving performers decided to continue the show, for no other reason than to honor their dead companions.  Despite the physical and psychological toll of the accident, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus missed only two performances in its summer schedule.  Thanks to other circuses providing spare equipment and crew, they were able to continue their mid-west tour. The remaining members, and those from circuses from around the country, all pitched in. 

SOURCE: LOST-IN-HISTORY.COM PAUL ANDREWS

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Published by pat frederick

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85 thoughts on “The Day the Laughter Died”

  1. Morning All!

    the hazy sun is out, but the wind is gusting something fierce! more poop on the deck…broken record. we are looking at the trap and seeing if we need a new one.

    saw the headlines at tcth…we bombed iran last night. the nuclear site is “gone”…we’ll see. sigh

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Good morning, Pat and Filly!

      That was a horrible tragic train wreck – and worse, it was an avoidable one.

      We are going to finish cleaning out Sally’s apartment this week. I’m praying about where to live, what the Lord would have me do- when life settles back down after all the caregiving and hauling back and forth for so many years – whether to move here or stay in my house in town. Oh man….

      Liked by 2 people

      2. Morning GA!

        i think you need to recharge your own batteries before making any decisions…but that’s my 2 cents.

        find things YOU enjoy–things YOU want to do–indulge yourself!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Morning, Pat! Oh, it was beyond glorious! 6 bunker busters were used @ Fordow! They also took out 2 other sites.

      It was already almost 80 when I got up about an hour ago but the forecast doesn’t show it getting as hot today, only in the 90’s vs. 100. It drops pretty substantially after that, w/rain on Tuesday & a high of 76, when I have my VA appointment. So I won’t have a problem driving myself, thankfully.

      I finally realized that my weakness is primarily my own fault, for spending that last 5-6 years on the net, 10-12 hours a day = no exercise! I have no muscle tone whatsoever so I am going to check into starting an exercise program to gradually rebuild my muscles. I used to do all my own yardwork until my mower blew up at the end of the season, w/no used machines available. That was when I hired Jason….I don’t think I’ll go out and buy another mower but there are a lot of other things that I should be doing for myself.

      Ah, yes – I’m a great planner but follow-thru is always my weak spot! LOL

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!

        I walk 25-30 MILES a week INSIDE the house. we have an open floor plan. you can walk inside at first–better safe than sorry and work your way up to brief walks in the yard and so forth.

        i know once you put your mind to something you can do it!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I heard on Fox last night that Elon was NOT pleased that Trump bombed Iran. Tough shit, asshole! You either support the US or you don’t!!!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. no one will ever agree 100% with every decision. it’s like you said, you’re either with or you’re not. pretending there is a reason (other than terrorizing other countries) that Iran needs nuclear power is stupid. they’re sitting on amazing gas and oil reserves.

          Liked by 1 person

  5. the dems are definitely certifiable. The author sites 3 things the dems did this past week that make them insane:

    1. Brennan says Iran should have SOME enriching power.
    2. Texas dems FIGHT to allow squatters who take over your house while you’re on vacation to remain there.
    3. Dems argue that preventing children from mutilating their bodies causes PERMANENT harm.

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/06/3_things_that_happened_just_this_week_that_tell_us_dems_are_insane.html

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Just The News: “As early as 2011, Donald Trump sounded the alarm that Iran must not become a nuclear power or the world would face unspeakable havoc. “Iran’s nuclear program must be stopped by any and all means necessary. Period,” the future president wrote in his book Time to Get Tough. “We cannot allow this radical regime to acquire a nuclear weapon that they will either use or hand off to terrorists.”

    Fourteen years after penning that book, America’s 47th president took decisive action Saturday night to ensure Tehran didn’t reach that critical goal on his watch, dispatching bunker-busting bombs aboard B2 bombers and 30 Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines to “obliterate” the Iranian regime’s three primary nuclear weapons facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan.

    Six bunker-buster bombs targeted Fordow,, Trump said, and 14 in all were deployed against the sites, the Pentagon said.

    Early reports indicate the GBU-57 bunker busting bombs imploded Fordow, a mountain-fortified facility that evaded decades of UN inspections and tantalized the world with a never-ending threat of Iranian nuclear holocaust as its mullahs chanted “Death to America. Death to Israel.”

    Trump declared himself pleased with the impact of his history-shaping decision, and pointedly made clear to Iran’s mullahs — led by the Ayatollah Khamenei — that their next step would determine the final outcome of the regime’s two-decade quest for an atomic bomb.

    “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,” Trump warned.

    “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,” he added. “Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.”

    Israel and the United States both braced for the worst possible response from Iran – more missile attacks or a possible terrorism strike – while hoping the earthquake-sized thunder of dropping the largest conventional bomb in world history may have shaken the Iranian regime toward a negotiated settlement.

    Trump’s navigation of the Iranian crisis demonstrated a redefinition of the use of American military might, directly pressuring diplomatic efforts toward peace by delivering surgical strikes with shock and awe destruction.

    He gave Iran 60 days to make a deal to forego its pursuit of a nuclear weapon and its enrichment of uranium, and on the 61st day green-lighted Israel to begin a military bombardment to destroy Tehran’s nuclear program. The first strikes decapitated Iran’s military leadership and disabled Tehran’s once-revered air defenses. 

    With unrivaled air superiority achieved by Israel, Trump then lulled Iran into thinking he would give the mullahs two weeks for more negotiations. In fact, he gave them just two days before unleashing Saturday night’s U.S. attacks that delivered utter destruction to Iran’s three most important nuclear development sites.

    Iran vowed Sunday to “plunge the world into an unprecedented level of danger” in the aftermath of the bombings.

    He ordered ‘urgent and decisive action’ must now be taken by the United Nations and other International bodies, adding that ‘silence’ will ‘plunge the world into an unprecedented level of danger’. 

    Sir Keir Starmer said the US took action to ‘alleviate’ the ‘grave threat’ of Iran’s nuclear programme – but urged Iran to return to the ‘negotiating table’ to end the conflict. 

    The UK Prime Minister said in a statement: ‘Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.

    While a military success, Trump and his team as well as his partner, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, remain acutely aware there still may be peril ahead for the world. Iran’s vaunted Hezbollah sleeper terror cells and possible missile strikes against U.S. assets or its allies in the Middle East remain atop the worry list.

    Trump’s Pentagon planned for every imaginable Iran response long before Saturday night’s bombing sorties, officials said. And almost immediately after the bombs dropped, signs of heightened security emerged.

    Israel went to a new level of alert demanding its citizens avoid any unnecessary public activities. New York City raised its threat level. And U.S. warplanes and ships patrolled aggressively for any sign of retaliation.

    In the meantime, Trump signaled unequivocally that Iran will choose the next edition of its fate: More attacks will bring more U.S. military might; more negotiations might bring a new era of peace and prosperity.

    The choice, Trump said, is Iran’s to make.

    Meanwhile, the president made sure to address the likely naysayers in the globalist community at large, the far-left of the American Democrat Party that pursued fruitless deals with Iran for more than a decade and the isolationists in his own party who immediately cackled the U.S. bombings were unjustified, illegal or even impeachable

    During his nationally televised post-bombing address, Trump enumerated the deadly toll Iran’s violence took on Americans for five decades starting with the 1979 embassy hostage crisis followed by deadly bombings in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia in the 1980s and 1990s and then the Iranian-made roadside bombs that killed and maimed hundreds of U.S. soldiers during the Iraq War.

    “For 40 years, Iran has been saying ‘Death to America, Death to Israel.’ They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs,” Trump reminded Americans. “That was their specialty. We lost over 1,000 people, and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of the hate.”

    Whether that carnage continues or subsides after Saturday’s massive bombing now rests with Iran.”

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Full Text of Trump announcement:

    “A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.

    “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.

    “For 40 years, Iran has been saying ‘Death to America, Death to Israel.’ They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over 1,000 people, and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of the hate. In particular so many were killed by their general. Qassem Soleimani.

    “I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue. I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before. And we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight, and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.

    “Hopefully we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that’s so. I also want to congratulate the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan ‘Raisin’ Caine, a spectacular general, and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack. With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.

    “Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.

    “There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight, not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago. Tomorrow. General Caine and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will have a press conference at 8 a.m. at the Pentagon. And I want to just thank everybody, and in particular, God. I want to just say we love you God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel, and God bless America. Thank you very much.”

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Full Text of Trump announcement:

    “A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.

    “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.

    “For 40 years, Iran has been saying ‘Death to America, Death to Israel.’ They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over 1,000 people, and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of the hate. In particular so many were killed by their general. Qassem Soleimani.

    “I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue. I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before. And we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight, and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.

    “Hopefully we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that’s so. I also want to congratulate the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan ‘Raisin’ Caine, a spectacular general, and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack. With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.

    “Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.

    “There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight, not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago. Tomorrow. General Caine and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will have a press conference at 8 a.m. at the Pentagon. And I want to just thank everybody, and in particular, God. I want to just say we love you God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel, and God bless America. Thank you very much.”

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Just The News: “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 17 illegal immigrants last week for immigration violations at a Pennsylvania apartment complex, according to a local news report.

    Local news outlet WFMZ reported that the workers were restoring the the Five 10 Flats complex in Bethlehem after fire damage. They were reportedly hired by a subcontractor.

    ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia Allentown office was involved in the arrests along with other federal law enforcement. ICE said those arrested included 13 Venezuelans, two Mexicans, one Nicaraguan and one Ecuadorian.”

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Clearly, this was written before the B-2’s did their thing….but he mentions that possibility.

    June 21, 2025

    “Israel struck Iran with a surprise attack on 12 June. There have been many reports out regarding the actions, reactions, and counteractions, all components of this war. The following is an assessment of the Israeli campaign and its effectiveness. America has a lot at stake here, never mind gaining or losing more prestige on the world stage. Let’s face it, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq did us no favors.

    It is now clear Israel’s campaign consists of at least four phases:

    1. The initial surprise attack with a continuing series of airstrikes.

    2. Expected Iranian retaliation by Israel.

    3. Israel sustained operations

    4. Plans for and execution of escalation operations.

    The evidence leans toward Israel achieving massive tactical successes, but strategic goals remain incomplete and there is controversy over the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. involvement.

    Phases & Performance:

    Overall: Israel’s campaign against Iran, appears to be progressing through multiple phases, each with varying levels of success.

    Airstrike Phase: Israel launched a well-planned and coordinated airstrike targeting Iran’s nuclear sites like Natanz and Fordow, military installations, and key personnel, including top generals and nuclear scientists.

    Performance: I assess this phase as highly effective, achieving air superiority and destroying over 130 strategic targets, including command centers and missile factories, within 48 hours.

    Iran’s Retaliation Phase (clearly considered and prepared for by Israel): Iran responded with at least 10 waves of missile strikes and drone attacks, hitting Israeli sites such as a hospital and oil refinery, causing civilian casualties.

    Performance: Iran’s efforts were largely ineffective, with about 90% of attacks intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome and U.S. systems, limiting damage despite some civilian impact.

    Sustained Operations Phase: Israel is continuing to target specific Iranian assets, focusing on remaining nuclear facilities and high-value individuals, with ongoing operations as of the past 24 hrs.

    Performance: I assess Israel is achieving mixed results. They are degrading Iran’s capabilities, key sites like Fordow appear to remain intact, requiring further action.

    Escalatory Phase: There is a growing possibility of U.S. involvement, especially to target hardened sites like Fordow, which could significantly escalate the conflict and bring in other global and nuclear capable nations aligned against each other.

    Performance: Uncertain at this phase due to required decisions from President Trump. There does not appear to be an American appetite for “boots on the ground” (rightly so in my judgement) and there is no apparent direct military action that can be confirmed at this stage, but there is significant support being provided.

    Assessment: Israel has shown superior tactical dominance, an exquisite level of intelligence collection and targeting prowess (to be admired by warriors of this profession), BUT fully dismantling Iran’s nuclear program remains a massive challenge.

    Bottom Line: The conflict will continue for many more weeks unless there is a cease fire of some sort agreed to and there remains clear potential for an even broader escalation.

    My assessment, given the “unconditional surrender” call by our President, for success to be achieved, there will have to be a MINIMUM of three outcomes:

    1. NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

    2. New Iranian leadership (preferably chosen by the Iranian people).

    3. ALL Iranian proxies (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis) to be completely dismantled or, at least, severely diminished with no further support of any kind by Iran.

    This has been an incredibly complex conflict with both tactical wins and select strategic uncertainties shaping its future. I guarantee the world is closely monitoring all military actions, diplomatic efforts, and international responses. For those who care about America’s Future, it will be crucial to understanding the various antagonists as well as the world’s responses as things further evolve (or erode).”

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Just The News: “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear sites as “bold” and “brilliant,” emphasizing that Iran’s “nuclear ambitions have been obliterated.”

    Hegseth said that Iran should take that the path of peace. “The United States does not seek war, but let me be clear, we will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners or our interests are threatened,” he said. “President Trump said no nukes. He seeks peace, and Iran should take that path.”

    He also said the B-2 bombs were in and out “without the world knowing at all.”

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine said the attack has resulted in extensive damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.”

    Liked by 1 person

  13. About that small bird I saw on the rail of the garden bed…..I noticed yesterday, it was out in the driveway, laying in the sun – this morning, I’m pretty sure he is dead. Weaker than the other birds, I guess.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. “U.S. Strikes on Iran: A Long History of Military Action Without Prior Congressional Approval — Legal precedent supports President Trump’s position”

    Sharyl Attkisson, Jun 21, 2025

    EXCERPT:

    • The U.S. has not formally declared war since World War II, yet it has engaged in countless military operations, and even war, without prior congressional approval.
    • From Trump’s first-term hits on the Islamic extremist terrorist group ISIS that grew to power under Obama, to Biden’s retaliatory strikes in Syria, the U.S. has frequently relied on expansive interpretations of executive authority to justify unilateral action.
    • Legal precedent supports President Trump’s position.

    The U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities are igniting a firestorm of debate over presidential war powers, with critics arguing that President Trump’s decision to act without prior congressional approval violates the Constitution.

    The strikes, targeting sites like Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo nuclear facility, follow a pattern of U.S. military actions abroad that sidestep Congress, a practice spanning decades. But the high-stakes nature of bombing Iran—a regional powerhouse with the potential for devastating retaliation—has brought renewed scrutiny to this contentious issue.

    Why do these strikes spark such outrage when unilateral action is so common? And what does history tell us about America’s approach to war powers?

    The Iran Strikes

    B-2 stealth bombers in coordination with Israeli forces, struck Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordo, a deeply buried facility central to Iran’s nuclear program. The operation is part of a broader campaign following Israel’s initial strikes on June 13, aimed to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions amid stalled diplomatic talks and reports of Iran nearing critical and dangerous weapons-grade uranium enrichment.

    The U.S. strikes, like so many before them, were conducted without prior congressional authorization. But they prompted fierce criticism, including from some of Trump’s fellow Republicans. Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled the action unconstitutional, with some even raising the specter of impeachment.

    Some progressive lawmakers were joined by libertarian-leaning Republicans like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) in arguing that targeting a sovereign nation with advanced military capabilities crosses a constitutional threshold. “This isn’t a drone strike on a terrorist camp,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). “This is an act of war against a state that can hit back hard. Congress must have a say.”

    Critics point to Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power to declare war, and the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires presidential notification within 48 hours of military action and withdrawal within 60 days unless Congress approves. They argue that the scale of the Iran strikes—targeting critical infrastructure with risks of retaliation against 40,000 U.S. troops in the region—demands congressional oversight.

    Iran’s deputy foreign minister warned of a “quagmire,” citing Iran’s missile arsenal, cyber capabilities, and proxy militias like Hezbollah and the Houthis.

    The Trump administration is defending the strikes as a “one-shot deal” to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, relying on Article II powers, which designate the president as Commander-in-Chief, and claiming the action falls short of “war” in the constitutional sense. Supporters of the U.S. action, like Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), cite historical precedents. They argue that presidents have long acted unilaterally to protect national security.

    The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), a key player in shaping executive action, has consistently argued that limited strikes don’t require congressional approval unless they involve prolonged, large-scale engagements.

    Yet many say the Iran strikes stand out due to their potential for escalation.

    Unlike operations against non-state actors like ISIS, targeting Iran risks a regional war, with analysts warning of “unknown unknowns” like cyberattacks or missile barrages on U.S. bases like Al-Asad in Iraq or Al-Udeid in Qatar. This context fuels demands for checks on presidential power, even as history shows such unilateral actions are far from new.

    A Pattern of Unilateral Action: Historical Context

    The U.S. has not formally declared war since World War II, yet it has engaged in countless military operations without prior congressional approval.

    Presidents have relied on Article II, existing Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) from 2001 and 2002 (the latter repealed in 2023), and flexible interpretations of the War Powers Resolution. The OLC often justifies these actions by defining “war” narrowly—excluding limited strikes or operations with low risk to U.S. personnel.

    Below is a detailed list of notable U.S. strikes and operations that took place without pre-authorization……”

    https://sharylattkisson.substack.com/p/us-strikes-on-iran-a-long-history

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Ladies, I appreciate your updates on the current situation, but I cannot support Trump’s unilateral strikes against a sovereign nation that he is afraid of. Legal precedent may be in his favor, but it goes completely against the founding principles of this country.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. WADR, you are dead wrong, katharine! This is where depending on book learning and not actually looking at the facts comes back to bite you.

        Liked by 2 people

  17. made an apple pie this morning and just finished cleaning up the kitchen. i went out to take hubby some water–he’s trying to get some mowing done. it looks like rain coming again. but when i came back in…the house smells divine!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. That this train wreck happened in 1918 tells me even more about the costs of war. The US of A got itself involved in one of many foreign wars, waged by war mongers overseas. Why was an empty train headed west, except to bring troops home from WWI? The US was booming, then, and the “railroad barons” were going at full tilt.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Yes….so? And where would we be today w/no railroads? We will have no boots on the ground and no involvement whatsoever going forward…..unless the Iranian leadership still has their heads buried firmly in their ass! I fully expect one day soon for the Iranian PEOPLE to rise up and finally kick them out, once and for all! Most of them despise the Ayatollah and his regime, especially the women!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Harrison

    June 22, 2025 11:17 am

    You just give TheDemocrats time and they will confirm everything we’ve always known about them … they want power and money!

    The DNC doesn’t not care about America or the American people … never forget that!

    Excerpts from Article:

    ‘The New York Times reported Thursday that “a coalition of elected officials, community activists, and labor and civic leaders in New York City” is planning ahead for the 2030 census, as Republicans push to have noncitizens excluded from congressional districting counts.’

    ‘New York Democrats fear they will lose at least two of their 26 seats in the House, according to the Times.’

    ‘More than 4.5 million migrants live in New York State, about 23.1 percent of its total population, according to a breakdown of 2023 census data from the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. Of those 4.5 million, about 1.8 million are noncitizens.’

    ‘It is important to note that Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), who represents Brooklyn’s Ninth Congressional District, in January 2024 revealed why she personally wants illegal aliens coming into the United States, stating, “I need more people in my district just for redistricting purposes,” RedState reported at the time.’

    Liked by 1 person

  21. so signal jammers–illegal in china–are being smuggled here to interfere with police, fire and other services by criminals.
    article
    (The Center Square)–There’s been an 830% increase in the amount of U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizures of Chinese-manufactured signal jammers since 2021, posing a threat to law enforcement operations, according to a new Department of Homeland Security warning.

    DHS issued the warning to law enforcement saying the increased amount of signal jammers being smuggled into the U.S. poses “a threat to public safety and civilian aviation.” CBP “has seen a roughly 830% increase in seizures since 2021, despite Chinese companies’ attempts to subvert inspection,” it said.

    Signal jammers are often used “to disrupt a range of radio frequency channels, and pose a threat to emergency response, law enforcement and critical infrastructure,” the warning states.

    Signal jammers are being used by a new organized theft ring that emerged under the Biden administration, South American Theft Groups (SATG). “South American illegal aliens jam calls to local police during home invasions or bank robberies in Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia,” DHS said.

    Under the Biden administration, as a record number of illegal border crossers made their way throughout the U.S., law enforcement officials recognized a similar trend of vehicle theft, targeted home burglaries and violent crimes, connecting them to SATG. SATG are believed to be run primarily by Columbian and Chilean nationals who either illegally entered the U.S. or exploited a visa program, law enforcement officials nationwide have found, The Center Square reported.

    Officials from across the country testified before Congress about Chilean gang members committing violent crimes in residential neighborhoods only to learn they had been released into the country by the Biden administration, The Center Square reported.

    Last year, Florida sheriffs identified SATG members targeting Asian Americans in six counties, The Center Square reported. By December, the NFL issued a security alert to players after professional football players’ homes were being targeted and broken into throughout the Midwest, The Center Square reported.

    In Texas, DHS working with local authorities identified an SATG ring operating in Houston and Laredo tied to stolen merchandise in Minnesota, The Center Square reported.

    In February of 2025, law enforcement in Texas “recovered a signal jammer while arresting an illegal alien from Chile,” DHS said.

    “Signal jammers have been used by illegal aliens across the country to jam communications during police operations, bank robberies, burglaries, and other dangerous crimes,” a DHS spokesperson said. “Under the vigilance of CBP, national security begins at America’s ports. As Chinese manufacturers attempt to smuggle signal jammers, we will continue to seize these tools of terrorism. President [Donald] Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem will always protect America’s critical infrastructure and law enforcement.”

    Federal law prohibits “the private import, operation, marketing, or sale of any signal jamming equipment that interferes with law enforcement communications, GPS, or radar,” DHS says. Despite the signal jammers being manufactured in China, they are banned in Beijing for public use.

    The SATG crime wave exploded in the U.S. as a record nearly 500,000 Columbian nationals illegally entered the U.S. under the Biden administration, The Center Square reported. Chilean national illegal entries also increased because many Haitians who illegally entered the country had Chilean passports and identification because they were living and working there, The Center Square has reported. Under the Biden administration, a record nearly 700,000 Haitians were reported illegally entering the U.S., The Center Square reported.

    The DHS warning comes after a U.S. House report identified hundreds of Chinese espionage incidents within three years under the Biden administration, and after the greatest number of Chinese nationals illegally entered the U.S. in recorded history over the same time period – more than 176,000 nationwide, The Center Square exclusively reported.
    https://patriot.tv/dhs-warning-to-cops-830-increase-in-seizures-of-chinese-signal-jammers/

    Liked by 1 person

  22. OK – I’ve decided what to do with the tree stump. I have this cast iron Chimnea sitting on my patio that hasn’t been used in probably 10 years. I’ve tried and tried to give it away and no-one wants it. It’s got a thick layer of dust on it, of course, but the screening goes all the way around and a flowering vine would be able to grow thru the mesh. I think that would look pretty. I definitely don’t want anything to do with fire out there – over time it will pick up some rust and look “settled in.” I figure I can have Gage drill 4 holes so I can sink it down into the stump for stability. I can take the lid off of the top, and open the screened door, take the plate off of the bottom so it will be more stable. I think that would look cool and it wouldn’t cost me any $$$, not to mention getting it off my patio.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Katharine, hopefully, this will clarify some things for you.

    Aaron Cohen (Israel) Special Ops veteran, ME counter-terrorism analyst: The US is NOT at war with Iran. The US is at war with terrorism. The IRGC isn’t a military – it is a global terror syndicate, the #1 state sponsor of terrorism around the world & they just happen to have a seat at the UN. What the US hit wasn’t Iran – it was the command and control at the center of the world’s largest state-backed terror enterprise. The world needs to understand that – this wasn’t an attack on Iran – it was a strategic counter-terror operation, targeting a nuclear armed terror cartel masquerading as a government. Iran isn’t a threat – it’s the IRGC. Donald Trump did not attack a country – he attacked the IRGC, which is a global TERRORIST organization. The Iranian people know this!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. The Vigilant Fox 🦊
    @VigilantFox
    RUBIO: “We’re not into the regime change business here, we’re into the safety and security of the United States business.”

    Asked about Iran’s possible next move, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said:

    “I don’t know what they’re going to decide to do next.”

    “If they’re being rational, I think they realize—you know if what they want is a country that has a nuclear energy program, they can have that, many centers around the world.”

    “I don’t like the regime but we’re not into the regime change business here, we’re into the safety and security of the United States business.”

    “So that’s a choice they’ll have to make. I hope they’re being rational in their decision making, but I think the most important thing I hope they realize is the game is up.”

    “They have played the world for 40 something years with these nuclear talks and delaying things.”

    “And they got a crazy deal out of John Kerry when he was Secretary of State under the Obama administration.”

    “They have been playing the world for 40 something years, they’re not going to play President Trump, and they found out last night when he said he’s going to do something, he’ll do it.”

    “He doesn’t want to do it. It’s not his first choice but it’s the only choice the Iranian regime left us because they play too many games.”

    “They think they’re cute, they’re not cute.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Liked by 1 person

  25. just got off the phone with Mom…lol. they are walking her now–which is great. she went to bingo this morning and afterwards they played Name That Tune. then the ladies talked recipes and Mom told them about perogies. they were all telling her why couldn’t they have met her earlier in life? they could have had so much fun cooking and baking together.

    Like

  26. “Is WW3 on the Horizon?”

    Clandestine, Jun 22, 2025

    “I think the biggest fear for most people, is that this strike on Iran could potentially escalate into WW3 or another prolonged conflict.

    But as of now, Russia and China have shown ZERO interest in defending Iran or supplying any military support. Iran’s other allies are limited to Syria and their own proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis, who are all already weakened due to earlier strikes from Israel and the US. Not to mention, they are all significantly outmatched militarily and rely on Iran for their funding and weaponry.

    So as of now, WW3 does not appear to be on the table. Iran are on their own.

    Now the question is, can Trump navigate this without getting the US into another drawn out conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan? Luckily, he’s already proven with Syria in 2018, that he can pull off precision strikes while avoiding any further escalation.

    All of Trump’s messaging has been consistent that he does not want a war, and he essentially ruled out any talk of boots on the ground. Trump’s main objective is already accomplished with Iran’s nuclear capabilities allegedly neutralized. Trump has no need for troops in Iran.

    So while I know many are concerned about this situation and the potential for escalation, WW3 does not appear to be happening any time soon, and Trump has a proven track record of navigating very similar situations without creating broader conflict or prolonged war.

    The overall stance from Trump and his administration is that this is the end of a decades-long war, rather than the beginning of a new one.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. i tend to agree with that assumption. POTUS is not a war president, but i can see him achieving peace thru a show of strength. you almost HAVE to. show weakness and you will get run over.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Just The News: “The Homeland Security Department issued a heightened threat alert for all Americans after the U.S. attack on Iran.

    “The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. “Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks,” read the bulletin.

    “Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020,” it also said. 

    According to DHS, the “likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland.”

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Liked by 1 person

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