Today in History for Oct. 22, 2014

Oct. 22, 1821 - The steamboat “Harriet” reached Montgomery, Ala. after 10 days of travel from Mobile. This was the first successful attempt to navigate so far north on the Alabama River and opened river trade between Montgomery and Mobile.

Oct. 22, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Norfolk, Virginia via steamer from Petersburg and spent four days there and in Portsmouth.

Oct. 22, 1836 - Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first President of the Republic of Texas, an independent state that existed between 1836 and 1845 between Mexico and America.

Oct. 22, 1844 - The world was supposed to come to an end in conjunction with the return of Christ, according to the American preacher William Miller, leader of the 'Millerism' movement. 'Millerites' referred to the following day as the Great Disappointment.

Oct. 22, 1864 - Confederate General John Bell Hood marched from Gadsen to Guntersville, Alabama in order to cross the Tennessee River. However, Hood had forgotten to retrieve his army's pontoon bridge from the Coosa River in eastern Alabama. He took the troops 50 miles out of their way and made a surprise attack on Tennessee unlikely. When Hood did move into Tennessee Union General William T. Sherman's force was ready and waiting.

Oct. 22, 1864 - At the Battle of Byram's Ford in Kansas City, Mo., Confederate General Sterling Price pushed by a small Union force under Union General Samuel Curtis' army.

Oct. 22, 1878 – West Point graduate, lawyer and state senator Edmund W. Martin died in Evergreen, Ala. He served as an officer in Mexican-American War and Civil War and was wounded at the Battle of Dalton, Ga. on Feb. 25, 1864.

Oct. 22, 1883 – Major General Charles Lewis Scott, who became chief of American armored forces in 1943, was born in Mount Pleasant in Monroe County. He graduated from West Point in 1905 and became a pioneer in the mechanized cavalry. He commanded the 13th Mechanized Cavalry at Fort Knox, Ky. and in 1940 became the first commanding general of the Second Armored Division at Fort Benning, Ga. and later first commander of the First Armored Corps. He passed away at the age of 71 at Walter Reed Hospital.

Oct. 22, 1907 – Baseball Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx was born in Sudlersville, Md.

Oct. 22-24, 1914 - The annual reunion of Alabama Division United Confederate Veterans was held in Mobile.

Oct. 22, 1914 – A devastating fire destroyed a residence on the outskirts of Evergreen known as the “Rountree Pace,” which was occupied by a Mrs. Smith.

Oct. 22, 1914 – Former Monroe County Sheriff John I. Watson, who was about 80 years old, passed away at Canoe and was brought to Monroeville for burial. He lived in Monroeville for about 30 years and ran a hotel for much of that time. He was elected Monroe County Sheriff twice.

Oct. 22, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Willie Snell of McWilliams (in Wilcox County) “died from disease.”

Oct. 22, 1918 – Major League Baseball infielder Lou Klein was born in New Orleans.

Oct. 22-23, 1924 – The State Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans was held in Mobile.

Oct. 22, 1926 – J. Gordon Whitehead sucker punched magician Harry Houdini in the stomach in Montreal, precipitating his death.

Oct. 22-23, 1939 – “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland, showed at the Pix Theatre in downtown Evergreen.

Oct. 22, 1939 – J.B. Henderson, 65, of Fountain died around noon at the hospital in Repton as a result of a fractured skull said to have been inflicted by J.G. Noble on Oct. 20. Noble allegedly struck Henderson in the head with an automobile clutch hub during an argument over money supposedly owed Henderson’s son by Noble, who operated a sawmill at Fountain. Noble, who had moved to Fountain from Evergreen, was arrested and put in the Monroe County Jail.

Oct. 22, 1939 - The first televised pro football game was telecast from New York. Brooklyn defeated Philadelphia, 23-14.

Oct. 22, 1944 – In an incident attributed to the Bermuda Triangle, Cuban freighter Rubicon was found by the Coast Guard in the Gulf Stream off Key Largo, Florida. The ship was deserted except for a hungry dog.

Oct. 22, 1950 - The Los Angeles Rams set an NFL record by defeating the Baltimore Colts, 70-27. It was a record score for a regular season game.

Oct. 22, 1954 – Major League Baseball catcher Jamie Quirk was born in Whittier, Calif.

Oct. 22, 1960 - John Updike memorialized Ted Williams’ baseball career by telling the story of his last at-bat in the short story "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu," which was published in the Oct. 22, 1960 issue of The New Yorker.

Oct. 22, 1956 – Major League Baseball pitcher Frank DiPino was born in Syracuse, N.Y.

Oct. 22, 1966 – Union High (Monroeville) defensive tackle John Dean intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown in a 29-0 win over Camden Academy.

Oct. 22, 1971 – Excel began an amazing streak of 43 straight regular season football wins that didn’t end until Aug. 27, 1976 when they lost to Southern Normal, 20-8.

Oct. 22, 1973 – Major League Baseball outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was born in Kasugai, Aichi, Japan.

Oct. 22, 1977 – Excel’s Roy Stacey 100-Percenter Award was established by the Stacey family during a half-time ceremony in Excel’s homecoming game against Castleberry. Stacey, who died in 1976, was a long-time booster at the school.

Oct. 22, 1982 – Major League Baseball second baseman Robinson Canó was born in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic.

Oct. 22, 1992 - Red Barber, the legendary announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers, passed away in Tallahassee, Fla. at the age of 84.

Oct. 22, 1993 – Episode No. 6 of “The X-Files” – entitled “Shadows” – aired for the first time.

Oct. 22, 1999 – The motion picture adaptation of “Crazy in Alabama” by Mark Childress was released in theaters.

Oct. 22, 1999 – Frisco City High School’s Carlos Salinas made a record-setting 29 tackles in a 20-19 loss to A.L. Johnson in Frisco City.

Oct. 22, 2000 - Corey Dillon of the Cincinnati Bengals ran for 278 yards against the Denver Broncos.

Oct. 22, 2011 - Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals became the third player to hit three home runs in a World Series game.