"ARRESTED FOR SPEEDING ON FRIDAY THE 13TH"

TO BE ON SAFE SIDE, ORCHESTRA LEADER WILL SPEND THE DAY IN BED

Cleveland, Ohio (JFK+50) On Friday, August 13, 1926, Associated Press reports that Mr. Jim Wallace, a veteran orchestra leader, "is spending today in bed because it is Friday the 13th*."

This will not be the first time this has happened.  

In fact, Mr. Wallace has spent every Friday the 13th over the past 25 years in bed.  It all started, when he was arrested for speeding on Friday the 13th.

JFK+50 NOTE

On a Friday the 13th back in 1979, I took a day off from work to go on a short trip with my wife.  We had just started out on the interstate from Knoxville bound for Asheville when I looked in my rear view mirror & saw a vehicle heading toward us at high speed.  (At that time, the speed limit on the interstate was 55 mph which I was doing)

Driving in the center lane of a 3 lane highway, I turned my steering wheel left to avoid the vehicle but he hit the spare tire mounted on the right rear of our 1978 Ford Econoline van.  The impact pushed us forward but I was able to stop.  The vehicle that hit us went off the interstate & the driver was thrown out.  

They found many bottles/cans of beer/liquor in his vehicle.  We learned later that he did survive & was charged with drunk driving.  We were able to drive our van back home but it was badly damaged and although repaired was never the same again.  

From that day until my retirement in 2010, I never took a day off from work on a Friday the 13th or made any road trips on that date.  I can very much relate to Mr. Wallace's desire "to be on the safe side."

*Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition.  It occurs at least once & up to three times in the same year.  There are a variety of explanations on why the day is considered unlucky.

SOURCE

"Spends Day in Bed On Friday the 13th To Be on Safe Side," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., August 13, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Friday the 13th on Calendar

by W. J. Pilsak

2004

"CURTIS D. WILBUR NOT SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT THE #13"

NUMBER THIRTEEN IS LUCKY FOR NEW NAVY SECRETARY

San Francisco, California (JFK+50) On March 14, 1924, the Associated Press reports newly appointed Navy Secretary Curtis D. Wilbur* has experienced lots of luck with the number 13.

While many are superstitious about the number, not so with Judge Wilbur.  He was married on the 13th, lived at 1313 Winifred Street in L.A., was admitted to the bar on the 13th & inducted as chief justice of the state supreme court on January 13th. 

His most recent bit of luck with the number was on March 13, 1924 when he was appointed Secretary of the Navy.  Perhaps if there is ever a U.S. ship named in honor of Curtis D. Wilbur, it should appropriately bear the number 13.

JFK+50 NOTE

On a Friday the 13th back in 1980, I took a leave day from teaching school to go on a weekend trip in our van with my wife.  As we were heading east in the middle of a 3 lane interstate going the maximum speed of 55 mph, I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw a van speeding toward me. I quickly tried to swerve out of his way, but he impacted our spare tire mounted on the back and we were shoved forward.  

While we were ok, the van veered off the road and overturned.  The man, a  drunk driver, was thrown through the windshield but somehow survived.  Needless to say, we were very lucky to have escaped with only damage to our van.  We had to cancel our weekend plans and return home.  In any case, I never took a leave day on a Friday the 13th again.

I just noticed my JFK+50 post yesterday, March 13, has had 13 hits.  How cool is that?   

*Curtis Dwight Wilbur (1867-1954) was born in Boone, Iowa & graduated from the US Naval Academy, 1888.  CDW was admitted to the California bar in 1890, served as Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court 1923-24 & as Secretary of the Navy 1924-1929.

SOURCE

"Appointed On 13th, Wilbur Cites Proof Number Is 'No Jinx',"  The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 14, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Navy Secretary Presented Floral Anchor

Harris & Ewing Photo (1927)

Library of Congress

"ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAYS EVER EXPERIENCED"

WHO SAYS FRIDAY THE 13TH IS UNLUCKY?

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On Friday the 13th* of October 1922, the Evening Star states...

"Today is regarded by the superstitious as unlucky.  One is supposed to be run over by automobiles, trip over curbs, lose one's money, fall down the stairs, and fall out of bed..."

In a front page column, the Star opines that the number 13 is no different from any other number and that Friday...

 "is just about like any other day.  This particular Friday, October 13, is one of the most beautiful days ever experienced in the National Capital.  Who says Friday the 13th is unlucky?"

*According to CNN, the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th "is a Victorian invention."  It was the 1907 novel titled "Friday the 13th" by Thomas W. Lawson that got the ball rolling.

JFK+50 COMMENT

It was Friday the 13th in the Fall of 1978.  We had a new customized van and decided to take the day off from work and head east on Interstate 40 to enjoy the weekend in western North Carolina.

We were in the center lane of the 3 lane interstate driving at the speed limit when I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw another van about to rear end us.  I jerked the steering wheel to the left & he must have jerked his to the right at the last second and impacted the spare tire on the back of our van.  The impact pushed us forward but I was able to maintain control and pull off to the side.  

The van that hit us ran off the road to the right, rolled over and landed upside down.  We learned later that the driver was drunk.  We were very "lucky" to escape injury although our van sustained damage and was never the same as before.  The drunk driver did survive.  Obviously, our mini vacation came to an end and we returned home.

It was a Friday the 13th we would never forget and the lesson for us was to not plan any future vacation trips on that date.  

SOURCES

"Friday The 13th Brings No Jinx To Capital City," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 13, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Why is Friday the Thirteenth unlucky?  The cultural origins of an enduring superstition, by Christobel Hastings, CNN Style, August 12, 2021, www.cnn.com/

 Friday 13th License Plate

Lynn Friedman

www.flickr.com/