Today in History

[goofywife]

I think Kat has had too much coffee, someone take the pot from her!

Originally Posted by Janet

Hey Kat, I was up then too. See how patient I am Michelle...LOL

[Janet]

She hasn't been on since this morning....

Kat!!! You get back here!!!

[goofywife]

1869: Spike links Transcontinental Railroad

A golden spike was driven in at Promontory, Utah, to link the First Transcontinental Railroad today. This joined the Union Pacific Railroad, running east to Omaha, to the Central Pacific, running west to California.

"The long-looked for moment has arrived," reported the The New York Herald on May 10, 1869. "The inhabitants of the Atlantic board and the dwellers on the Pacific slope are henceforth emphatically one people."

NOTE: The event was a turning point in American history, opening up the West and truly making the United States a coast–to–coast nation. Although the completion of the railroad was celebrated on May 10, it did not actually reach the Pacific Ocean until later in the year. On May 10, the rails stretched to Sacramento, where passengers were transferred to river steamers on their way to San Francisco.

2005: Grenade thrown at President Bush

A hand grenade was thrown at U.S. President George W. Bush today at a speech in Tbilisi, Georgia, but the explosive device did not detonate. “It remains unclear whether the grenade was aimed at Bush or Saakashvili [the President of Georgia] or was simply intended as a deadly disruption of what turned out to be an ebullient event,” informed The Post-Standard on May 19, 2005. NOTE: The grenade was thrown by dissident Vladimir Arutyunian, who was captured and sentenced to life imprisonment.

1960: Nuclear sub travels around the world

The Triton, a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine, finished a 36,000-mile underwater trip around the world today. "The historic 84-day voyage traced much of the route of the first trip around the globe by the surface ships of Ferdinand Magellan. The Magellan expedition took more than three years in 1519-22," explained The Hammond Times on May 10, 1960.

1940: Churchill becomes prime minister

Winston Churchill was named British prime minister following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain today. "In a dramatic ceremony at Buckingham Palace last night, Churchill, whose mother was an American, realized a lifetime ambition when he solemnly kissed the king's hand signifying his acceptance of the premiership," reported The Kingston Daily Freeman on May 11, 1940.

1933: Nazis hold public book burnings

The Nazi regime burned piles of books and other documents considered to be "un-German products," today. On May 10, 1933, the Dunkirk Evening Observer explained, "Fifteen thousand students, carrying banners and torches will escort six trucks carrying 20,000 volumes of objectionable literature in an hour's parade through the city." NOTE: Books by American authors including Helen Keller, Upton Sinclair and others were among those destroyed.

[goofywife]

1970: Tornado tears through Lubbock

A violent tornado touched down in Lubbock, Texas, today, killing at least 20 people and injuring hundreds. The storm, which left a path of destruction about eight miles long, blew away entire blocks where houses and businesses once stood and heavily damaged the heart of the downtown area.

"The spring dawn over this west Texas city of 161,000 showed damage over 2,500 square blocks from the tornado and the main storm that spewed rain and hail the size of lemons," reported the San Mateo Times on May 12, 1970. "Wind gusts after the twister lifted were measured at 100 miles an hour. Damage was estimated into the millions."

NOTE: The twister was the worst to hit Texas since the Waco tornado, which struck on the same date in 1953, killing 114 people.

1985: Soccer fans battle fire in England

A fire at a soccer stadium in England killed more than 50 people today. "An assistant fire chief, Peter Kneale, said the blaze was fanned by a strong wind and was 'a very rapid spreading fire.' He said it started in the north end of the stand and enveloped the whole structure in smoke and flames in four minutes," informed The Daily Intelligencer on May 12, 1985. NOTE: It is thought that the fire started when a fan threw a cigarette butt. The cigarette evidently fell under the stadium, where 20 years of rubbish had accumulated, starting a flash fire that spread rapidly.

1953: Tornado devastates Waco, Texas

A F5 tornado struck Waco, Texas today, ending a legend previously believed by a number of residents that their city was the only spot in Texas safe from a twister. "Weary rescue workers freed an elderly gray-haired woman today from nearly 14 hours of nightmare trapped under tons of debris in tornado-hammered Waco where 48 were known dead and more than 250 injured," reported The Kerrville Times on May 12, 1953. NOTE: Before a tornado ripped through Waco, the city of San Angelo, Texas, was struck by a twister that resulted in 13 deaths and more than a hundred injuries. However, the Waco disaster turned out to be the deadliest tornado in Texas history since 1900. After rescue workers were able to dig through the massive piles of rubble, it was found that 114 died and nearly 600 were injured.

1934: Dust cloud covers one-third of nation

"The huge dust storm moving from the Midwest descended on New York and the surrounding territory today, darkening the sky and sifting into Manhattan's skyscrapers. Despite closed windows, the dust penetrated almost every building, laying a thin coat of fine dust over furniture and floors," The Daily Times-News explained on May 11, 1934. NOTE: The dust cloud was 1,500 miles long, 900 miles across and two miles high, covering almost one-third of the nation. Topsoil was lost and crops withered in the ground, causing farmers daily losses of $2 million.

1894: Pullman employees go on strike

Thousands of workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company went on strike this morning and demanded their wages be restored to previous levels after receiving over a 27 percent pay cut from last year's pay. Pullman refused strikers' demands, saying the company was running at a loss due to its decision to keep its men employed. NOTE: The strike was broken up by U.S. Marshals and 12,000 Army troops. 13 strikers were killed and 57 wounded.

[katcarasella]

1894: Pullman employees go on strike

Ahh I remember that well

[Forgivenmom5]

Good memory Kat!!!

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by katcarasella

1894: Pullman employees go on strike

Ahh I remember that well

LOL, I actually do remember this. From my history class. I just finished the second US history (1877 to present) and this was on one of our tests. It was really a big deal because it led to some of the first steps to fair wages and working conditions. Pullman was a real jerk in my opinion...

[goofywife]

1949: Soviets lift blockade in Berlin

Traffic into Berlin was restored today when the Soviets lifted their 11-month-old blockade. In one of the major Cold War crises, the Soviet Union had blocked railroad and street access to West Berlin in hopes that the Allies would abandon the city. Instead, British and American planes flew in vital supplies like food and fuel to help West Berliners survive. Although the blockade was lifted today, air lifts did not stop until September 30. This was done as a precautionary measure to build up adequate supplies in case the Soviets issued another blockade.

"Thus-ended the dependence of 2,000,000 west Berliners on British and American planes for food and fuel," reported the Galveston Daily News on May 12, 1949. "But the air lift was going ahead at full schedule, and pilots said their instructions were to keep right on for at least 80 days."

NOTE: Despite uneasiness regarding whether the lift would last, there was a celebratory mood in Berlin. Schools closed for a holiday, and newspapers said that Berlin was in "a carnival mood." The blockade had began on June 24, 1948, and the Berlin Airlift supplied food for the city throughout the entire winter, dropping a total of 2,326,406 tons of food and supplies.

1970: Banks becomes member of 500 home run club

Ernie Banks hit the 500th home run of his National League career today, making him the ninth member of the 500-homer club. The milestone hit was made at Wrigley Field in Chicago with the Cubs playing the Atlanta Braves. "The 39-year-old Mr. Cub lined a Pat Jarvis 1-1 pitch into the leftfield bleachers in the second inning for his third homer of the season and joined eight others in the coveted 500-homer club, headed by Babe Ruth with 714," explained The Stars and Stripes on May 14, 1970. NOTE: After making the hit, Banks admitted to feeling pressure to reach his 500th.

1965: Soviet spacecraft crash-lands on moon

Russia failed to achieve the first "soft" lunar landing today when its spacecraft crashed on the moon's surface. On May 12, 1965, an article in The Sheboygan Press informed, "The observers said if Luna 5 landed successfully, the mission might encompass collecting samples of the Lunar surface and radioing back information, or scanning the moon with a camera and transmitting pictures." NOTE: Although a "soft" landing was not achieved, the Soviets still called the mission a success because they gathered information for future lunar landings.

1932: Lindbergh baby found dead

The infant son of Charles Lindbergh was found dead just miles away from the Lindbergh home today. "Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., was kidnapped on the night of March 1 from the crib in which it was sleeping peacefully. The only clues that could be found on the following morning were a home-made ladder, footprints of a man and a woman, a blanket and an abandoned blue sedan," reported The Coshocton Tribune on May 12, 1932. NOTE: The body was discovered about six weeks after the family paid a ransom of $50,000 in exchange for what proved to be false information on the baby's location.