Posted by Rich/Mohican Press on November 04, 2001 at 09:27:42:
As if I didn't have enough problems [the "oh, woe is me" portion of the update!] ... Yesterday, I was determined to make some significant updates to this web site. I managed to improve the "Against All Odds" site, and began tying up some loose ends on this site. Then, I updated the 2002 Gathering page ... and then ... POW! My software went haywire, and I'm still trying to figure out what's wrong there. Bear with me, please ...
Those of you who have sent disks to be copied ... bear with me, please [did I say that already?]. You're not forgotten. Too much to do on too many fronts ... I WILL get to it, though. I have notified everyone by e-mail [except for one person for whom I've got no e-mail address for] that I've received your disk(s), so, please, bear with me ...
Regarding the 2002 Great Mohican Gathering ... yes, bear with me ... yes, I do detect a theme here! I think a Gathering should be done, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which might be that life really should go on as normal - as normal as is feasible in these crazy times - and a June without a Gathering just wouldn't be normal for me. It isn't as easy as it may have been in the past. For one thing, I've lost most all of the helpers I've had. Elaine, too. As you probably have guessed by now, she is no longer involved in the doings of Mohican Press. So yeah, do bear with me, please! Enthusiasm for such an event seems to be at an all time low. Though I did receive a couple of volunteers in response to my Gathering E-mail sent out yesterday. That is the key. If we've got the people to put it together, we'll go forward. Once we have a crew in place, we will decide on a definite date, definite itinerary, and book the necessary facilities. I believe it may be a more humble affair this go round. Perhaps more resembling Gathering #1 than the extravaganzas we've had the past few years. I don't know. We will keep it at 4 days, though. There's just so much to see. You can see what IS in place over at the 2002 Gathering page ...
Like I said, there were to be some site updates, but technology has gotten in the way ... I hope all will be fixed by this time next week.
So ... the state of this site: A year or two ago, we reached our highest average of visitors per day ever, 1600. We averaged that for some time and then we began a downward trend. I am happy to say, for no apparent reason that I can discern, we have steadily gained ground and for the past couple of weeks have again surpassed that 1600 unique visitors per day plateau! That means that this site is now receiving as much traffic as it ever has. Busiest day of the week continues to be Tuesday with a very gradual decline till Saturday, when it drops considerably (900-1100, usually), and then begins to increase on Sunday & Monday. Busiest time remains during lunch hours. The site has turned into a resource, like I had hoped it would. The History Pages, as a general rule, garner the most daily hits: the Cooper bio, Ishi story, tribal histories, Colonial site photos, links, and Fort William Henry report pages ranking very high every day. The Eric Schweig Gallery STILL, to this day, receives more accesses than most every page. Simply amazing!
What is WAY down is sales, and that is surprising, somewhat, because sales of my guide booklet, at least, have always been very steady regardless of visitation. I've sold about the same number per month when we were averaging 300 folks as when 1600 is the average ... till now. I am quite sure Sept. 11 is the primary culprit. Business seems down most everywhere.
It has gotten so bad that I was searching for new, cheaper, web site quarters all this past week. Oh yeah, there's lots more out there that are cheaper, but where we are now gives SO much space, Real Media server, secure server, customized cgi scripts, dependability ... tryin' to hang in. But, PLEASE, if you're gonna shop at Amazon.com, please do so through this web site. Every little bit helps ... Besides all the books, cds, dvds, videos, software, digital cameras, etc. that can be had through Amazon, we still sell fine wampum items, dream catchers, and other goodies, including, of course, "On the Trail of the Last of the Mohicans"!
Lots of interesting mail over this past week. Here's a look at some:
~~ Thanks for running such a great site. I found you by accident two days
ago (I looked like the photo of Karen,'discovering the joys of LOTM for
the first time'! :). [obviously, this person visited the Mohicanland Masses page! ... RF]
~~ Hello, just wanted to say how much I enjoy your site. I came across the film, LOTM, by accident (what WAS I doing back in 1992?) and needless to say am hooked. So much so, I went and got the soundtrack, video and will pick up the dvd when it is released on October 29th over here. (Over here is England by the way - hence across the water!!!!) I wanted more so did some 'surfing' and came across a couple of web sites but yours stands head and shoulders above the rest. I can't wait for the weekend when I am not working and I can 'jump in' for a good few hours. I am going to start putting the coppers (English slang for pennies) away each evening and save. A visit to the wonderful places that you show is a must! Almost a calling............ Anyway, thank you for keeping me out of trouble and keep up the good work.
~~ The web site i just visited brought back many inspiring thoughts i have always had since the films release. It is indeed good to see many others have been so inspired by the film and follow through on some of Americas' great history and past.
~~ I found your site and planned to spend a few minutes and ended up studying it for hours. Thanks.
I am Mohegan and am trying to trace the migration of Mohegan from CT to the Wyoming Valley in CT and then to Tioga, Mohegan Johnstown Ohio (with Mohican), Ontario Canada (Moravian Reserve 47), Horton Nova Scotia, and eventual Absortion into other tribes. In fact, the Miller and Dawes Cherokee rolls have more than fiften different Mohegan surnames we have traced to CT via the Wyoming Valley.
One of the problems we are having is the way in which some scholars and non-scholars confuse Mohegan and Mohican. Last spring my wife and I were in Cherokee NC and found persons who descend from my own family. In Oklahoma there are numerous descendents of my Morgan, Culver, Kirkland and other lines as well.
Do you have a data base on the Mohican-Mohegan intermixtures from PA and Ohio?
Thanks and again, I enjoyed your web site. [This one is most unusual, for nearly EVERY message we get from a Native American is critical! - RF]
~~ Hi there. I'm doing a midterm essay for a University history through film
class, and while doing some last minute research i stumbled upon u'r page.
Firt off I have to commend u on an amazing job well done. This has to be one
of the most extensive movie websites that i have ever come across. More so
than any of those "flaky" StarWars fansites. Anyways, I really need your
help. I found the Colonel Monro section of your website to be very
beneficial for my essay. However, i desperately need to know the title of
the letters u quoted for bibliographical purposes. I know this is short
notice, but if u could get back to me by Thursday October 31 it would be
much appreciated. If you cannot, i completely understand and u'r website has
provided me with more than enough relevant information to complete my essay.
Many thanks and keep up the good work.
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And then, the obligatory wacko ... this is a series. The third is from the same person, though he tried to disguise that fact:
~~ 1 ~~ Dear sir, I have read the congressional records of the battle at wounded knee, and it appears to be decietful to say "massacre".Obviously what the oglala soiux faction was trying to do was repeat the sad episode of little bighorn,which for your information was not on lands agreed to by the bula souix faction ,nor did this take place on agreed to by treaty indian land.I would like to just ask ;do you enjoy telling lies to children who don't know any better?
~~ 2 ~~ hanks for responding.To answer your question I will educate you on this incident called the "massacre".First of all, the leaders of the faction of souix who were violating agreed treaty were claiming that they were only "visiting reletives" and this was why they were off the agreed upon lands. This was an obvious lie.What they were doing in reality was attepting a "massacre" in there own right.You perhaps do not know that the 7th cavalry did not arrive until the second day.The indians commanded by Black Kettle,who lured the white commander to his camp by pretendeing he was sick,killed 85 men in their attemt to repeat the "victory" at Little Bighorn.What they did not know,not for lack of effort,was that the 7th cavalry had arrived,which made the odds more equal.By the way,in case you have any interest in the truth of this subject,I must reiterate that the so-called massacre at wounded knee did not occur on reservation land.Yellow Hawk testified that he saw Black Kettle and his wife shot through the back while she was carrying a baby in her arms.Upon questioning,this worthless punk revealed that he wasn,t even there.The testimony of this asshole has been primarily responsible for many harmful myths regarding this issue.Black Kettle died two days later of what we believe was thyphoid.And, by the way at least spell the insigator of this battle's name correctly.A little brain teaser;what was his name?A small hint.It starts with a W .
[This guy's facts are so messed up I almost died laughing! After I told him to please stop writing this nonsense, he followed up with a third. - RF]
~~ 3 ~~ Hello, my name is Yellow Wolf.My washichu name was michael, but i kiled the scotish washichu that rapped my mother and took my riteful name back.I have just got out of white man prison where they took away my ghost dance and i look forward to meeting all the brothers and sisters at our celebration.i espeshally look forward to party with anyone who aprecisates a warrior who is fighting to make our people better.
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Ah well ... and finally, to end on an upbeat:
~~ I have only contacted you once before,
expressing an interest in the possible 2002 Great Mohican Gathering - but ... I wanted to take a moment to write to you
tonight. ... [heavily edited - RF] ... I have
never attended one but ever since I got my computer (2 years ago) and
discovered your webpage, I have hungrily devoured every detail of every
Gathering that's been published on your site. ... [heavily edited - RF] ... Whether or not there is a 2002 Gathering...and whether or not we are able to
attend...it's nice to know that we can always take a quick virtual trip to
Mohicanland, thanks to you & your wonderful webpage. I just wanted to say
"Thank You."
Go in peace ...
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Bear with me, please ... thanks, all!