"Captivated by Witch Fever" is a book that explores the intriguing history and enduring fascination with wallpaper that was once colored with toxic pigments containing arsenic. This unique story delves into the dangers and allure of these wallpapers during the Victorian era, shedding light on the ignorance surrounding the harmful effects of arsenic. The main focus of the book is the effects of wallpapers colored with arsenic and the alarming rate at which it captivated the public during the 19th century. These wallpapers were highly sought after for their vibrant and bold colors, which were achieved through the use of arsenic-based pigments. The allure of these wallpapers was so great that even after numerous reports of their harmful effects, people continued to decorate their homes with them, unknowingly putting their health at risk. The book raises many thought-provoking questions about societal norms, especially in regards to the Victorian era, where arsenic-based wallpapers were considered fashionable.
The book raises many thought-provoking questions about societal norms, especially in regards to the Victorian era, where arsenic-based wallpapers were considered fashionable. It explores the role of aesthetics and appearance in society and the willingness of people to endanger their health in order to keep up with the latest trends. This raises the overarching theme of the book, which is the power of fashion and the lengths people are willing to go to achieve it.
The Witch of November 1905, Lake Superior’s Mataafa Storm
Lake Superior is notorious for deadly November storms. Perhaps the worst was the Mataafa Storm of 1905, when 36 lives were lost, and 29 vessels were damaged or destroyed.
“Witches” are the name mariners have for the autumn storms that frequently occur across the Great Lakes. A witch is a strong wind with much stronger gusts. These events are at their worst in November when the frigid arctic winds chaotically rush in to fill the low atmospheric pressure of the warmer Great Lakes. Gordon Lightfoot lyrically describes such a storm in The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (I bet you can’t read the lyrics without singing the song in your head).
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the captain did too
T'was the witch of November come stealin'
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashin'
When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind
As such, November has a cruel reputation on the Great Lakes, especially Lake Superior. The annual collision of high and low-pressure systems creates the potential for terrifying gales and precipitation, sometimes reaching hurricane force.
A storm had blown over Lake Superior on November 24, 1905, with 60 mph winds. Most ships were tucked safely away in their harbors, waiting out the blow. When the skies cleared, captains rushed to get their boats out for the final runs of the season. Weather forecasting was in its infancy, and in its place, maritime folklore determined that one storm would never follow on the heels of another.
The SS William Edenborn towing the barge Madeira had passed through the Soo Locks on November 26 and was headed west across Superior for a load of iron ore. But by suppertime the next day, Captain A.J. Talbot and his crew were battling 60 mph winds “with snow beating down so thick and so fierce that one could not hold his face to the storm a moment,” First Mate William Hormig would later say.
SS Edenborn aground after the storm. Credit: Wikipedia. Public Domain.
For the next 12 hours, they battled through the waves and wind, which gusted to 80 mph. Hurricane-force winds begin at 74 mph. In the blinding nighttime snow and absence of modern technology, the captain and crew overshot the safety of the Apostle Islands, located near the Wisconsin-Michigan border. At 3:30 am on November 28, a loud crack like a rifle shot was heard. The Edenborn suddenly lurched forward. The tow cable between the two vessels had snapped. The unpowered barge Madeira and its crew were adrift in the storm.
Captain Talbot would later testify that the snow was so thick they could see only half the length of the ship, and waves were “piling over her stern in volumes of solid water.” In 1905, primary communication between vessels was ship whistles and megaphones, useless in the howling winds. Given the danger of the powerful wind and waves and the proximity of the barge, Talbot traveled forward for an hour before giving the call to turn back for the Madeira. But just then, a tremendous sound was heard. The Edenborn had run aground at the cliffs on Minnesota’s shore. The wrecked vessel did not sink. One sailor lost his life falling into a damaged hold during the storm, but the rest survived.
The Edenborn’s barge, Madeira, drifted at the mercy of the storm until it also crashed headlong into Minnesota’s cliffs. As the barge repeatedly hit and broke against the high cliffs, death for the crew was imminent. However, one sailor put a coil of rope around him, and when the ship struck the rocks again, he jumped onto the wet and slippery cliff. With the storm still raging and in the dark of night, he scrambled his way up through the rock, ice, and snow. He lowered the rope to his mates. All but one were saved.
Stern view of the Mataafa broken in two. Credit: Go to Don. The UpNorth Memories Guy. Flickr. Creative Commons.
The day before, on November 27, at 5:00 pm, the SS Mataafa left Duluth, Minnesota, with a load of iron ore, towing the barge, James Nasmyth. An hour later, already strong winds increased to 44 mph sustained winds.
The Mataafa continued into the night. But when the storm intensified to 60 mph winds, the ship could no longer make any forward progress. Captain Humble turned around to head back to Duluth.
Like the other ships' captains that night, Humble was sailing blind for hours. By a stroke of providence, a brief reprieve in the storm revealed Duluth’s harbor lights. As the two vessels approached the harbor, Humble realized it would be impossible to navigate both vessels through the harbor’s narrow entrance canal in the high waves. He cut the Nasmyth and its crew loose, leaving them to the mercy of the storm. Humble then tried to bring the Mataafa into port, a disastrous decision. With the lack of modern communications, Humble couldn’t have known two ships had already attempted to “shoot the chute” with catastrophic results.
Now in the early light of day, Humble charged the canal at full speed, perhaps thinking speed would give him control in the turbulent sea. Instead, the waves lifted and turned the Mataafa from its course, crashing it into the north pier. Undeterred, Humble tried again and struck the pier again. The waves now dragged the disabled vessel back out to sea. Humble called to let go the anchors. They did not set, and the ship beached 700 feet offshore. The ship’s hull had cracked open, and the crew was forced on deck in the storm as the Mataafa settled into the water.
Humble shouted through the megaphone for help, but his words were lost in the storm. Even if he had been heard, the life-saving crew was busy with one of the earlier wrecks. The 24 men had no choice but to wait until rescuers could reach them.
Crowds gathered from the news of multiple ship wrecks. On photographer caught the Mataafa striking Duluth Harbor’s north pier. Credit: Go to Don. The UpNorth Memories Guy. Flickr. Creative Commons.
That day, an estimated 10,000 onlookers crowded the shoreline as rescue efforts were carried out for the Mataafa. Fifteen crew members were rescued. Five of the nine who perished were frozen to the deck. One had to be cut out of the ice. The notoriety of the Mataafa rescue is how the storm was named. The barge, James Nasmyth and its crew, that Humble had cut loose, survived the storm. The Nasmyth continued its service until it was scrapped in 1984.
In the Mataafa Storm of 1905, the witch of November crashed eleven vessels into the 47-mile stretch of Minnesota cliffs between Split Rock and Duluth. The SS Ira H. Own and its 14 crew members disappeared without a trace near the Apostle Islands. Some have reported sighting it as a ghost ship. Thirty-six sailors lost their lives in the Mataafa Storm, and some 29 vessels were damaged or destroyed.
Lake Superior is notorious for deadly November storms. Perhaps the worst was the Mataafa Storm of 1905, when 36 lives were lost, and 29 vessels were damaged or destroyed.
Another important aspect of the book is the dark history of arsenic and its toxic effects. The author sheds light on the lack of scientific understanding during the Victorian era and how it contributed to the ignorance surrounding the dangers of arsenic. The book includes detailed accounts of the harmful effects of arsenic exposure, including cases of poisoning and even death. Overall, "Captivated by Witch Fever" is an enlightening and thought-provoking book that explores the captivating and dangerous world of arsenic-laden wallpapers. Through its historical accounts and analysis of societal norms, the book highlights the power of fashion and the ignorance that can often accompany it. It serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the importance of scientific knowledge and critical thinking when it comes to our choices and the impact they can have on our health and well-being..
Reviews for "The Symbolism of Witch Fever: Unraveling the Meanings Behind the Witchcraft Craze"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Captivated by Witch Fever" as I love historical accounts. However, I was extremely disappointed with this book. The author seemed more focused on showcasing their own writing skills rather than providing meaningful content. The writing style was convoluted and hard to follow, and I often found myself getting lost in unnecessary details. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious read and would not recommend it to others.
- Mark - 1 star - "Captivated by Witch Fever" was a complete waste of my time. The author failed to deliver on the promise of unraveling the mysteries surrounding witch fever. Instead, I found myself with a collection of random and disjointed anecdotes that lacked any real substance. Additionally, the writing was overly pretentious, making it difficult to connect with the information being presented. I cannot express enough how disappointed I am with this book.
- Lisa - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Captivated by Witch Fever" given its intriguing title and cover. However, the content did not live up to my expectations. The book lacked a clear narrative structure, jumping from one topic to another without much cohesion. It felt like a collection of random facts rather than a well-researched exploration of witch fever. I found myself losing interest quickly, and by the end, I was left feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed.