On this day in 79, the eruption of volcanic Mt. Vesuvius in what is now modern day Italy obliterates several towns, the best known of which were Pompeii and Herculaneum, which had a combined population of nearly 20,000. Historians do not consider any estimated death toll from the eruption to be reliable. On this day in 1814, British troops seize Washington DC and burn a substantial portion of the city, including the White House, the Capitol and several other government buildings. President James Madison and First Lady Dolly Madison escape the city just ahead of the invading troops. On this day in 1981, Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 year in prison for the murder of John Lennon.
On this day in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act. Today, the National Park Service oversees more than 400 parks, wildlife areas and historic structures around the nation. On this day in 1939, The Wizard of Oz has its national theatrical release. The movie was actually a box-office disapppointment, failing to turn a profit for MGM until the studio re-released it in 1949. On this day in 1945 (10 days after Japan signed its WWII surrender), American intelligence officer John Birch was shot and killed by the Chinese while travelling to inspect a POW camp. He's unofficially considered the 1st fatality of the Cold War.
On this day in 1776, British troops under General Howe defeat George Washington and the Continental Army at the Battle of Brooklyn Heights. The victory gave the British control of the Port of New York City, just 2 months after the colonies declared their independence. On this day in 1883, the volcanic mountain of Krakatoa in the Dutch East Indies exploded, generating the loudest sound in recorded history (it was heard 2800 miles away). An estimated 36,000 were killed by the eruptions and the resulting tsunamis, and the volcanic debris propelled into the atmosphere caused a drop in average world temperatures of about 12 degrees Celsius. The "volcanic winter" lasted 12 years. On this day in 1976, The US Tennis Association denies Dr. Renee Richards' entry into the US Open after "she" refuses to submit to a chromosone test. Richards had undergone a sex change operation 9 months earlier. She was allowed to play in the '77 Open by court order, losing to Virginia Wade in the first round.
On this day in 1565, Spanish explorers, racing to beat a French expedition to the New World, land on what is now the east coast of Florida, at the sight of what will become the city of St. Augustine. On this day in 1963, standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King gives his "I have a dream" speech to an audience estimated at 250,000. It is still hailed as one of the greatest orations in American history. On this day in 1968, police and federal troops clash with anti-Vietnam War protesters outside the national Democratic Party Convention in Chicago. The demonstrations had been going on with only minor incidents for about 5 days before the atmosphere deteriorated on the 28th. Chicago PD would report about 150 officers were injured throughout the event. Civilian casualty numbers are disputed, with claims of anywhere from 100-500, mostly from tear gas exposure.
How did you miss yesterday? 29 years ago yesterday SRV left us for the big stage in the sky (sad face)
A number of noteworthy events have occurred on August 29.....Shays Rebellion.....the Lindberg kidnapping....the USSR detonates its first atomic device....but none of it seems to matter as much as this.
