Crown of Serpents - Masonic mystery thriller - author interview

[Bro. A.T.Smith]

That's quite interesting!

Chief Brant's Masonic apron rests in the Joe Brant museum here in my city, while his tomb is 45 minutes west, in Brantford where my parents live. The Mohawk Chapel there has a Square and Compasses in one of the stained glass windows.

http://www.mohawkchapel.ca

In fact, my Dad's a member at Brant Lodge No.45 in Brantford, while here in Burlington there is another Brant Lodge, No.663, who meet on Brant street......very near to the Joseph Brant memorial hospital, and the Joe Brant Museum.

Also, Brant's son was the Secretary of Union Lodge, which met in and about the town of Dundas (where my Lodge is), circa 1820.

Suffice it to say, Chief Brant has left one hell of a footprint around these parts!

Will your book have a fairly wide circulation Brother?

[Michael Karpovage]

Bro, Smith,

Crown of Serpents has been out for about a year now. It's on Amazon.com if you want to get it right away. Easiest in Canada. It has limited distribution in western NY at bricks and mortar stores. And just one store so far here in GA. But most people order it online via Amazon.com or B&N.com. Bro. Jeb Carroll up in Edmonton, Alberta also has a bunch of autographed copies too that he sells/ships. Sort of my great white northern vendor!!! His email is jebwcarroll@telus.net Give him a shout.

Joseph Brant is an amazing man and Mason. He has several other stories of saving rebel Masons on the battlefield that are attributed to him and he certainly left his make all throughout NY, PA, OH, and Canada. In fact, King George III actually gave him his apron in 1776 in London.

Take care. Visit my Facebook Fan page too!!!

[Brother Steven]

Originally Posted by Michael Karpovage

Where do you re-enact? What unit are you with? In western NY or PA for battles?

Well right now funds and health (though its starting to get better...the health that is...still looking for work)prevent me from doing re-enacting and a lot of my gear save for my firelock have fallen into disrepair. When i was active, I was a line Corporal in the 78th Highland Regiment of Foote, 2nd Battallion, Col. McCleod's Company, Col. Laird Glenn McClain Commanding. The last major "campaign" I participated in was the re-enactment of the siege of Louisbourgh in Nova Scotia in 1995.

Im in the process of getting involved with another, less regimented more civilian militia group who is looking for a surgeon. Since I am an EMT and spent a year in medical school before my health took a turn, Ive volunteered to be the saw bones, but it will be a slow process to get my gear back in shape. Im afraid my canvas is probably up in the rafters of my garage covered in mold and my firelock will need some good going over after it comes out of storeage (Italian made Pedersoli, .75 Bess, 1762 Grice Lock mark). My hope is to not only outfit as a surgeon but come up with things I can do to impress upon visitors the nasty nature of war in the 18th century so they dont all think it was Last of the Mohicans.

[Michael Karpovage]

If you become saw bones, what kind of anesthetic did they have back then, whiskey? Scottish whiskey? ;-) I really applaud all re-enactors as I know you take your roles very seriously as living historians and offer much more than the battle. It's the way of life, the clothing, the equipment, and speech that all go into the re-enacting. Personally, I've always wanted to appear as an extra in movies like Saving Private Ryan or the Band of Brothers. Something about WWII intrigues me. Just a last note that when I was doing research at Old Fort Niagara they said the Brown Bess's (the originals) go for like $60,000 each! Like to get my paws on one of those!

[Brother Steven]

Originally Posted by Michael Karpovage

If you become saw bones, what kind of anesthetic did they have back then, whiskey? Scottish whiskey? ;-) I really applaud all re-enactors as I know you take your roles very seriously as living historians and offer much more than the battle. It's the way of life, the clothing, the equipment, and speech that all go into the re-enacting. Personally, I've always wanted to appear as an extra in movies like Saving Private Ryan or the Band of Brothers. Something about WWII intrigues me. Just a last note that when I was doing research at Old Fort Niagara they said the Brown Bess's (the originals) go for like $60,000 each! Like to get my paws on one of those!

As far as anesthetic they would have used whiskey, brandy, etc and if one had the money or the supply, they would have used things like opium mixed with liquor, later to be called laudenum. Often however, it was literally just biting on a lead ball and screaming or biting on a stick wrapped in layers of linen or leather to avoid breaking the teeth. Amputations in the field then often took less than a minute and the anesthetic used was that frequently the patient became unconscious from shock.

About the WWII re-enactments, we have the largest one in the country in my hometown of Rockford, Illinois at Midway Historical Village, every summer. Its the real deal with tanks and jeeps, half tracks axis and ally troops, all kinds of pyrotechnics, etc. Im watching Band of Brothers as I write this.

Yes those Besses can be very expensive for an original considering that most that find their way into museums are not in fireable condition. I know my reproduction cost about $700 back in 1991. It has served me well and will throw a .75 cal ball about 3/4 of a mile before it begins to drop with about 20 degrees of elevation. Im planning on converting it to a more civilian firelock by adding some Masonic engraving to the brass and steel parts.