Food for Thought

[mike86002000]

Laurie said:
I'm glad that Bob Summers's version was cited here because the description of the reporter's group's journey to Dr. Mudd's is worth the read before they even knock on the door. Of course, as a local girl, I know exactly where most of the places he described were/are. He did get wrong information regarding the naming of the village of T.B., however.

I had a part time job in T.B. while in high school, and heard that T. B. stood for Tom Brooke. Supposedly, he was required to name his place for tax purposes, and considered neighbor's more stylish choices pretentious.
I never heard that he died carving his initials into a beech tree. That sounds like an embellishment. I wonder what version you heard.
I should also mention that Dr. Mudd's dining room is separated from his parlor by "pocket doors" that slide into the partition, not folding doors. I am very familiar with the house, and can comment further.
When a writer carelessly gets details like this wrong it makes me question the accuracy of his whole story. Particularly since, in this case, Dr. Mudd said it was a distortion.
I agree that military control of Dry Tortugas was the most important factor in sending the conspirators there.
Mike

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Regarding Dr. Mudd's "likability": It's widely considered that "Frankie" "wore the pants in the family". Certainly, she had to, while he was in prison.
A docent remarked, within my hearing, that he was a "cry baby", constantly complaining about conditions at Dry Tortugas. I pointed out that it was a "Hell Hole", and he was sent there to die. Later I gave her a ride to the museum, in costume, in the back seat of my VW. Louise Arehart had "shot gun". The docent didn't seem to be a very happy person.
Mike