Today in History for Oct. 3, 2014

Oct. 3, 1692 – In connection with the Salem witchcraft trials, the Reverend Increase Mather, President of Harvard College and father of Cotton Mather, denounced the use of spectral evidence.

Oct. 3, 1704 – “Cassette Girls” arrived in Mobile, Ala. King Louis XIV paid passage and dowries for 25 young women to travel from France on board the “Pelican” to colony of Louisiana to become wives of colonists. Other cassette girls arrived in 1728.

Oct. 3, 1849 – American author Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious in a gutter in Baltimore, Md. under mysterious circumstances. It was the last time he was seen in public before his death.

Oct. 3, 1862 – Lt. Col. Pinckney D. Bowles was promoted to colonel when Col. E.M. Law was promoted to brigade commander.

Oct. 3, 1862 - Confederates under General Earl Van Dorn attempted to recapture Corinth, a vital rail center in Mississippi. However, the following day, the Second Battle of Cornith ended in defeat for the Rebels.

Oct. 3, 1873 - The United States military hung four Indians found guilty of murdering the Civil War hero, General Edward Canby, on April 11, 1873, during the Modoc War in Oregon. Canby was the highest ranking military official--and the only general--ever killed by Indians.

Oct. 3, 1890 – Around 10 a.m., 37-year-old John S. McDuffie of River Ridge in Monroe County received word that wanted train robber Rube Burrow was eating breakfast at a cabin two miles from McDuffie’s farm and six miles from Bell’s Landing.

Oct. 3, 1895 – The Civil War novel, “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane, was published in book form.

Oct. 3, 1901 - The Victor Talking Machine Company was incorporated. After a merger with Radio Corporation of America the company became RCA-Victor.

Oct. 3, 1914 – Dr. Ely Bradley of Conecuh County, who was around 80 years old, passed away at the Mobile Infimary. He was buried with Masonic honors at Belleville on Oct. 4.

Oct. 3, 1919 – Cincinnati Reds pitcher Adolfo Luque became the first Latin player to appear in a World Series.

Oct. 3, 1933 – Former Conecuh County Sheriff’s deputy A.F. Etheridge passed away at the age of 81 at his home in Canoe in Escambia County and was buried in the Sardis Cemetery at Canoe.

Oct. 3-4, 1951 – In an incident attributed to the Bermuda Triangle, Brazilian warship Sao Paulo suddenly vanished on this night with a crew of eight while being towed by two oceangoing tugs southwest of the Azores.

Oct. 3, 1951 - Third baseman Bobby Thomson hit a one-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the National League pennant for the New York Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Giants went on to lose the World Series to the Yankees, but Thomson’s miraculous homer remains one of the most memorable moments in sports history.

Oct. 3, 1954 – Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Dennis Eckersley was born in Oakland, Calif.

Oct. 3, 1957 – R.G. “Bob” Bozeman Jr. assumed the duties of editor and publisher of the Evergreen Courant newspaper, replacing his father R.G. Bozeman Sr., who was named publisher emeritus.

Oct. 3, 1961 – Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers and Fred Rose became the first members to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Oct. 3, 1974 - Frank Robinson took over the management position of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. He was the first black manager in major league baseball.

Oct. 3, 1987 – Tunnel Springs native and former MCHS standout Steve Ramer intercepted a pass for Alabama during a 38-10 win over Southeastern Louisiana in Birmingham. Ramer played linebacker at UA and wore jersey No. 49.

Oct. 3, 1989 - Art Shell became the first African-American head coach in the modern NFL when he took over the Los Angeles Raiders.

Oct. 3, 1997 – J.U. Blacker’s Anthony Tucker made his way into the record books by rushing 43 times in a 12-6 loss at Fruitdale.

Oct. 3, 2001 - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants broke Babe Ruth's major league single-season record for walks at 171.

Oct. 3, 2002 - The Texas Rangers put John Rocker on waivers for the purpose of his unconditional release.

Oct. 3, 2012 - Miguel Cabrera achieved baseball's first Triple Crown since 1967. He led the league with a .330 average, 44 home runs and 139 RBIs in the regular season.