Today in History for Oct. 8, 2014

George Chauncey Sparks

Oct. 8, 1492 - Italian explorer Christopher Columbus reached the New World as one of the sailors on the Pinta sighted land, an island in the Bahamas, after 10 weeks of sailing from Palos, Spain, with the Santa María, the Pinta, and the Niña.

Oct. 8, 1540 – The DeSoto Expedition visited the ancient Indian town of Uxapita at the mouth of Pursley Creek, at its junction with the Alabama River, eight miles southwest of Camden, in Wilcox County.

Oct. 8, 1604 - Astronomer Johannes Kepler and others were startled by the sudden appearance of a "new star" in the western sky. It later became known as Kepler's Supernova.

  

Oct. 8, 1862 – Confederate General Braxton Bragg's army was defeated by Union General Don Carlos Buell at the Battle of Perryville in Perryville, Ky. Buell was replaced on Oct. 24 because of his ineffective pursuit of the Confederates after the battle.

Oct. 8, 1871 - The Great Chicago Fire began that left four square miles of the city in ruin. Legend has it that the fire started when a cow kicked over a lantern in Mrs. O'Leary's barn, though other theories suggest arson, or even a comet was responsible.

Oct. 8, 1884 - Future Alabama governor George Chauncey Sparks was born in Barbour County. Sparks served as governor during the height of World War II, from 1943-47.

Oct. 8, 1896 - George Washington Carver arrived in Macon County to direct Tuskegee Institute's agricultural school. Born a slave in Missouri during the Civil War, Carver was studying in Iowa when school president Booker T. Washington invited him to Alabama. He remained at Tuskegee until his death in 1943, and although he dedicated much of his work to helping black farmers in the South, Carver's international fame came from his innovative uses of peanuts, sweet potatoes, and other southern products.

Oct. 8, 1918 – During World War I, in the Argonne Forest in France, U.S. Corporal Alvin C. York killed 28 German soldiers and captured 132, for which he is awarded the Medal of Honor. That same day, Army Pvt. Benjamin F. Arant of Belleville died from wounds, Army Cpl. Berkley H. Cook of Georgiana was killed in action and Army Pvt. Grover Miles Strickland of Opp “died from disease.”

Oct. 8, 1920 – Science fiction author Frank Herbert was born in Tacoma, Wash. He's best known for his science fiction masterpiece “Dune,” which was published in 1965.

Oct. 8, 1921 - KDKA in Pittsburgh's Forbes Field conducted the first live broadcast of a football game.

Oct. 8, 1930 – Hugo L. Black spoke in Monroeville.

Oct. 8, 1948 – Before a crowd of 1,100, Evergreen High School remained undefeated by beating Frisco City, 33-6, at Brooks Stadium in Evergreen. FC halfback John McGinity scored FC’s only touchdown, becoming first player to score a touchdown against Evergreen that season. Touchdowns for Evergreen were scored by Billy Mudge Lee, John Greel Ralls (2) and John Law Robinson (2).

Oct. 8, 1956 - Donald James Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the first perfect game in the history of the World Series.

Oct. 8, 1957 - The Brooklyn Baseball Club announced that it had accepted a deal to move the Dodgers to Los Angeles.