Today in History for Sept. 15, 2014

John Hanning Speke

Sept. 15, 1492 – While within the western part of the Sargasso Sea, Columbus and his increasingly nervous crew observed a huge, unexplained “bolt of fire” shoot across the sky and fall or disappear into the ocean.

Sept. 15, 1784 - The first successful balloon ascent in England was demonstrated for a crowd. "Daredevil Aeronaut" Vincenzo Lunardi took off in a brightly decorated balloon, along with a cat, dog, and pigeon. His friend George Biggin was left behind however, because the balloon embarked on its 24-mile journey, without being fully inflated.

Sept. 15, 1789 – James Fenimore Cooper, considered to be the first true American novelist, was born in Burlington, N.J.

Sept. 15, 1814 - British attack on Fort Bowyer on Mobile Point fails, prompting the British to abandon plans to capture Mobile and turn towards New Orleans.

Sept. 15, 1834 – Stephen S. Andress was commissioned as Monroe County, Alabama’s Sheriff.

Sept. 15, 1862 - Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson captured Harpers Ferry, Virginia (present-day West Virginia). Union General Dixon Miles surrendered after offering little resistance.

Sept. 15, 1864 – John Hanning Speke was found lying near a stone wall on the estate of a relative, felled by a fatal gunshot wound from a hunting rifle. His death was ruled accidental, and an obituary surmised that Speke, while climbing over the wall, had carelessly pulled the gun after himself with the muzzle pointing at his chest and shot himself.

Sept. 15, 1875 – Jesse James robbed the Huntingdon Bank in Huntingdon, Tenn. At about noon, James, accompanied by Cole Younger and two members of his gang, leisurely entered the bank and took $10,252 from the cashier at gunpoint.

Sept. 15, 1890 – Mystery writer Agatha Christie was born in Torquay, Devon, England.

Sept. 15, 1897 – The Citronelle Call newspaper was established.

Sept. 15, 1912 - Joe Wood of the Boston Red Sox won his 16th consecutive major league game.

Sept. 15, 1922 – J. Taylor Ball, about 33 years old, passed away at his home near Mt. Zion in Conecuh County, Ala. from influenza and double pneumonia. He was the son of the late Albert M. Ball and was buried at the Owassa cemetery with Masonic honors.

Sept. 15, 1931 - The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians to clinch their third consecutive American League pennant. The win was the ninth and final American League championship of legendary manager Connie Mack’s storied career.

Sept. 15, 1938 - Lloyd and Paul Waner became the first brothers to hit back-to-back home runs in a major league game. It was Lloyd's last home run.

Sept. 15, 1946 - A Brooklyn Dodgers-Chicago Cubs game was called when players, umpires and fans were attacked by gnats.

Sept. 15, 1952 – J.N. Andrews, a barber, beat incumbent mayor H.L. Dees Jr., a grocery merchant, 30-28, in a municipal election in the Town of Repton, Ala. Dees contested the election, alleging that illegal votes were cast and five absentee ballots were improperly thrown out. Council members elected were G.H. Dees, Dr. W.R. Carter, J.L. Dees, John E. Davison and Lee Stallworth.

Sept. 15, 1961 – Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino was born in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sept. 15, 1963 - All three Alou brothers - Felipe, Matty and Jesus - played in the outfield at the same time for the San Francisco Giants in a 13-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sept. 15, 1963 - Four black girls were killed and 21 others are injured when a bomb exploded at Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church, a center for nearby civil rights demonstrations the previous spring. The girls, ranging between the ages of 11 and 14, were preparing for Youth Day activities when the Sunday morning explosion occurred. Three Klansmen accused of the bombing were convicted: one each in 1977, 2001, and 2002. A fourth suspect who died in 1994 was never put on trial.

Sept. 15, 1964 - The Rev. K. L. Buford and Dr. Stanley Hugh Smith become the first black elected officials in Alabama since Reconstruction when they won seats on the Tuskegee City Council. Buford, a civil rights leader, and Smith, a sociology professor at Tuskegee Institute, defeated white incumbents in a run-off election.

Sept. 15, 1967 – In a football game attended by over 2,000 paid spectators, Evergreen dropped to 0-2 on the season after a 14-13 loss to Monroe County High School in Evergreen, Ala.

Sept. 15, 1967 – In their home opener, Repton High School improved to 2-1 on the season with an 18-0 win over Lyeffion in Repton, Ala.

Sept. 15, 1967 – John B. Privette Jr., 37, of Andalusia, Ala. was killed when the car he was driving ran off the road and hit a light pole at 1:40 a.m. on State Highway 41, seven miles south of Repton, Ala.

Sept. 15, 1969 - Steve Carlton of the St. Louis Cardinals struck out 19 Mets for a nine-inning game record.

Sept. 15, 1974 - Fred Lynn of the Boston Red Sox hit a home run on his very first major league at-bat.

Sept. 15, 1978 - The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first major league baseball team to pass the three-million mark in home attendance.

Sept. 15, 1979 - Bob Watson of the Boston Red Sox became the first player to hit for the cycle in both leagues. He hit for the cycle with the Houston Astros on June 23, 1977.

Sept. 15, 1990 - Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox became the first relief pitcher with 50 saves in a season.

Sept. 15, 1996 - The Baltimore Orioles broke the major league record for most home runs in one season. They finished with a total of 243. The New York Yankees had set the record at 240 in 1961.

Sept. 15, 1997 - Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners hit his 51st and 52nd home runs to become the sixth player to hit 100 or more home runs over two consecutive seasons. He had hit 49 home runs the previous season.

Sept. 15, 1998 - Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 63rd home run of the season.

Sept. 15, 1998 - Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners became the fourth-youngest player to reach 1,000 RBIs when he hit his 52nd home run of the season.

Sept. 15, 2002 - Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks struck out eight to reach 300 for the season. Schilling and Randy Johnson became the first teammates in baseball history to each strike out 300 in the same season.