Article Archives: Bumps in the Night

Abraham Lincoln – Cocaine Addict?, Part 1

This column first appeared in May 2011. In the fall of 1860, just one month before becoming president, Abraham Lincoln walked into the Corneau & Diller drug store in Springfield, Illinois and purchased cocaine. The statement is a fact that cannot be denied but asking a Lincoln buff for clarification … Read More

Charlie Osborne and the Hiccup

This column first appeared in June 2012. I love trivia, but frankly, who doesn’t? Trivia occupies the mind, makes you feel smarter than you really are, and sometimes leads your mind down totally different paths than you first started out on. For example, it was 90 years ago this week, … Read More

The American Ace of Aces, Part 2

This column first appeared in September 2011. Last week I began the story of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, one of the most famous Hoosier heroes you’ve probably never heard of. He was America’s “Ace of Aces,” the most decorated pilot of World War I, a pioneer of U.S. commercial aviation and … Read More

The American Ace of Aces, Part 1

This column first appeared in August 2011. The American Ace of Aces. Eddie Rickenbacker. A Medal of Honor recipient, 7-time Distinguished Service Medal honoree, successful race car driver, car maker, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, fighter pilot, airline executive, wartime advisor, elder statesman, and member of countless Hall of … Read More

The Most Famous Hoosier You’ve Never Heard Of, Part 2

This column first appeared in June 2011. Today he is virtually unknown to all but a few dogged devotees, students of 20th century history, readers of obscure books, and researchers into the paranormal and bizarre. William Dudley Pelley, a truly fascinating fellow, was one of our countries’ best known public … Read More