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Historical tragedies and connections to author.

Trial and Triumph is a dramatized love story set during a historical tragedy just as the movie Titanic is. It is interesting to note some of the connections to both tragedies in my life.

My maternal grandfather was born in Germany and loved to travel. He would secure passage on a ship by working as a fireman, shoveling coal into the furnaces that drove the engine. He wanted to come to America and he had heard about this wonderful new ship being built, named the Titanic which would sail to America on its maiden voyage. He planned it so that he could be at the departure port when the ship would take on the crew of firemen. Fortunately, he over slept and arrived at the gate too late, and they had already taken on all the firemen they needed. He felt bad, but later when he heard it sank, he didn’t feel so bad about missing the chance to be on the ship.

Anyone who grew up in New Ulm was immersed in reminders of the uprising.  The center street monument to the defenders, stands just outside of the middle school, which has large murals of the battles on the walls of the auditorium. Our 4H club was entrusted with maintaining the Milford monument which is just outside of the city. My brother Daniel and I regularly mowed and cleaned up the monument grounds. Berg’s Battery a militia with cannon, established in 1863 to protect the town from future attacks, is still active today and takes part in parades and ceremonies. The ruins of Waraju distillery, burned by the Sioux are preserved in West Side park. Fort Ridgely is only 25 miles north west of New Ulm.

Both tragedies were avoidable, with the root causes being arrogance, pride and greed. In both cases the innocents, the passengers and settlers, paid the price.