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An Old Story Is Back...
06-12-2014, 09:57 AM
Post: #1
An Old Story Is Back...
Booth buffs have heard about this story for decades, but it is making a reappearance:

The Tunnel King: The Search for John Wilkes Booth's Diary in the New York Subway System
By Mark Johnson of the [Milwaukee] Journal Sentinel

June 11, 2014

Thirty years ago, a New Yorker no one had heard of found the oldest subway tunnel in the world under a half-mile of Brooklyn. But Robert Diamond believed his greatest discovery was still to come: a locomotive buried in the tunnels along with lost pages from the diary of John Wilkes Booth.
This bizarre, fascinating story appears in Newsweek,of all places. And it's terrific. What a yarn!
Newspapers and magazines seldom publish stories about the fringe characters who live their lives on the far edges of the news. Joseph Mitchell used to write these stories for The New Yorker decades ago.
The current Newsweek story [below] is by writer Joe Kloc.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/262731721.html
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06-12-2014, 10:45 AM (This post was last modified: 06-12-2014 10:46 AM by BettyO.)
Post: #2
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
This old story has been kicking around - I don't really put any credence into it (OMG - here we go with "Diggers" again! They'll probably now get involved....) But the story of this spunky spelunker and the old New York underground tunnel is fascinating in itself! New York has a wonderful history. I wrote a paper on "Five Points" once and found that subject extremely interesting as well.

Thanks a ton!

"The Past is a foreign country...they do things differently there" - L. P. Hartley
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06-12-2014, 12:45 PM
Post: #3
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
Up until a few years ago he ran ads in The New Yorker magazine for tours. He charged $45 and you met him at the manhole cover in Brooklyn.
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06-12-2014, 12:59 PM
Post: #4
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
I'd love to go on one of his tours....

"The Past is a foreign country...they do things differently there" - L. P. Hartley
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06-12-2014, 01:28 PM (This post was last modified: 06-12-2014 02:31 PM by Gene C.)
Post: #5
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
Your comments about underground subways and tunnels reminded me of this this movie & TV series, although it doesn't take place in NYC.
Anyone remember Carl Kolchak?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xfl0m6U8IE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbzPooqlZ84 (the full movie)

So when is this "Old Enough To Know Better" supposed to kick in?
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06-12-2014, 04:22 PM
Post: #6
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
The other day my septic tank overflowed, and when I cleaned it up, I found Davie Herold's diary. Give me a day so to write it, and I will be selling copies Cheap.
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06-12-2014, 04:47 PM
Post: #7
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
Love it!
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06-12-2014, 04:59 PM (This post was last modified: 06-12-2014 07:55 PM by Gene C.)
Post: #8
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
Be sure to type the transcripts on an old typerwriter with a worn out ribbon, then accidently destroy the original diary so no one can question the authenticity of your copies. (Just follow the instructions Ray Neff left with his collection at Indiana State Univ Library) http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/...f-idx.html

Be sure to use a pen name, something like Rock Nelstek

So when is this "Old Enough To Know Better" supposed to kick in?
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06-12-2014, 08:10 PM
Post: #9
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
(06-12-2014 01:28 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Your comments about underground subways and tunnels reminded me of this this movie & TV series, although it doesn't take place in NYC.
Anyone remember Carl Kolchak?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xfl0m6U8IE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbzPooqlZ84 (the full movie)

I used to love that show! I bought some episodes on DVD. I was just thinking about it the other day too. I wish someone at HBO would do a remake. I think a network tried it a few years back and it was a flop. They need some creative, imaginative minds to make it work.

Thanks for the memory!
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06-12-2014, 10:59 PM
Post: #10
RE: An Old Story Is Back...
(06-12-2014 04:59 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Be sure to type the transcripts on an old typerwriter with a worn out ribbon, then accidently destroy the original diary so no one can question the authenticity of your copies. (Just follow the instructions Ray Neff left with his collection at Indiana State Univ Library) http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/...f-idx.html

Be sure to use a pen name, something like Rock Nelstek

Thanx Gene for your encouragement. I had "Bic Ballpoint" in mind
for a pen name.
(not much going on, is there?)
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