by LibbyAtwater | Jul 29, 2016 | Blog, The Spirit of Villarosa
On July 29, 1883, Horace Dade Ashton entered the world in an open sailboat in the middle of the Potomac River. His father delivered him 133 years ago today, after his mother’s labor pains grew intense, the wind died down, and the river was twelve miles wide. After making such a dramatic entry, Horace might have chosen a calm, sedate life. But that wasn’t the case!
Orphaned in his teens, he set out to make a living. He also made his mark, becoming the first adventure photographer and contributing to the world in many ways. He found the source of the Orinoco River in South America, discovered the endpoint of the Endless Caverns in Virginia, located the white cattleya orchid in Colombia’s jungle, air mapped the Strait of Magellan, and saved starving Eskimos in the Arctic Circle.
Along the way he met personalities from all parts of the globe including the legendary Rasputin of Russia, American Chiefs of State, Sovereigns of Europe, inventors Alexander Graham Bell and the Wright brothers, Pope Pius XI, and Benito Mussolini, who coincidentally was born on the same day as Horace, but whose character differed a great deal.
Horace Ashton’s nearly 93 years were filled with his love of life, learning, religious studies, adventure, exploration, science, and most of all family. Here’s to Horace on the 133rd anniversary of his birth.
by LibbyAtwater | Jul 25, 2016 | Blog, Events, The Spirit of Villarosa
Marc Ashton and I were warmly welcomed during our West Coast launch of The Spirit of Villarosa at The Adventurers’ Club of Los Angeles, which held a joint meeting with the Explorers Club of Southern California on Thursday July 21, 2016. More than 80 people interested in exploration and adventure came to hear about Marc’s father, Horace Dade Ashton, an intrepid adventure photographer, cinematographer, explorer, writer, diplomat, artist, scientist, and horticulturalist whose life spanned the late 19th and three-fourths of the 20th centuries. Marc Ashton shared the tale of his kidnapping in Haiti in 2001 and told how his father’s exploits and faith in his guardian angel led to his survival.
After the presentation, we were presented with gifts from the club before signing books for eager readers.
What a delightful way to introduce this great adventure story to the world!
-
-
The president of The Adventurers’ Club of Los Angeles presents Libby and Marc with certificates.
-
-
Libby and Marc give a beautiful overview presentation on “The Spirit of Villarosa.”
-
-
Over 90 people attended the joint event between The Adventurers’ Club of LA and The Explorers Club Southern California.
-
-
From left to right, Keith McBride, Denea Buckingham, Marc Ashton, Myriam Ashton, Libby J. Atwater, and Don Atwater.
-
-
The full house of attendees listened intently as Libby described the fascinating adventures of Horace Dade Ashton.
-
-
Libby J. Atwater and her husband Don enjoying dinner prior to the presentation.
-
-
Many attendees lined up to purchase copies of “The Spirit of Villarosa” and have them signed by both authors.
-
-
Social media manager for “The Spirit of Villarosa” Denea Buckingham is on the left with Libby and Marc celebrating the long road to “Villarosa”
by LibbyAtwater | Jul 18, 2016 | Blog, The Spirit of Villarosa
On his frequent trips to North Africa in the early 1920s, Horace Ashton often stopped in Europe. One country that he was eager to explore was Turkey, which had changed a great deal since The Great War (now known as World War I) ended. Toward the end of 1923, Ashton went to Turkey to visit with its president, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, and observe firsthand the many changes that had taken place since the country was no longer the center of the Ottoman Empire. (more…)
by LibbyAtwater | Jul 15, 2016 | Blog, The Spirit of Villarosa
Many historical figures appear in The Spirit of Villarosa.
Horace met a Chinese gentleman named Yuan Shikai aboard a steamer ship bound for Japan. Little did Horace know that this man was a Chinese army leader and reformist minister toward the end of the Qing dynasty. In 1912 Yuan Shikai became the first president of the Republic of China in 1912, a position he held until his death in June 1916.
Horace recounts, “Aboard ship, I met a remarkable Chinese gentleman, Yuan Shikai, who became my companion for a daily promenade around the deck. He impressed me immensely with his memory. We would chat, and he could tell me the exact dates and the names of all commanders in every important battle of the American War for Independence and the War Between the States. … Yuan Shikai awakened my curiosity about China and other lands I never dreamed I’d visit. His words inspired me to travel and live among different cultures.”
To discover more of Horace’s adventures, please read The Spirit of Villarosa, www.thespiritofvillarosa.com.
This image depicts Horace Dade Ashton with Princess Houang Ti Teh, daughter of the King of Indo-China in Paris, 1932.
by LibbyAtwater | Jul 12, 2016 | Blog, Events, The Spirit of Villarosa
Author Libby J. Atwater will launch The Spirit of Villarosa, a book written with Horace Dade Ashton and Marc Ashton, at a joint meeting of The Adventurers’ Club of Los Angeles and the Southern California Explorers Club on July 21, 2016. Author Marc Ashton makes his Southern California debut at this event, where he will talk about being kidnapped by four armed men near his home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and how he channeled his famous father’s adventures to survive.
Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7 p.m. The presentation begins at 8:30 p.m.
Reservations are required.
Please visit the Adventurers’ Club website at the following address for more information. http://www.adventurersclub.org/About.php
