U.S. National ArchivesThe USS Arizona sank after it was struck by a Japanese bomb during the attack on Pearl Harbor, killing 1,177 crewmen.On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. At least 2,403 people died that day and nearly half of them were crew members aboard the USS Arizona.Just minutes into the bombardment, the USS Arizona was struck by an armor-piercing shell that detonated in or near the battleships magazine, sparking a chain reaction that caused the vessel to violently explode.Those who survived the initial blast were left with an impossible decision: Stay aboard the sinking ship or jump into the water below, which was ablaze due to the oil pouring out of the crumpled hull.The USS Arizona lost 1,177 men that day almost 80 percent of its crew. The battleship remains in Pearl Harbor today with more than 900 bodies still inside as a sobering testament to that day which will live in infamy.The USS Arizona Before World War IIThe USS Arizona was commissioned in 1916 as a U.S. Navy battleship. The 608-foot vessel was equipped with four 14-inch guns, 22 five-inch guns, four three-inch guns, and two torpedo tubes. It was one of the most powerful ships in Americas fleet, but it didnt see battle during World War I.Although the U.S. declared war on Germany just three days after the Arizona was officially completed, the ship remained along the East Coast during the conflict. It wasnt until the armistice was declared in November 2018 that the Arizona traveled to Europe, escorting President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference.Library of CongressThe USS Arizona returning to New York Harbor from its sea trials on Christmas Day 1916.Between the two World Wars, the battleship was mostly used for training purposes, though it was deployed a few times to help ease tensions in the Mediterranean and aid relief efforts after an earthquake in California as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.In mid-1940, the Pacific Fleet was moved from California to Hawaii as tensions rose after the outbreak of World War II. The following year, in October 1941, the USS Arizona was struck by the USS Oklahoma in foggy conditions. The Arizona had been scheduled to return to Washington for an overhaul in November, but due to the damage, it instead remained docked in Pearl Harbor to await repairs. A repair ship called the USS Vestal arrived on Dec. 6, 1941. The very next morning, disaster struck.The Devastating Attack That Destroyed The BattleshipJust before 8 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese planes appeared in the skies above Pearl Harbor. The first bomb struck the nearby seaplane base on Ford Island. As reported by WPSD-TV, USS Arizona survivor James Vessels recounted that moment during a 1975 interview.When this bomb went off, Vessels said, we couldnt figure what was happening. About that time we looked up, and here came a torpedo plane down through the harbor and had this big rising Sun painted on the side of it.U.S. NavyAn aerial view of the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in October 1941. The USS Arizona can be seen in the upper right.Just a few minutes after the attack began, the USS Arizona was struck by an armor-piercing shell and violently exploded.They know now that it went through the main deck and penetrated the floors and then blew up the magazine, said Vessels, and thats in some of the videos you see where the ship raises up and settles back down.Indeed, the Arizona was briefly blown out of the water. The explosion essentially split the ship in two, and it sank quickly to the bottom of the harbor. The destruction was so devastating that experts still arent sure exactly what happened.As Vessels said, one theory is that the bomb detonated directly inside one of the ships main armament magazines. But its also possible that it struck black powder that was being temporarily stored outside of a magazine, starting a chain reaction that caused the battleships oil to ignite. As the ship sank, the oil leaked into the ocean, lighting the surface on fire. According to the National Park Service, survivor Lauren Bruner later said, At that point, the only possibility to evacuate the ship was to dive into the water, which was 80 feet below and was fully engulfed in flame. That was not an option for survival.U.S. NavyA massive explosion destroyed the USS Arizona just minutes into the attack on Pearl Harbor.As reported by the Naval History and Heritage Command, Corporal B. C. Nightingale of the U.S. Marine Corps later wrote, The bodies of the dead were thick, and badly burned men were heading for the quarterdeck, only to fall apparently dead or badly wounded Charred bodies were everywhere.Of the 1,512 men aboard the USS Arizona that day, 1,177 died nearly 80 percent of the crew. The fatalities from the Arizona also accounted for almost half of the 2,403 deaths from the entire attack on Pearl Harbor. The survivors would never forget what they witnessed.The USS Arizona Memorial At Pearl HarborThe USS Arizona continued to burn for two days after the attack, with the bodies of the fallen crewmen still inside. Meanwhile, America officially entered World War II. The U.S. declared war on Japan on Dec. 8, and Germany declared war on the U.S. three days later. U.S. NavyThe submerged remnants of the USS Arizona in the immediate aftermath of the attack.Back in Pearl Harbor, the military attempted to carry out search and rescue efforts, but they quickly realized it was fruitless. While survivors were pulled from several other damaged ships, like the USS West Virginia, it was clear that nobody was still alive inside the blazing inferno of the Arizona. Even the corpses that were visible were burned beyond recognition. Among the dead were dozens of brothers who had been serving on the ship. On the day of the attack, 37 sets of brothers were assigned to the Arizona. Only one full sibling set survived, as one of the men happened to be at flight school in San Diego on Dec. 7. The only father-and-son pair on the vessel was also killed.U.S. NavyBillowing smoke and burning oil on the surface of the water killed many crewmen who survived the initial explosion.Officials ultimately decided to leave the bodies of around 900 deceased men interred inside the ship. They were declared buried at sea, and over the decades, dozens of survivors from the Arizona have chosen to have their ashes placed among the remains of their comrades upon their deaths.The USS Arizona was one of three ships deemed a total loss along with the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah after the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, pieces of it were salvaged, such as the guns from one of the turrets that were later used during the Battle of Iwo Jima.However, after the military took what it could from the Arizona, the vessel simply sat in its watery grave until a memorial was built above the sunken battleship in 1962. It was designed by Alfred Preis, an Austrian-born architect who had spent three months in an internment camp in Hawaii following the attack on Pearl Harbor.U.S. NavyThe USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.The sunken ship now serves as a visible reminder of the devastating events of Dec. 7, 1941. And its destruction is still evident in the water surrounding the site. The hull continues to leak several quarts of oil each day, 85 years after it met its tragic fate.After reading about the USS Arizona, learn about Doris Miller, the Navy sailor who became a hero at Pearl Harbor. Then, go inside nine of the deadliest days in American history.The post The USS <em>Arizona</em>, The Battleship That Lost Nearly 80 Percent Of Its Crew During The Attack On Pearl Harbor appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Craig F. Walker/The Denver Post/Getty ImagesAuthorities examine the killdozer driven by Marvin Heemeyer through Granby, Colorado. June 5, 2004.When Marvin Heemeyer of Granby, Colorado, reached a dead-end in his fight with the local zoning commission, the logical response would have been to petition them once again and await a future reply from them. After all, Marvin Heemeyer was known to have been a logical man, so it was expected that he would have taken a logical approach.Instead, Marvin Heemeyer went home, outfitted his Komatsu D355A bulldozer with armored plates, a layer of concrete, and bulletproof plastic, and drove it through the town in a rampage, knocking down 13 buildings and causing $7 million worth of damage with his makeshift killdozer.This is the shocking true story of Marvin Heemeyers revenge.Marvin Heemeyers Battle Against The Zoning CommissionWikimedia CommonsA rare photo of Marvin Heemeyer, the man who built the infamous killdozer.During the 1990s, Marvin Heemeyer owned a small welding shop in town, where he made his living repairing mufflers. He purchased the land on which his shop was built in 1992. Over the years, he had agreed to sell the land to a concrete company to build a plant. The negotiations hadnt been easy, and he had been having trouble agreeing with the company on a suitable price.In 2001, the city approved the construction of a concrete plant, zoning the land next to Heemeyers for use. Heemeyer was furious, as hed used the land for the past nine years as a shortcut between his home and his shop.He petitioned the city to have the property rezoned to prevent the construction of the plant, but he was rejected on multiple occasions.So, in early 2003, Marvin Heemeyer decided he had had enough. A few years earlier, he had purchased a bulldozer with the intention of using it to create an alternative route to his muffler shop. Now, however, it would serve a new purpose as his weapon of destruction: the killdozer. When Marvin Heemeyer Unleashed His KilldozerBrian Brainerd/The Denver Post/Getty ImagesA look inside the killdozer constructed by Marvin Heemeyer.Over the course of about a year and a half, Marvin Heemeyer customized his Komatsu D355A bulldozer for his rampage. He added armored plates, covering most of the cabin, engine, and parts of the tracks. Hed created the armor himself, using a concrete mix poured between sheets of steel.As the armor covered much of the cabin, a video camera was mounted on the exterior for visibility, covered by three-inch bulletproof plastic. Inside the makeshift cockpit were two monitors on which Heemeyer could observe his destruction. There were also fans and an air conditioner to keep him cool. Finally, he fashioned three gun ports and outfitted them with a .50 caliber rifle, a .308 semi-automatic, and a .22 long rifle. According to authorities, once hed sealed himself inside the cockpit, it would have been impossible for him to have gotten out and they dont believe he ever wanted to. When his killdozer was finished, he readied himself for his attack. And on June 4, 2004, he sealed himself inside his cockpit and set out for Granby. He drove the machine out of his shop through the wall, then plowed through the concrete plant, the town hall, a newspaper office, a former judges widows home, a hardware store, and other homes. Authorities later realized that every building that had been bulldozed had some connection to Heemeyer and his lengthy battle against the zoning committee. Though authorities tried to destroy the vehicle multiple times, the killdozer proved resistant to small arms fire and resistant to explosives. Indeed, the rounds fired at the tractor during the rampage had no ill effect. For two hours and seven minutes, Marvin Heemeyer and his killdozer pummeled through the town, damaging 13 buildings and knocking out gas services to city hall. Such a panic ensued that the governor considered authorizing the National Guard to attack with Apache helicopters and an anti-tank missile.The attacks were in place and, had Heemeyer not wedged himself in the basement of a store, would have been carried out.The End Of Marvin Heemeyers Killdozer RampageHyoung Chang/The Denver Post/Getty ImagesA destroyed truck was stuck inside the Mountain Parks Electric building after Marvin Heemeyers rampage.As Marvin Heemeyer attempted to bulldoze Gambles hardware store, he accidentally got the killdozer stuck in the foundation. With the end clearly in sight, Heemeyer killed himself with a gunshot to the head in his cockpit, determined to avoid capture and leave the world on his own terms. Despite the nearly $7 million in property damage done to the town of Granby, not a single human besides Heemeyer was killed during the rampage. This is largely because a reverse 911 system was used to notify residents of the killdozer so that they could escape in time. After the dust settled, authorities searched Heemeyers home and found notes and audio tapes that outlined his motivations. They also learned that several men who had visited Heemeyers shop didnt seem to notice the killdozer, which encouraged Heemeyer to move forward with his plans. As for Marvin Heemeyers killdozer itself, state officials decided to take it apart and sell it for scrap. They sent the pieces to dozens of scrap yards to stop admirers of Heemeyer from snatching a piece, as it soon became clear that the killdozer was going to be a subject of fascination. Indeed, in the years after the rampage, Heemeyer became a controversial folk hero in certain circles, with some believing that he was a victim of a town government that didnt think twice about hurting a local business. On the other hand, some have pointed out that he initially agreed to sell his land and more crucially, that he could have easily killed innocent people during his attack if they hadnt gotten out of the way in time.In the end, Heemeyer left the world believing that God had asked him to undertake his rampage. Perhaps the most revealing note that he left behind was this one: I was always willing to be reasonable until I had to be unreasonable. Sometimes reasonable men must do unreasonable things.After learning about Marvin Heemeyers killdozer, check out some of historys most unmerciful revenge stories. Then, take a look at some real-life vigilante stories of ordinary citizens taking justice into their own hands. The post Inside The Shocking Revenge Story Of Marvin Heemeyer And His Killdozer appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Wikimedia CommonsThe Lovers of Valdaro were each around 20 years old when they died and show no signs of violent death.In 2007, a team of archaeologists discovered a tomb near Mantua in the region of Lombardy, Italy. Inside, they found a pair of skeletons lying face to face, their bodies intertwined as if holding each other in a lovers embrace.Photos of the skeleton couple quickly circulated throughout the media and the fact that the Lovers of Valdaro, as they came to be known, were discovered just before Valentines Day made the story especially resonant.For many, the positioning of the bodies called to mind the story of Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed lovers who met an untimely and tragic end. As archaeologists examined the Valdaro Lovers, they made a number of curious discoveries.Firstly, the couple died around 6,000 years ago during the Neolithic period. Neolithic double burials were a rarity as is, but the couples positioning made the discovery all the more unique. Secondly, the young man and woman were each around 20 years of age when they died. There were no indications that their deaths were violent, and their bodies were likely put into position posthumously.And although its impossible to know the true story of who the lovers once were, the image of their bodies locked in eternal embrace and the unique circumstances surrounding the burial has made the Lovers of Valdaro a source of intrigue and speculation for over a decade.The Discovery Of The Valdaro LoversIn early February 2007, a team of archaeologists led by Elena Menotti announced that their excavation in the village of Valdaro near Mantua, Italy had yielded a remarkable discovery: the skeletons of a man and woman lying face to face, arms and legs entwined.This unique discovery quickly spread through the media and online as photographs of the skeleton couple were released.Speaking to The Daily Mail at the time, Menotti expressed her excitement regarding the find, saying, I have been involved in lots of digs all over Italy, but nothing has excited me as much as this. Ive been doing this job for 25 years. Ive done digs at Pompeii, all the famous sites. But Ive never been so moved, because this is the discovery of something truly special. But who were the Valdaro Lovers?The Theories Behind The Lovers Of ValdaroFor many, photographs of the Lovers of Valdaro told a tragic tale reminiscent of Shakespeares most famous work and in fact, in Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is even sent to Mantua after slaying Tybalt Capulet in a duel. When he returns to Verona, he learns of Juliets death, setting in motion the events that leads to both lovers demise.One early theory surrounding the Valdaro Lovers suggested that the man, the body on the left, had been killed, and that the woman had then been sacrificed so she might accompany his soul in the afterlife. Initial observations supported this theory. The male skeleton was found with a flint arrowhead in his neck, while the female skeleton had a long stone blade along her thigh and two flint knives beneath her pelvis. However, an osteological examination revealed nothing to suggest their deaths had been violent. We have found plenty of women embracing children but never a couple, much less a couple hugging and they really are hugging, Menotti said. From an initial examination they appear young as their teeth are not worn down, but we have sent the remains to a laboratory to establish their age at the time of death.Herbert Frank/FlickrArchaeologists believe the Valdaro Lovers were arranged in this position after death.Further examination revealed that the couple had been around 20 years old at the time of their deaths, and both around five feet and two inches tall.Still, their circumstances remained elusive. Whats more, historians have found no evidence of a Neolithic settlement in the region of Valdaro. More likely, the area was once entirely covered in marshland crisscrossed by rivers. While this environment was beneficial in preserving the lovers bodies for millennia, it offers little insight into the lovers lives or why they were buried in such a unique fashion. Finding A New Home For The Lovers Of ValdaroA week after the discovery was made, another question arose: What would happen to the Valdaro Lovers? Often when ancient bodies are recovered during archaeological digs, their bones are transported to a laboratory for analysis, and each bone is individually studied to paint a general picture of that ancient persons life and death.The Lovers of Valdaro, however, were a unique case. For 6,000 years they had embraced each other. Would they be split up for the sake of science?Thankfully, Menotti reached a quick conclusion, telling Reuters ,We want to keep them just as they have been all this time together. Rather than removing the bones one by one and reassembling them later, archaeologists opted to square out and remove the entire plot of earth where the couple was buried and transport it all together.Szeder Lszl/Wikimedia CommonsThe National Archaeological Museum of Mantua, where the Lovers of Valdaro are on display.The block of earth and the skeleton couple were placed in a wooden box and sent to an archaeological laboratory at the Musei Civici in Como for examination, then later put on display in a glass case a the National Archaeological Museum of Mantua, where they remain to this day.The Lovers Of Modena, Another Unique Double Burial From ItalyTwo years after the Valdaro Lovers discovery, archaeologists working in a late antiquity cemetery in Modena, Italy unearthed another pair of skeletons buried hand-in-hand. Unlike the Lovers of Valdaro, these skeletons were in poor condition, which made it difficult to glean certain pieces of information about them, such as their sex.It wasnt especially unusual for archaeologists to unearth couples buried together or holding hands, but ten years after the discovery, the Lovers of Modena proved to be unusual in a different way: they were both men.Modena Civic Archaeological MuseumThe Lovers of Modena, two men buried hand in hand between the fourth and sixth century C.E.At present, no other burials of this type are known, Federico Lugli, a researcher at the University of Bologna who authored the 2019 study that revealed the sex of the skeleton lovers, told Rai News. In the past, several tombs have been found with pairs of individuals placed hand in hand, but in all cases it was a man and a woman. The link between the two individuals in the burial in Modena, however, remains for the moment a mystery.Researchers were able to determine the sex of the skeletons using an innovative new technique based on the analysis of dental enamel. The researchers were essentially looking for the presence of specific proteins within the enamel, AMELX and AMELY. AMELX is present in individuals of both sexes, whereas AMELY is only present in males.Identifying the sex of the Modena Lovers, however, only raised more questions, particularly about the relationship between the two men.The burial of two men hand in hand was certainly not a common practice in late antiquity, Lugli explained. In late antiquity, it was unlikely that homosexual love would have been recognized in such an evident way by the people who prepared the burial. The two individuals are similar in age they could be relatives, for example brothers or cousins, or soldiers who died together in battle. The necropolis in which they were found could be a war cemetery.As with the Lovers of Valdaro, its pretty much impossible to know the exact details of the Modena Lovers lives. Still, both discoveries offer a unique and exciting look into the ancient past and the ways in which ancient humans honored the dead. After reading about the Lovers of Valdaro, read the story of the Hasanlu Lovers, another pair of skeletons locked in a 2,800-year-old embrace. Or, read the story of two lovers who were separated after surviving Auschwitz then miraculously reunited 72 years later in New York City.The post The Story Behind The Lovers Of Valdaro, The Stone Age Couple Locked In An Eternal Embrace appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Barobo Police StationManfred Fritz Bajorat died of a heart attack and was preserved aboard his ship by the dry, salty ocean winds.On February 26, 2016, a group of fishermen off the coast of the Philippine island of Mindanao saw a boat suspiciously drifting at sea. The yacht was visibly battered and clearly on its last legs. It had emerged like a ghost ship with a broken mast.And when they boarded the vessel and descended into its bowels, the fishermen discovered far more chilling than they would have ever imagined: the mummified corpse of a German sailor named Manfred Fritz Bajorat.Authorities only identified the man thanks to documents strewn about his cabin. An autopsy revealed the 59-year-old had died of a heart attack, and that his 40-foot sailboat had drifted at sea for weeks while the salty ocean air preserved his body in macabre fashion.The mysterious incident made global headlines and spread far and wide across the internet. People from around the world all had the same question: How did Manfred Fritz Bajorat wind up drifting through the Philippine Sea alone? Before answers finally arrived, there was only an ominous note that Bajorat left behind:Thirty years weve been together on the same path. Then the power of the demons was stronger than the will to live. Youre gone. May your soul find its peace. Your Manfred.As the authorities would soon discover, the story of Manfred Fritz Bajorat was somehow even more chilling than his mummified corpse would suggest.The Discovery Of Manfred Fritz BajoratWith clear skies and calm seas, the weather proved perfect for fishing on the day that Manfred Fritz Bajorat was found. Thats exactly what 23-year-old Christopher Rivas had intended that Friday, before things took a chilling turn. A resident of P-4 Poblacion in the town of Barobo, he and his friend were fishing about 40 miles out when they spotted the ship.The yacht was painted white and christened Sayo. It was clear from a distance that it was in dire straits, with its broken mast and partially sunken hull. After encountering Bajorats naked corpse inside, Rivas alerted police who waited to investigate foul play until the autopsy results came back.The cause of death is acute myocardial infarction based on the autopsy by regional crime laboratory, said national police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor. The German national is estimated to have been dead for more or less seven days.Barobo Police StationChristened Sayo, the 40-foot yacht was spotted with a broken mast and partially underwater in February 2016.The air, heat, and saltiness of the sea are all very conducive to mummification, said Peter Vanezis, forensic pathology professor at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. It starts within two to three weeks. The fingers and other extremities dry quickly, and in a month or two they are well gone.The ship itself contained a trove of family photos depicting an overjoyed Bajorat with his wife and daughter. From snapshots at Notre Dame and cafes in Paris to photos of picnics, the albums suggested a wholesome family unit. A photo of Bajorat holding a baby was captioned: Our first time with our little Button on the sea.When the German embassy on Mindanao Island tried to contact his family, they discovered that his ex-wife had died of cancer in 2010. After flying his daughter Nina out to identify the body, authorities learned that Bajorat had been sailing the seas alone for years perhaps reacting to the dissolution of his family.How Manfred Fritz Bajorat Lost His WayManfred Fritz Bajorat was such an experienced sailor that he tallied over half a million nautical miles at sea. Initially accompanied by his wife, the couple divorced in 2008. After his former spouse died two years later and his grown daughter took a job working as captain of a freight vessel, Bajorat made the ocean his permanent home.He began aboard the Hyundai Renaissance freighter on August 1, 2008, traveling across the equator from Singapore to Durban, South Africa. After accomplishing that milestone for obsessive mariners, Bajorat sailed to the Spanish island of Mallorca where he apparently made an impression on a fellow sailor.Barbados Police StationOne of the many photos found on Manfred Fritz Bajorats sailboat. Hes seen here on the right, with his daughter Nina to the left of him.He was a very experienced sailor, the Mallorcan named Dieter told news outlets. I dont believe he would have sailed into a storm. I believe the mast broke after Manfred was already dead.A document aboard Bajorats ship revealed the Sayo was cleared by maritime police in 2013, in either Sao Vicente, Brazil or Sao Vicente, Cape Verde. It was then that he began his lonesome seafaring adventures in earnest, regularly posting updates on his Facebook page and responding to birthday messages.Some reports claimed that Bajorat hadnt been seen by anyone in person since 2009.Ultimately, it appeared he wanted it that way. No fan of his homelands winter climates, he spent the last two decades of his life on course for more hospitable weather.In the end, all he left behind were photographs and a note to the woman he loved.After learning about Manfred Fritz Bajorat, take a look at 55 scary pictures from the darkest corners of history. Then, learn about Anatoly Moskvin, the Russian who mummified and collected corpses.The post The Mysterious Case Of Manfred Fritz Bajorat, The Mummified German Sailor appeared first on All That's Interesting.

If you're looking for ways to upgrade your gaming experience, a new keyboard might do the trick. Here's how to figure out the right size for your preferences.

As a status symbol, consumers used to look for the biggest TV they could get their hands on, but the screen size is also nice if you have watch parties.

A running look in reverse chronological order at the bigger tech companies that have announced significant layoffs this year with AI as a stated factor.

We fully agree with Bonchie from our sister-site RedState on this one:It's been a trying few weeks on the right, but can we all agree to dunk on Mehdi Hasan for claiming the Muslim rape gangs in the UK

John Brown was one of Americas most famous abolitionists. In 1859, he left his most impactful mark on Americas anti-slavery movement when he planned and led an attack that aimed to bolster the cause of freedom fighters throughout the country. The outcome of his raid changed not only his life, but set off a chain of events that changed life as thousands of Americans knew it. Despite his initiative, the road to quashing American slavery remained one that would require several more years, incredible bloodshed, and political maneuvering to reach fruition.Who Was John Brown?A statue of John Brown in Quindaro Township in Kansas. Source: Smuckola/Wikimedia CommonsJohn Brown was born into an abolitionist family based in Connecticut in 1800. He spent much of his young life and early adulthood living in numerous states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York.In his adult years, Brown was a husband and a father who sired 20 children. He didnt have much luck with any steady career and worked periodically as a farmer, merchant, land speculator, and tanner. Through it all, he remained dedicated to the cause of abolition, helping fugitive slaves via the Underground Railroad and League of Gileadites, which helped protect runaway slaves from hunters.A portrait signed by Brown. Source: Franklin Benjamin Sanborn/Wikimedia CommonsJohn Browns prominence in the abolitionist movement rose in the 1850s when he was a major player in Bleeding Kansas, a conflict in which bloodshed between pro- and anti-slavery groups was widespread. Kansas, in its quest to join the union, was split between those who believed that it should be a free state and those who wished to allow slavery. His older sons were heavily involved in their fathers cause and assisted Brown in forming guerrilla fighting groups. These men worked to persuade people to join their anti-slavery cause, and when that failed, they were not afraid to resort to violence.In May of 1856, two people were killed by groups of pro-slavery men in an attack on the town of Lawrence, which was largely invested in the free state movement. Days later, Brown and his men attacked the town of Pottawatomie in retaliation, murdering five slavery supporters. More skirmishes followed, including one that resulted in the death of one of Browns sons, Frederick. Brown is quoted as saying, I have only one death to die, and I will die fighting for this cause. Whether he truly believed this or not, it would eventually come to pass.What Was Harpers Ferry?Harpers Ferry in 1859. Source: Frank Leslies Illustrated News/Wikimedia CommonsHarpers Ferry, a town in Virginia (now West Virginia), was first settled in 1732. The actual ferry was established in 1761, making it a jumping-off point for settlers moving west into the Shenandoah Valley and beyond. Later, a train service was added.In 1796, the federal government of the United States bought land in the town and constructed the US Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Here, the government produced and stored muskets, rifles, and pistols for use by the military.Over 600,000 firearms were produced at Harpers Ferry between 1801 and 1861. Today, the site is the location of a National Historical Park, but in John Browns era, it was a spot of the utmost strategic importance.Whispers of ActionOld John Browns Career as published in the Philadelphia Weekly. Source: Iowa Historical Society via Wikimedia CommonsOn May 8, 1858, John Brown gathered in Chatham, Ontario, Canada with numerous other prominent abolitionists. At this meeting, the group established a provisional Constitution and new ordinances for the citizens of the United States that denigrated and abolished slavery. The suggested Constitution called slavery a most barbarous, unprovoked, and unjustifiable war of one portion of its [the United States] citizens upon another In addition to creating these new guidelines for Americas people, Brown had another purpose in gathering his compatriots. He hoped to seek support for his latest plan to physically free slaves in the southern United States. He envisioned a war of liberation, with an army that would include a growing number of freed slaves who would join its ranks as the war raged. As weeks passed, Brown further defined his plan. He would invade Virginia, gather weapons, and incite a slave rebellion. His plans were financed by The Secret Six, a group of wealthy New England abolitionists who supported his ideals.The home of Gerrit Smith, a Secret Six member who had previously assisted Browns efforts by providing him with land. Source: Wikimedia CommonsFranklin Sanborn was a 26-year-old schoolmaster and former secretary of the Massachusetts State Kansas Committee, a group dedicated to raising funds for Kansas pursuit of free-state status. He was taken by Browns ideas and recruited the five other members of the New England elite society to help fund the plan. Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Gerrit Smith, Reverend Theodore Parker, Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, and George Luther Stearns rounded out the Secret Six. Though the group originally thought Browns attack plan was desperate and inadequate, they soon became excited about its potential.The RaidThe Secret Six who were alleged to support Browns efforts. Source: Wikimedia CommonsBy July, Brown was ready to put his plan into action. On July 3, he and two of his sons, Oliver and Owen, along with companion Jeremiah Anderson, arrived in Harpers Ferry and rented a farm under the alias Isaac Smith. Browns army of supporters began gathering at the farm as the summer progressed. The recruits stayed hidden in the attic during the day to prevent questions from nosy neighbors. To aid in their cover, Brown sent for his daughter and daughter-in-law to cook, do laundry, and make the household look like a normal one.Brown and his men continued to prepare, studying maps, conferring with locals about information like train schedules and the workings of the town, and ironing out a final plan. On Sunday, October 16, Brown was ready to put his scheme into play. He gathered his 19 men, led them in prayer, and ensured that they were up to date on their plan of action. At 8:00 PM, the group headed to the armory.Two enslavers were taken hostage and their slaves were freed. A free African American man working for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was shot during the raid as he tried to see why the train was delayed (it was forced to stop at a bridge the group had taken). Armory employees were taken hostage as they arrived for work on October 17th, and Browns men began exchanging fire with the local townspeople who had discovered what was afoot.The militia soon arrived to join the fracas and were largely supported by citizens of the town. By 11:00 PM, Colonel Robert E. Lee arrived with 90 marines. A storming party of marines put a stop to the raid on the morning of October 18th. In total, 16 were killed in the attack on Harpers Ferry, including 10 of Browns raiders.John Browns Last DaysThe trial of John Brown, at Charles Town, Virginia, for treason and murder, sketched by Porte Crayon by David Hunter Strother, 1859. Source: Wikimedia CommonsOf the men that remained after the dead were counted, some of Browns raiders escaped. Three, including Brown, were captured, arrested, and brought to trial, which was held in Charleston, Virginia. At the conclusion of the week-long trial, Brown was found guilty of murder, treason, and inciting a slave insurrection. He was sentenced to die, and one month later, was hanged.Henry David Thoreau, acclaimed writer and admirer of Brown, wrote The Last Days of John Brown and read the piece at his memorial service. However, Browns death did not mark the end of the cause he dedicated his life to rectifying.The LegacyA wounded John Brown is interrogated after his arrest. Source: West Virginia Culture via Wikimedia CommonsA newspaper of the time published an editorial stating, The Harpers Ferry invasion has advanced the cause of disunion more than any other event that has happened since the formation of the government. Though the Civil War had numerous inciting factors, this article would prove prophetic.Statements that Brown made during his trial spread like wildfire throughout the nation and brought increasing attention to the cause and actions of the American abolition movement. He became a martyr in some circles as a result, deepening the divisions among American citizens that led to the dawn of the Civil War just over a year later in 1861. The notable Frederick Douglass later wrote of Brown, Did John Brown fail? John Brown began the war that ended American slavery and made this a free republic.John Brown by John Steuart Curry. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThough Harpers Ferry was the end of John Browns lifetime of anti-slavery efforts, it was far from the conclusion of the cause he was fighting for. The raid on Harpers Ferry was consequential as tensions in America grew and evolved, becoming a legacynot only that of John Brown but of a tumultuous chapter of American history.

"Military-grade encryption" sounds impressive in marketing materials, but the term refers to something more specific and less exclusive than it implies.