Today in History for Oct. 17, 2014

Oct. 17, 1604 – German astronomer Johannes Kepler observed a supernova in the constellation Ophiuchus.

Oct. 17, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Mount Vernon and George Washington's tomb in Virginia.

Oct. 17, 1859 - A company of marines arrived and surrounded abolitionist John Brown after his raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia. On the morning of October 19, the soldiers overran Brown and his survivors. Ten of Brown's men were killed, including two of his sons.

Oct. 17, 1864 - Confederate General James Longstreet assumed command of his corps in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia in May of that year, Longstreet missed the campaign for Richmond, Virginia, and spent five months recovering before retuning to his command.

Oct. 17, 1888 - The first issue of "National Geographic Magazine" was released at newsstands.

Oct. 17, 1917 - Serving aboard the USS Cassin, Alabamian Kelly Ingram became the first American serviceman killed in action during World War I.

Oct. 17, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Howard Singleton of Camden, Army Pvt. Will Frye of Lower Peachtree and Army Pvt. Marion L. Haigler of Greenville “died from disease.”

Oct. 17, 1919 – RCA was incorporated as the Radio Corporation of America.

Oct. 17, 1924 – Evergreen was scheduled to play Florala in football at Gantt Field in Evergreen, starting at 3:30 p.m. Florala’s coach was Grady Vaughn, who was a former Evergreen coach.

Oct. 17, 1927 – MLB pitcher Johnny Klippstein was born in Washington, D.C. He would go on to pitch for the Cubs, the Red, the Dodgers, the Indians, the Senators, the Phillies, the Twins and the Tigers.

Oct. 17, 1930 – A pep rally the night before the Alabama-Tennessee football game in Tuscaloosa turned into a near riot when parading students “bombarded” a movie theater with eggs and vegetables after being refused admittance. The fire department and police had to be called in to disperse the students, but no arrests were made. The theater suffered minor damage. The next day, Alabama beat Tennessee, 18-6.

Oct. 17, 1930 – Repton High School beat Conecuh County High School of Castleberry, 25-0, in Repton.

Oct. 17, 1943 - The Detroit Lions set a rushing record when they achieved a negative 53 yards against the Chicago Cardinals.

Oct. 17, 1948 – The Evergreen Methodist Church dedicated its new, custom-built Moeller pipe organ during its Sunday morning worship service. Members of the organ committee included Mrs. E.B. Stowers, Mrs. O.C. McGehee and Mrs. Verna W. Millsap.

Oct. 17, 1962 - The New York Yankees won their 20th World Series when they beat the San Francisco Giants.

Oct. 17, 1975 – On homecoming night, Sparta Academy improved to 6-1-1 by beating Chickasaw Academy, 56-20, at Stuart-McGehee Field in Evergreen. Kelsey Nix was crowned Miss Homecoming.

Oct. 17, 1975 – T.R. Miller beat Evergreen, 22-8, at Brooks Stadium in Evergreen. Also that night, Frisco City beat Conecuh County High School, 36-0, in Castleberry. McKenzie beat Repton, 14-6, in Repton. Bill Watkins scored Repton’s only touchdown.

Oct. 17, 1978 - U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill that restored full U.S. citizenship rights to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Oct. 17, 1989 - An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale hit the San Francisco Bay area in California at 5:04 p.m. The quake caused about 67 deaths, 3,000 injuries, and damages up to $7 billion. The tremor hit just before the live TV broadcast of the World Series game at Candlestick Park, and the sportscasters took on the role of news anchors.