[Groop]Groo in swedish history (part 2)
Oskar Sjöström
ozkhaar@hotmail.com
Wed, 06 Mar 2002 21:22:43
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<P>For more than a year ago, I wrote you an article about som spooky and coincidal appearences of the name Groo (though in many forms, such as Grooth or Gropius and I specially recall one, most suspectible, called Groopman) among the ranks of the swedish warriorking Charles XIIs army. In 1709 this army was - not in such mysterical circumstances after all - completely destroyed by russian forces in the battle at Poltava (one of the kings generals that has been blamed for one of the most fatal mistakes during this battle was Carl Gustaf Roos; or C G Roos; C Groos; well you se where im pointing at). </P>
<P>Recently, I ran over yet another unpleasant Groorelated historical incident: </P>
<P>In 1628 the swedish royal navy was to be reinforced by a huge and usable new admiralship named Wasa (you might actually know about her, shes pretty unique of her kind). This great vessel was built in massive oak, decorated with alot of gold, carried 64 bronze cannons (terrifying numbers then) and some 200 men. The 10th of August she left the docks of Stockholm on her maiden voyage, with open gunports, full sails, flags atop and was expected to salute her way through the archipelago heading for the Baltic sea. The ship was to sail to Germany, where Sweden had just engaged on the protestant side in the Thirty Years War, to help tackle the catholic onslaught. But to the horror of the townspeople (not to speak abuot her crew) "something" got wrong and she sunk at the ceremonial depature, within a few minutes, right before their eyes in the waters of the Stockholm harbour. Disaster. </P>
<P>Late theories speculate that the accident was caused by unbalance in Wasas weight and height, causing the ship to flip to her side letting water flush into the the open gunports. I early bought that theory, thinking they should have loaded her with even more guns correcting the instability. </P>
<P>Now, however, I know better. </P>
<P>Just guess what the constructors name was. Arndt de Groot. I couldnt believe my eyes (or could I?). Someone erred! And I cant stop thinking about that early Groo adventure called Shanghaied: will I ever be able to enter the museum of the Wasa again, without hearing the hysterical laughter of captain Ahax echoing through the walls of the exhibition hall?</P>
<P>Probably to be continued. /Oskar. </P>
<P>---</P>
<P>Wasa was dragged out of the water in 1961, some 333 years after the shipwreck, was rebuilt and put into her final restingplace in the "catacomb" called the Wasamuseum. Its now a popular tourist attraction. Some visitors might even notice the stale stench of 17th century cheese dip around. None has ever been blamed or punished for the catastroph... <BR><BR><BR></P>
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