Arius, the Orthodox Heretic

Source: Wikimedia

During his lifetime, Arius was a religious figure with beliefs so controversial that he was formally denounced as a heretic by the Orthodox Church. Arius’ last moments came in 336 A.D. when he was struck by sudden bowel cramps during a procession. Before he made it to a bathroom, Arius vacated his bowels, a great deal of blood, small intestines, portions of his liver and spleen and eventually his life on Earth. At the time, some believed Arius was smote for his heresy, but modern historians believe he was likely poisoned by his enemies.

Franz Reichelt, the Flying Tailor

Source: Wikimedia

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Credit: Flickr, http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2717/4115960938_b5abaab452_b.jpg

It is often said that the dead never truly leave us, and Bolivia’s El Sucre Cementerio General greatly illustrates that fact. Filled with as much history as it is the remains of the deceased, Bolivian families may pay up to $10,000 so that their loved one may occupy one of the shrines for seven years. After that point, the body is removed from the shrine and into the cemetery grounds. Twenty years after that change of “permanent” address, the remains are removed from the site completely. To illustrate how closely one’s sense of self was determined by their profession, men are usually buried with their workmates and various unions own common vaults into which their members may rest–albeit temporarily.

Credit: For 91 Days, http://for91days.com/photos/Bolivia/Sucre%20Cemetery/Praying-Boy.jpg

Credit: Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcroza/7140253973/sizes/z/in/photostream/

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Harry Houdini 1874-1926

Source: Blogspot, http://the-decophile.blogspot.com/2011/02/harry-houdini-master-mystifier-part-1.html

Harry Houdini was the word’s most famous magician, known especially for his amazing escape acts. Houdini performed tricks for audiences from 1891 until his untimely death at the age of 52 in 1926. The official cause of death was recorded as peritonitis from a ruptured appendix, which many believed to be the fault of J. Gordon Whitehead, a student who surprised Houdini by punching him in the stomach several times after a performance. Whitehead reportedly asked Houdini if it was true that he could he could take any blow in the stomach, which Houdini replied that he indeed could, not expecting his claim to be tested. Thought Houdini was in pain, he continued to travel for several days until he could not take it anymore. He passed away in a Detroit Hospital.

Martha Mansfield 1899-1923

Source: Silents are Golden, http://www.silentsaregolden.com/photos/marthamansfield.jpg

Martha Mansfield began acting at 18 and quickly rose to prominence, even performing with the Ziegfeld Follies for a time before she moved to the West Coast to pursue a Hollywood career. She held roles in several successful films, including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which starred John Barrymore. Mansfield was on location in San Antonio, Texas on the film The Warrens of Virginia, when her fellow cast member happened to toss a match which caught her enormous dress of hoop-skirts and layers of fabric on fire. Though the fire was doused before the flames reached her face and neck, she was rushed to the local hospital where she died less than 24-hours later. Mansfield was only 24 years old.

Ray Chapman 1891-1920

Source: Shadows and Light, http://rnishi.wordpress.com/tag/ray-chapman/

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