The prototype of the B-29 bomber made its first flight at Boeing Field, Seattle on September 21, 1942. It would be two years before B-29’s were flying combat missions. Shown here is Boeing’s Wichita assembly plant in 1944. Image via USAFHRA via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US
“The boat, thus freighted with secrets on which depended the life of a nation, glided silently over the water towards the western shore. Not a syllable was spoken by the watermen, and the few words exchanged by Smith and Andre were very low. A little after the hour of midnight they landed at the foot of a mountain, full of shadows and mystery, called Long Clove. This was about six miles below Stony Point. Arnold was already there, half hidden in the bushes, but watching with an anxious look for the approach of his midnight visitor. Twice already they had been foiled in their attempts to secure a meeting, and it was gratifying now to feel assured that all the obstacles had been removed. Arnold had come down that night from Smith’s house on horseback, and a servant rode another horse; the distance was between three and four miles. The servant retired a little distance with the horses, and was waiting further orders. Smith came up from the water first, and felt his way about in the darkness until he had approached near Arnold’s hiding-place. As soon as he found that, he returned and brought back Andre with him. He then left the two men together, and went back again into the boat to await the result of the interview. Thus these plotters against Liberty stood concealed in that lonely place, at the hour of midnight, with no person near to interrupt their consultation. It was an hour that each had ardently wished for, but had eluded them both till now. Hour after hour passed, and Smith began to feel impatient. It was not so easy a matter, either, to sit in a boat and resist the influences of the air of a night in September. Presently he went up the bank into the bushes again, and, in a whisper, reminded Arnold that it was getting late, and the chances of being discovered by the morning light were thickening. But the traitorous business was not yet completed; more time was wanted to make all things clear to Andre, and the arrangements had not been concluded for Arnold’s remuneration for his infamy. The latter therefore urged Andre to remain on shore till the next night, promising to conduct him to a place of safety, and then to send him to the Vulture again. He consented, and the boat was sent higher up the river into a little creek that set in on the shore. Arnold and Andre then mounted the two horses the servant had been holding in the thicket, and rode off to the house of Smith. Their road took them through the little village of Haverstraw; and there the demand of the guard for the countersign sent a shudder of alarm to the heart of Andre, for this was the first evidence he had that he was within the American lines. Even if he had desired to go back, it was too late then: he had reached a point from which he could not so easily recede.” From: Benedict Arnold. A biography by George Canning Hill https://archive.org/details/benedictarnold00hilliala/page/226 Source says not in copyright Image: The New York Public Library. “The tempter and the traitor – the treason of Arnold on the night of September 21, 1780” no known restrictions
Margaret Smith Taylor, the wife of President Zachary Taylor was born on September 21, 1788 in Calvert County, Maryland. Image of Margaret Taylor via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Chief Joseph and Buffalo Bill On September 21, 1904 Chief Joseph passed away at Colville Indian Reservation in Washington state Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
A photo of Virginia O’Hanlon from 1895 On September 21, 1897 Francis P. Church responded affirmatively to Virginia’s question “Is There a Santa Claus?” when his famous editorial was published on today’s date 126 years ago… Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On September 21, 1957 “Perry Mason” premiered on CBS Television. The original “Perry Mason” TV series ran for 9 seasons. Image Raymond Burr & Kathleen Crowley in “Perry Mason” in 1958 Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Maurice Barrymore, the great-grand father of Drew Barrymore Maurice was born on September 21, 1849. At nearly 30 years of age, while playing cards in a saloon in Texas, he was shot in the chest by a gunslinger but survived the ordeal after physicians performed a successful operation. Image: Stage Great Maurice Barrymore, father of Lionel, Ethel, and John via Wikipedia Commons, public domain
About 7 years after it moved its headquarters to Lancaster, Pennsylvania during the British Occupation of Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser became the first successful daily newspaper in America on September 21, 1784. Image of the publication from a few years later in 1787 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Charles and Frank Duryea took their horseless carriage out for a test drive on September 21, 1893 near Springfield, Massachusetts. Their vehicle is considered the first-ever gas powered automobile in America. Image of Charles and Frank Duryea in 1894 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
R & B-jazz-funk-pop-soul group Earth, Wind & Fire has been asking for 44 years if we remembered “the 21st night of September” in their 1978 megahit “September.” Why September 21st? The wife of songwriter/vocalist Maurice White claims that was the due date of the couple’s first son, Kahbran. Image by Chris Hakkans, CCA-SA 2.0 Generic via Wikimedia Commons.
