Today in History

[katcarasella]

1970: Apollo 13 blasts off

I remember watching this while I was holding Jenny, she was only 2 weeks old.
Good Grief I really feel old now.

[goofywife]

1961: Russia sends man into space

The Soviet Union successfully launched the first man into space today. Yuri Gagarin, a 27-year-old air force major, endured intense physical and psychological examinations before making the historic trip.

"By the Soviet account, Maj. Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin rode a five-ton spaceship once around the earth in an orbit taking an hour and 20 minutes. He was in the air a total of an hour and 48 minutes," reported The Appleton Post Crescent on April 13, 1961. According to the article, Soviet Premier Khrushchev sent "a message of congratulations telling Gagarin the 'entire Soviet people acclaim your valiant feat which will be remembered down the centuries as an example of courage, gallantry and heroism in the name of service to mankind.'"

While U.S. President Kennedy congratulated the Soviets on "a most impressive scientific accomplishment," he told Americans that he hoped the U.S. would achieve other scientific firsts, because "the Soviet Union will remain ahead of the United States for some time in the space race," according to the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.

2002: Hugo Chavez forced out of office

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was forced out of office today by a military coup. "The development stunned a nation that had seen one of the biggest civilian demonstrations against the 47-year-old Chavez's three-year rule. It came only three days after Chavez, a fiery populist and former army paratrooper who had led a failed 1992 coup, had vowed to crush a general strike organized by Venezuela's largest business and labor groups," reported the Sentinel & Enterprise on April 12, 2002. NOTE: Chavez resumed the presidency the following day after thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets in protest.

1981: First space shuttle is launched

The United States launched its first space shuttle mission today, exactly 20 years after Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space. "Launched into a clear, still morning, the trim, milk-white space plane lifted from the launch pad on the largest solid rocket engines ever flown, nearly 6-million pounds of thrust beginning the 54-hour journey," informed the Winnipeg Free Press on April 13, 1981. "Shaking the earth and rapidly gathering speed, Columbia climbed straight up, leaving behind a white vapor trail as it climbed to an altitude of 50 kilometres and separated from its expended boosters."

1955: Polio vaccine cleared for use

The University of Michigan School of Public Health declared that the polio vaccine created by Dr. Jonas Salk was safe and effective today. "The mother with a dozen children or the mother with one, could not ask for a better gift today or any other day than a cure against polio. And that cure came today in the form of a long awaited announcement from the University of Michigan, that the Salk vaccine has been proven 80 to 90 percent effective in combating poliomyelitis," explained The Daily Intelligencer on April 12, 1955.

1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies

After serving as U.S. president for 12 years, Franklin D. Roosevelt died today from a massive cerebral hemorrhage at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia. Roosevelt's death catapulted Vice President Harry S. Truman to the highest office in the land. "Around the world, the humble and the great paid mournful tribute today to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in words of praise and sorrow," The Evening Tribune reported on April 13, 1945. "The flags of virtually all nations flew at half mast. Many governments decreed a period of mourning. Expressions of sympathy streamed into the White House from world capitals."

1864: Hundreds die in Fort Pillow massacre

Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest captured the Union stronghold at Fort Pillow today. During the attack, Forrest and his men killed many of the Union's African-American defenders. Forrest claimed the soldiers were trying to escape; however, Union sources countered this claim, arguing the soldiers had surrendered and were massacred by Confederate troops. On April 18, 1864, The New York Times reported, "According to Gen. Sherman, loss was fifty-three white troops killed, and one hundred wounded, and three hundred black troops murdered in cold blood after the surrender."

[katcarasella]

I remember the nuns having us line up in the hallway for those first polio shots.
(St. Mels-Holy Ghost Catholic school, I haven't seen that name for decades.)
Michelle, you're bringing back such fond memories,

[Janet]

Originally Posted by katcarasella

I remember the nuns having us line up in the hallway for those first polio shots.
(St. Mels-Holy Ghost Catholic school, I haven't seen that name for decades.)
Michelle, you're bringing back such fond memories,

Isn't she the sweetest for doing this everyday? I am enjoying it so much...thanks Michelle.

[goofywife]

You gals are too kind. I find it all just as interesting.

[goofywife]

1997: Tiger Woods youngest to win Masters
Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, today. Woods finished at 18-under-par 270, which was the lowest score ever shot during the Masters.
"When the green jacket was draped over the shoulders of the 21-year-old champion, golf greeted not just the first black to win a major professional championship, but also a player of the talent, intelligence and discipline to achieve his goal of being the best to ever play the game," reported The Intelligencer on April 14, 1997. "What Woods did this week at Augusta means that anything is possible. It was an effort recorded not on a scorecard, but in the record books and pages of history. Nearly every sentence uttered about Woods after his victory included words like lowest, fastest and youngest."
NOTE: As they reported on his victory, newspapers compared Woods and his achievements to Jackie Robinson, who became the first African-American to play major league baseball 50 years earlier. Yet Woods gave credit to other African-American golfers before him, such as Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder and Ted Rhodes.

1984: Pete Rose hits 4,000
While playing for the Montreal Expos, Pete Rose made his 4,000th hit today in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming only the second player in major league history to reach the 4,000 mark. "Only Ty Cobb, whose major league record of 4,191 hits could be in jeopardy next year, knows just what Pete Rose has accomplished," explained the Syracuse Herald Journal on April 14, 1984. "Shortstop Ivan DeJesus retrieved the relay throw and handed the ball to Rose, who trotted toward the first-base dugout as the Olympic Stadium crowd of 48,060 cheered." NOTE: Rose finished his career with 4,256 hits.

1983: Chicago elects African-American mayor
Harold Washington was elected the city of Chicago's first African-American mayor today. "Harold Washington, beating back the strongest Republican bid for citywide office in a generation, defeated Bernard Epton by barely a dozen votes a precinct Tuesday and called on his supporters to overcome the city's racial strife," informed the Daily Herald on April 13, 1983. "Describing his campaign as 'a pilgrimage,' Washington promised to follow as well as lead. 'I will initiate your reforms,' he told a jubilant crowd of supporters before imploring them to heal the racial sores infecting the city."


1970: Oxygen tank explodes on Apollo 13
An explosion on Apollo 13 forced the astronauts to abandon their mission to the moon and head home today. Apollo 13, launched on April 11, was supposed to be the third mission to bring humans to the moon. However, the mission became the first in the Apollo program requiring an emergency abort after an oxygen tank exploded and damaged other systems on the spaceship. "James A. Lovell Jr., Fred W. Haise Jr. and John L. Swigert Jr. took shortcuts to conserve their precious consumables of water, oxygen and power as they raced farther from earth toward a moon which had been their landing target until a violent eruption of a pressurized fuel tank Monday night," reported the Stevens Point Daily Journal on April 14, 1970. NOTE: The astronauts managed to safely return to Earth in the spaceship's lunar module.

1943: Escape attempt made at Alcatraz
Four convicts attempted to escape from the prison at Alcatraz today. Two drowned in the San Francisco Bay after being shot in the attempt, and the remaining two were recaptured. "The four convicts opened their bid for freedom by jumping and binding Henry Weinhold, captain of the guards, and George Smith, custodial officer, threatening them meanwhile with prison-made knives," explained The Lowell Sun on April 14, 1943. "Weinhold managed to slip his bonds, loosen his gag and blow his whistle. Then, sirens shrieked, shots were fired and the hunt was on."


1883: Man convicted of cannibalism
Alfred Packer was sentenced to death today on charges of cannibalism. Packer confessed to consuming human remains after becoming lost nine years earlier during a winter expedition with five other men in Colorado. The Oshkosh Northwestern published a statement from Packer, who claimed that one of his companions killed the other men while Packer was looking for provisions and then proceeded to attack Packer, who shot him. News reports vilified the Packer: "The men became desperate, and some crazed. While his companions were in this condition Packer deliberately fell upon and butchered the whole party, and for several weeks lived on the flesh cut from their bodies," according to the Decatur Weekly Republican on April 19, 1883. NOTE: Packer's sentence was later overturned, and he was officially pardoned in 1981.

[goofywife]

Sorry Ladies, things got crazy at the convention. I missed a few days.

1969: Robert Kennedy assassin found guilty

Sirhan B. Sirhan was found guilty of first degree murder today for assassinating Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the brother of slain President John F. Kennedy. After winning the California Democratic presidential primary, Robert Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles in June of 1968.

"When the verdict was announced, Sirhan, who had been nervously chewing at his fingers, stared straight ahead and showed no emotion," reported the Syracuse Herald Journal on April 17, 1969. "After a one-day recess, the same jurors will hear arguments as to whether Sirhan's fate should be life in prison or a sentence to the gas chamber at San Quentin."

NOTE: On April 23, 1969, Sirhan was sentenced to death in the gas chamber. His sentence was later commuted to life in prison, a sentence he is still serving.

1990: Civil rights activist Ralph Abernathy dies

Rev. Ralph Abernathy, the man who cradled Martin Luther King Jr.'s head after he was shot to death on the balcony of a Memphis motel in 1968, died today in an Atlanta hospital. "As King's chief lieutenant, Abernathy was at his side almost every key battle of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s and took his place as leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference after King's 1968 assassination. But the fame and adulation enjoyed by King never quite extended to Abernathy," an obituary in The Valley Independent read on April 18, 1990. NOTE: In 1989, Abernathy released his autobiography And the Walls Came Tumbling Down, which prompted a firestorm of protest when the book reported on King's extramarital affairs.

1970: Apollo 13 crew returns safely

"Apollo 13's astronauts blazed back to the safety of their home planet today with a pinpoint landing in the Pacific Ocean, bringing a successful conclusion to America's most perilous space adventure," informed The Daily Times News. NOTE: The spacecraft was forced to abandon its mission after an April 13 oxygen tank explosion damaged the craft.

1964: Jerrie Mock completes pioneer flight

Jerrie Mock, 38, of Columbus, Ohio, became the first woman to fly solo around the world today. "She landed her single-engine Cessna at Port Columbus at 9:36 p.m., 29 days after takeoff. She descended into a throng of well-wishers," reported Oshkosh Daily Northwestern on April 18, 1964. NOTE: The following day, Jerrie Mock Day was announced in Columbus, Ohio, in honor of her achievement.

1961: Cuban exiles invade Bay of Pigs

Today, a group of 1,500 Cuban exiles invaded the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba in an attempt to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. "As the government acted to fight off the invaders, Cuba charged in the United Nations that the attack was waged by 'mercenaries' from bases in Florida and Guatemala," explained The Lima News on April 17, 1961. "In Washington, Secretary of State Dean Rusk denied that the invasion came from American soil, but said the United States is sympathetic with the invaders' aims." NOTE: The exiles were easily defeated by the Cuban government. Although the U.S. State Department initially denied any involvement in the attack, President Kennedy later confessed to funding and supplying the exiles and took full responsibility for the invasion.

1861: Virginia State Convention votes to secede

The Virginia State Convention voted to secede from the Union today. "There seems to be no room to doubt that the Virginia Convention have voted to secede, but as the Ordinance was passed in secret session, its exact terms are not yet known," reported The New York Times on April 20, 1861. NOTE: The northwest portion of Virginia subsequently seceded from Virginia, joining the Union as West Virginia on June 20, 1863.

[goofywife]

Today April 18th,

1955: Albert Einstein dies
Celebrated physicist and Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein died today at the age of 76. Einstein, who suffered internal bleeding after being hospitalized for a gall bladder inflammation, died at Princeton Hospital in New Jersey.

"Einstein rose from obscurity as a German factory-owner's son, and a childhood marked by a slowness to learn, and astounded the 20th Century with his genius," reported The Coshocton Tribune on April 18, 1955. "He labored for 40 years to find the master key that might explain the physical makeup and operation of the universe. He believed the universe was one continuous field, like an endless stream, and governed by unchangeable laws."

NOTE: Einstein's death especially saddened the scientific world. The president of Princeton University told The Edwardsville Intelligencer that Einstein's understanding of nature was "beyond assessment in our day." Before "the great genius" was cremated, his brain was preserved for scientific research. After a brief period of initial scientific scrutiny the preserved sections of the brain were stored for 20 years in Mason jars in a cider box before being reexamined by scientists.

1983: U.S. Embassy in Beirut is destroyed
A suicide bomber destroyed the United States Embassy in Beirut today. The explosion, which killed 63 people, occurred when a delivery van, packed with more than 2,000 pounds of explosives, detonated. "A group called Moslem Holy War claimed responsibility, telling the newspaper Al Liwa, 'This is part of the Iranian revolution's campaign against imperialist targets throughout the world. We shall keep striking at any imperialist presence in Lebanon, including multinational force.' Moslem Holy War has claimed several previous attacks on multinational force," reported The Syracuse Herald Journal on April 18, 1983.

1958: Poet Ezra Pound goes free
Treason charges were dismissed against poet Ezra Pound today, freeing him from the mental institution where he was held for 12 years after being declared mentally unfit to stand trial. Pound was indicted for treason after delivering anti-American broadcasts from Italy during World War II. "Dr. Winfred Overholser, superintendent of St. Elizabeth's, said in a sworn statement accompanying the motion that 'there is no likelihood…no possibility that the indictment against Ezra Pound can ever be tried because of the permanent and incurable insanity' of the poet. But, Overholser said, Pound 'is not a dangerous person and his release would not endanger' others," explained The Daily Times-News on April 18, 1958.

1946: League of Nations dissolves
"The League of Nations, created to preserve peace after a world cataclysm, expired last night and willed to the United Nations its physical assets in the hope that the new organization might succeed where the league had failed. It had lived 26 years," reported The Post Standard on April 19, 1946. "Quietly, the delegates answered 'yes' to a roll call on a motion providing that 'with effect from the day following the close of the present session of the assembly, the League of Nations shall cease to exist except for the sole purpose of the liquidation of its affairs.'"

1923: Yankee Stadium opens
Yankee Stadium officially opened its doors today to a crowd of 74,000 fans. "Governors, generals, colonels, politicians and baseball officials gathered solemnly yesterday to dedicate the biggest stadium in baseball, but it was a ball player who did the real dedicating. In the third inning, with two teammates on the base lines, Babe Ruth smashed a savage home run into the right field bleachers, and that was the real baptism of the new Yankee stadium," The Davenport Democrat and Leader explained on April 19, 1923. NOTE: Because of Babe Ruth's legendary status as a player for the Yankees, Yankee Stadium is commonly referred to as "the house that Ruth built."

1906: Hundreds die in San Francisco quake
A large earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, shook the town of San Francisco, California early this morning. "This city lies in smoldering ruins and total annihilation seems to be its fate," informed The Oakland Tribune on April 18, 1906. "The magnificent business district lying between the water's edge and Tenth street and even still farther west is destroyed, and there is scarcely any hope of saving but a few of the magnificent skyscrapers that have been erected during the last ten years. Thirty thousand houses were either partially or wholly destroyed by earthquake, and the subsequent fire which started in 100 different places simultaneously has swept the city from one end to the other."

[katcarasella]

OMG
1906: Hundreds die in San Francisco quake
Is that weird or what, I got goosebumps.............

[goofywife]

1956: Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier marry

American actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco exchanged Roman Catholic wedding vows in the Monaco cathedral today. The couple had also married in a civil service on the day before the religious ceremony.

"The exchange of vows and blessing took only 10 minutes, but attendant ceremonials and processions stretched out for more than three hours," reported the Winnipeg Free Press read on April 19, 1956. "Trailing her ivory lace wedding train in the bright Mediterranean sun, the bride walked with measured strides into the white stone cathedral just before 11 a.m. as bugles blared."

NOTE: Hours after they were considered married in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church and according to civil law, they left on a Mediterranean cruise for their honeymoon. Grace Kelly died in a car crash in 1982 and the Prince never remarried.

2005: Cardinal Ratzinger is elected pope

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was named the new pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church today, succeeding John Paul II. "White smoke poured from a chimney at the Vatican and bells tolled, announcing to the world that a new pope was elected in the first papal conclave of the new millennium," informed The Capital on April 19, 2005. NOTE: Ratzinger chose the name Pope Benedict XVI.

1995: Oklahoma bombing kills 168 people

A truck full of explosives destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, today, killing 168 people. "The blast occurred at the start of a work day, as parents dropped off their youngsters at the day-care center in the federal building. Before the smoke cleared, emergency worker Heather Taylor had to put tags on the toes of at least 12 children," The Post Standard reported on April 20, 1995. "Assistant Fire Chief Jon Hansen described the first 30 minutes after the bombing as 'pure mayhem.' Streets were choked with walking wounded, emergency crews and well-meaning citizens." NOTE: In 1997, Timothy McVeigh was convicted of the bombing and on June 11, 2001, he was executed by lethal injection

1967: Former West German Chancellor Adenauer dies

Konrad Adenauer of West Germany, chancellor from 1949 to 1963, died today at the age of 91. "Adenauer was respected and consulted by all the Western world leaders even after his retirement in 1963. He commanded the attention of the Communists and his passing was reported by the Soviet news agency Tass without comment moments after his death," explained the Syracuse Herald Journal on April 19, 1967. "As the architect of postwar West Germany policy the Russians had blamed him more than any other European statesman for opposing Soviet policy in Europe."

1927: Mae West sentenced for 'obscene performance'

Actress Mae West was sentenced to ten days in a work house and fined $500 for participating in an "obscene stage performance" today. On March 19, the Broadway play Sex, which West was the star and co-author of, voluntarily closed after warrants were served on the cast and owners for staging an obscene show. NOTE: West would later be known for her Hollywood movies and is remembered today as one of the first blonde bombshells.

1904: Toronto devastated by fire

A fire swept through the city of Toronto in Ontario, Canada today. The blaze destroyed more than 150 buildings and caused $10 million to $15 million in damage, according to 1904 reports. "The fire started in a factory in Wellington street, about 9 o'clock last night. In less than an hour the flames had spread from building to building on both sides of the street until the whole block was a mass of flames and the fire was utterly beyond control of the local fire department," reported The Newark Advocate on April 20, 1904.

[katcarasella]

2005: Cardinal Ratzinger is elected pope

Now he's NYC going to say Mass tomorrow morning, he's a wonderful man.


1995: Oklahoma bombing kills 168 people

I remember this one so well, a very sad time!

[goofywife]

1999: Columbine shootings shock nation

Two students shot and killed 13 people and wounded 24 others today before committing suicide at Columbine High School outside of Littleton, Colorado. The students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, had previously made death threats against students and teachers online.

"The attackers marched into the library of Columbine High School with guns and pipe bombs, demanding that 'all jocks stand up. We're going to kill every one of you,' said student Aaron Cohn," reported the Syracuse Herald Journal on April 21, 1999. "Bombs were found in and around the school, including in two cars in the school parking lot. More than 11 hours after the shootings, a bomb on a timer blew up, but no one was injured. Meantime, frantic parents awaited word of their children into the night, watching as tearful students were reunited with their families."

NOTE: 2007’s Virginia Tech shooting reminded many of the 1999 Columbine massacre. With 33 people killed, including the gunman, Virginia Tech became the deadliest U.S. school shooting, making Columbine the third deadliest, just behind the 15 people killed by Charles Whitman at the University of Texas in 1966.

1985: FBI surrounds cult compound

The FBI began a three-day standoff today with a religious cult in northern Arkansas. The negotiations with the cult, The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, started when federal agents tried to serve the group's leader, James Ellison, with a warrant for "conspiracy to manufacture, possess and transfer automatic weapons," according to an article in The Chronicle Telegram on April 20, 1985. "Up to 80 heavily-armed federal, state and local officers, faces blackened and wearing camouflage clothing, laid siege Friday to the 224-acre compound, which contains scattered stone buildings with flat roofs and a radio tower." explained the article. NOTE: The standoff ended peacefully on the morning of the 4th day of the siege, with Ellison and his militia surrendering.

1945: U.S. troops capture Leipzig

"The German army surrendered this fifth largest city of the reich [Leipzig] to the U.S. First army at 11 a.m. today after fighting raged fiercely throughout the night and morning," informed the Joplin Globe on April 20, 1945. "After firing ceased today, after a six-day siege, thousands of the city's inhabitants emerged from their hiding places, some of them waving and cheering in delight that the war was over for them. A white flag waved from each building still standing in the wreckage." NOTE: As the surrender took place in Leipzig, the U.S. army also captured most of Nuremberg and moved tanks south to Munich.

1914: Strikers slaughtered in Ludlow

Dozens of men, women and children were killed today when violence broke out between militiamen and striking coal miners in Ludlow, Colorado. "The Ludlow tent colony presented a scene of death and desolation today, only four or five of the tents remaining standing. Soldiers declare that quantities of ammunition were exploded by the blaze that swept the tent colony during the night," reported The Lincoln Daily Star on April 21, 1914.

1902: Marie Curie isolates radium

Polish scientist Marie Curie isolated the element of radium today. "In July, 1898, they announced their joint discovery of a new element – polonium, named for Mme. Curie's native country. A few months later they announced the discovery of radium. But not until 1902 did their researches permit them to establish its existence and character," explained The Chronicle Telegram on July 5, 1934. NOTE: In 1903, the husband and wife team shared a Nobel Prize in physics with French scientist Henri Becquerel. In 1911, Marie was awarded a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for her work with radium.

[goofywife]

Kat, I had you pegged for a funny comment on Mae West.

Originally Posted by katcarasella

2005: Cardinal Ratzinger is elected pope

Now he's NYC going to say Mass tomorrow morning, he's a wonderful man.


1995: Oklahoma bombing kills 168 people

I remember this one so well, a very sad time!

[katcarasella]

Originally Posted by goofywife

Kat, I had you pegged for a funny comment on Mae West.

Believe me I was tempted, "Come up and See Me Sometime!"

th_toomuchofagoodthing.jpg

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Don't want to disappoint you!!

[goofywife]