The AnswerBank Articles

Did Billy the Kid really exist

A. Oh yes. He was born on New York's East Side on 23 November, 1859 as William Henry McCarty, known as Henry. His parents were William H and Catherine McCarty and he had an older brother Joseph,01:00 Mon 16th Jul 2001

Who has been over the Niagara Falls in a barrel

A. Thirteen at last count - and four of those were killed. At least another six were stopped before they could try. Daredevils haven't restricted themselves to a mere barrel. Q. What else, then 01:00 Mon 09th Jul 2001

Who invented the ballpoint pen

A. A Hungarian journalist called Laszlo Biro. Q. Who he A. A man of many accomplishments: writer, sculptor, painter, medical student, inventor ... and hypnotist. He invented an automatic gearbox01:00 Mon 09th Jul 2001

Who was the first woman cabinet member

Margaret Bondfield A. Margaret Grace Bondfield. Born in Somerset in 1873, she became an MP in 1923 and Minister of Labour in 1929. Q. Quite an achievement. She was from a well-to-do family then 01:00 Mon 09th Jul 2001

One of Australia's great heroes has died. Tell me about him

A. Roy Longmore, the oldest Anzac has died aged 107. That leaves only one Anzac still alive - 102-year-old Alec Campbell of Tasmania. Q. Now Anzacs are given the deepest respect in Australia and01:00 Mon 02nd Jul 2001

How is it different for women in prison

A. Tough question there from mehy0823. Obviously, it's going to be different from the men - but how It's not a question that the Home Office is going to answer and released women prisoners are01:00 Mon 02nd Jul 2001

Where did Queen Victoria die

Osborne HouseA. On a couch bed in her bedroom, surrounded by her children at Osborne House, Isle of Wight on 22 January 1901. Q. Not a palace, then A. No - Osborne House was the Queen's01:00 Thu 05th Jul 2001

Has anyone really escaped from the infamous Alcatraz Jail

A. The answer, James, is still uncertain. Thirty-six prisoners were involved in escape attempts from the island in San Francisco Bay. Seven were shot dead; two drowned, five unaccounted for, and01:00 Mon 25th Jun 2001

Tell me about Emmeline Pankhurst

A. Daughter of Robert Goulden and Sophia Crane, she was born in Manchester in 1858, and became the greatest campaigner for women's suffrage. Q. Votes for women She had unconventional parents01:00 Mon 25th Jun 2001

Can I stay on Lundy island

A. Yes you can, James. Lundy is owned by the National Trust and maintained by the Landmark Trust, which buys and restores buildings and places of historic interest, and lets them as holiday01:00 Mon 25th Jun 2001

Whatever happened to Russell Harty

A. He died on 8 June, 1988, from liver failure. He was 53. Harty was one of the great TV chat show hosts - yet will probably be remembered best for being attacked by an ill-mannered singer. Q. 01:00 Wed 18th Apr 2001

Ride a cock horse To Banbury Cross. What's that all about

A. The town of Banbury is famous for a nursery rhyme: Ride a cock horse To Banbury Cross To see a fine lady upon a white horse With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes She shall have music01:00 Wed 18th Apr 2001

Who was Britain's first woman doctor

A. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (1836-1917). Q. Quite an achievement. Was she from a privileged background A. Fairly. Elizabeth, daughter of Newson Garrett and Louise Dunnell, was born in01:00 Mon 18th Jun 2001

Why isn't Leeds Castle in Yorkshire

A. Because it's in Kent. The city of Leeds is indeed in West Yorkshire, a former centre of the clothing industry with a population of 724,000. Leeds Castle, however, is in the tiny village of01:00 Wed 11th Apr 2001

Are the Isles of Scilly worth a visit

A. Oh yes. They are a beautiful, verdant outcrop off Cornwall - similar in climate, only sunnier. Q. Plenty to see, if you know what I mean A. Yes - there are many beauty spots. Q. In all01:00 Mon 11th Jun 2001

I hear there's a new War of the Worlds

A. Yes - and what an apt title. H G Wells's epic tale of monstrous invaders from Mars is being remade - but the battle is spilling over into the courtroom. Q. How so A. The film was first made in01:00 Wed 11th Apr 2001

How did Howard Hughes make his money

A. Tools, planes, movies, land and films. Q. Quite a businessman, then A. Yes. But severely disturbed - probably a schizophrenic. Howard Robard Hughes Jr, died a billionaire on 5 April, 1976 -01:00 Mon 04th Jun 2001

Who was the test card girl

A. The television test card was a mixture of solid and tinted dots and lines to help television engineers tune a set when a programme was not being broadcast. The card featuring a girl is the one01:00 Mon 04th Jun 2001

What's the most peaceful county of England

A. If you mean peace as in war, look no further than tiny Rutland. Only one battle has been fought on Rutland soil - a place known as Bloody Oak. Q. Sounds nasty. A. Nasty indeed. On 12 March,01:00 Mon 04th Jun 2001

Is the Congo River open again

A. Yes. The United Nations Security Council has declared the 2,720-mile river open to commercial traffic. Q. Why was it closed A. This vast trade artery has been in the hands of the many armed01:00 Mon 28th May 2001