Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. One of America's most famous missing persons hijacked an airliner in 1971 then parachuted into the forests of the Pacific Northwest with his $200,000 ransom. In 1980 a small part of the ransom money was found, but no sign of the hijacker himself has turned up. Who was he?
2. At the beginning of her prolific writing career in 1926 this author's marriage collapsed due to her husband's infidelity. She disappeared from her home instigating an enormous search effort. Eleven days later, the author was found registered in a resort hotel under a false name. Many theories have been put forward to explain the absence but the author herself never spoke of it. Who was this now world famous writer?
3. England's first attempt to colonize the new world was on Roanoke Island in 1585. An expedition returned in 1590 to resupply the colonists only to find the colony empty with the word "Croatoan" carved onto a post. In 1587 a daughter born to one of the colony's families became the first person of English descent born in the New World. What was her name?
4. In 1826 William Morgan announced plans to publish a book critical of a popular fraternal organization and exposing many of its secrets. Members of the organization's local lodge arranged to have Morgan arrested for debt. Bailed out by a "friend", Morgan was never seen again. Although he was never found, members of the organization were convicted of his kidnapping. What organization was so protective of its reputation and secrets?
5. In modern times it's fairly unusual for government leaders to vanish. In 1967 the 17th Prime Minister of Australia became an exception. Going for a swim at Cheviot Beach, known for rip tides and strong currents, he quickly disappeared and has never been seen again. Officially presumed drowned, theories about his disappearance include UFOs and Chinese submarines. Who was this missing PM?
6. The founder of the Foursquare Church in Los Angeles was one of the first evangelists to utilize the electronic media to create a "megachurch". When she disappeared while swimming off Venice Beach, her followers were shocked and the media pushed a huge search effort. Two people died searching the ocean for her body. Weeks later in June, 1926 she appeared in the Mexican desert claiming to have escaped from kidnappers, "Steve" and "Mexicali Rose". Understandable skepticism led to charges of obstruction of justice which were eventually dropped. Who was this groundbreaker for today's televangelists?
7. A medical missionary, scientist and explorer, this man was one of the most beloved heroes of the Victorian era British Empire. Setting out from Zanzibar to find the source waters of the Nile in 1866, he dropped out of sight for nearly six years. Finally located by an American reporter sent to find him, he was met on the shore of Lake Tanganyika with one of the most famous four word phrases in the English language. Do you presume to know who this famous explorer was?
8. This inventor held patents for a type of internal combustion engine which required no spark plugs. In September, 1913 he took a steamer from Antwerp to London for a corporate meeting. After dinner on the first night out of port, he retired to his room and was never seen again. Personal items taken from an unidentifiable body found in the sea were identified as property of the missing inventor. Who was this man whose name is used everyday worldwide?
9. After college graduation this son of a prominent Republican politician (New York Governor, later Vice President) joined a Harvard-sponsored expedition to study native tribes in New Guinea. In 1961 he returned to study the Asmat people and collect their art. On November 17 his canoe was swamped and capsized several miles offshore. The impatient young man decided to swim ashore and was never seen again. His companion stayed with the canoe and was rescued the next day. Who was this unfortunate son of one of America's wealthiest families?
10. One of the meanest, toughest guys to play professional basketball, he was kicked off his college team for punching a coach. Once, after being ejected for hitting an opponent, he ran back onto the court three times to get at the player again. He was a talented player though and finished his six year career in the ABA and NBA scoring more than 20 points per game. Dropped by the Seattle Supersonics in 1975 for "causing dissent" he flew to Uganda in 1978 and was never heard from again. Who was this basketball "bad boy"?
Source: Author
wilbill
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
bloomsby before going online.
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