Today in History for Aug. 25, 2017

Truman Capote

Aug. 25, 1718 - Hundreds of colonists from France arrived in Louisiana and founded the present-day city of New Orleans. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville named the new settlement for Philippe II, the Duke of Orléans. The duke was the regent of France, ruling in place of King Louis XV, who was only a boy.

Aug. 25, 1768 – James Cook begins his first voyage.

Aug. 25, 1776 - Political philosopher David Hume died in Edinburgh, Scotland at the age of 65. His essay "Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth" affected the ideas of the drafters of the federal Constitution in 1787.

Aug. 25, 1814 – The British were permitted by the Spanish authorities to land some 300 men in Pensacola, and the British officers were permitted by these same authorities to equip and discipline fugitive Creek warriors that they might aid the British in an aggressive movement which they played against Mobile and New Orleans.

Aug. 25, 1814 – During the War of 1812, on the second day of the Burning of Washington, British troops torched the Library of Congress, United States Treasury, Department of War and other public buildings.

Aug. 25, 1819 – Scottish-American detective Allan Pinkerton was born in Glasgow, Scotland.

Aug. 25, 1823 – Samuel McColl was commissioned for his first of three consecutive terms as Monroe County, Alabama’s Circuit Court Clerk. He would be commissioned twice more – in September 1831 and August 1835.

Aug. 25, 1824 – During his extended tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Cambridge, Mass. During the following days, he visited former President John Adams at the latter's estate, Peacefield, in Quincy, Mass.

Aug. 25, 1835 - The Great Moon Hoax was perpetrated by The New York Sun newspaper. They launched a series of articles about the supposed discovery of life on the moon, which they falsely attributed to the well-known astronomer Sir John Herschel. Life forms were said to include such fantastical creatures as unicorns, and bat-like winged humanoids.

Aug. 25, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought with Apache Indians near Fort Bliss, Texas by Confederate Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor. Baylor has the distinction of being dismissed from the Confederate army by none other than Jefferson Davis himself because of his harshness toward Native Americans. Later on, he was back in a gray uniform as a Colonel.

Aug. 25, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Red Bird Creek and Madisonville in Kentucky; at Bolivar, Miss.; and at Waterloo Bridge and Bristoe Station in Virginia.

Aug. 25, 1862 – During the Civil War, fearing further Sioux Indian attacks, New Ulm, Minnesota was evacuated by the citizens and the Federal Garrison.

Aug. 25, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Brownsville, Ark.; on the Atchafalaya River, at Morgan's Ferry, on the Comite River, and at Olive Branch in Louisiana; at Bullit's Bayou, Miss.; near Hopewell, Waynesville and Independence in Missouri; near Lamb's Ferry and at Hartwood Church in Virginia; and near Kearnysville, Shepherdstown and Halltown in West Virginia.

Aug. 25, 1863 – During the Civil War, because of the Williams C. Quantrill massacre at Lawrence, Kansas, Union Brigadier General Thomas Ewing located at Kansas City, Kansas, ordered all residents of Bates, Cass, and Jackson counties in Kansas to leave, allowing citizens loyal to the Union authorities to remain at military posts. Great resentment that lasted for years was generated by the estimated 20,000 displaced people.

Aug. 25, 1864 – During the Civil War, at the Second Battle of Ream’s Station, Va., Confederate troops secured a vital supply line into Petersburg, Va., when they halted the destruction of the Weldon and Petersburg Railroad by Union troops. The railroad, which ran from Weldon, North Carolina, was a major supply line for General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.

Aug. 25, 1879 – The Evergreen News reported that P. McGlinn & Co. applied for a new post office, to be called “Ireland,” at a store near Burnt Corn, Ala.

Aug. 25, 1883 – France and Viet Nam signed the Treaty of Huế, recognizing a French protectorate over Annam and Tonkin.

Aug. 25, 1884 – John Burns was commissioned for his second term as Monroe County, Alabama’s Sheriff.

Aug. 25, 1890 – Army Private Charles Frances McDonald Jr. of Monroeville, Ala. was born to Charles Frances McDonald Sr. and Annie Strock. He “died from disease” during World War I on July 14, 1919 at General Hospital No. in Spartanburg, S.C. He enlisted on June 4, 1917 in Mobile and was sent to France on May 7, 1918, serving with HQ Detachment, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Division, AEF and with the Army of Occupation-Germany. He reported sick to the hospital, was shipped to Fort Gordon, Ga. on April 28, 1918 and was buried in Old Salem Cemetery near Mexia.

Aug. 25, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that work on the Methodist parsonage was “progressing in a satisfactory manner.”

Aug. 25, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that the annual session of the Monroeville Academy would open on Tues., Sept. 1.

Aug. 25, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that Geo. W. Salter Jr. of The Evergreen Courant paid a brief visit to relatives at Monroeville during the previous week.

Aug. 25, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that the change in the Louisville & Nashville schedule which gave Repton only one train per week rendered “it very inconvenient for shippers.”

Aug. 25, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Bear Creek Mill Co. had extended its railroad to within four miles of the city. It was possible that they might extend it via Monroeville to a point several miles east of there, tapping the timber belt beyond the Limestone range, the newspaper reported. Mr. Louiselle was the manager of the company.

Aug. 25, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported, under the headline “An Interesting Relic,” that an “aged negro,” living a few miles west of Monroeville, possed a relic in the shape of a gun that had an interesting history. “All the readers of Alabama history are familiar with the incident recorded by both Col. Pickett and Gen. Claiborne, of the noted ‘Canoe fight’ which occurred at Dale’s Ferry, in 1812, in which the famous Indian fighters, Sam Dale, and Jerry Austill, in a hand-to-hand combat on the broad bosom of the majestic Alabama killed nine Indians and put the tenth to flight. The gun used by Mr. Austill in this noted encounter was one that the borrowed from a neighbor Mr. Tommy Thompson Sr., but which was broken in the fight. Mr. Austill replaced the gun with one that he captured from his vanquished foes. This gun was kept by Mr. Thompson so long as he lived and prized by him no less, perhaps for its excellence as a firearm than for the noted exploit in which it bore a part. After the death of the old gentleman the gun passed out of the possession of the family and for many years its whereabouts was unknown to them. Recently however, Mr. Jack Thompson, grandson of the former owner of the gun, to whom were are indebted for this information, has succeeded in tracing the weapon to its present owner. Notwithstanding the 84 years that have transpired the gun is yet in good condition, having the same stock that it had when owned by the “noble red man.” Its owner refuses to part with the gun for a price much beyond its real value.”

Aug. 25, 1902 - John D. Burnett Jr. left Evergreen on this Monday for West Point, New York, where he was attending the Military School.

Aug. 25, 1914 – John P. Anderson, “one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens” of Conecuh County, Ala. passed away at his home at Hampden Ridge after a “lingering illness” at the age of about 70 years old. A Mason and charter member of the local Confederate veterans camp, he was buried at Hampden Ridge the following day. During the Civil War, he enlisted in Co. E of the 38th Alabama Regiment in 1861 and surrendered in Charlotte, N.C. with General Johnston.

Aug. 25, 1914 – During World War I, the library of the Catholic University of Leuven was deliberately destroyed by the German Army. Hundreds of thousands of irreplaceable volumes and Gothic and Renaissance manuscripts are lost.

Aug. 25, 1914 - Over the course of five days, beginning August 25, 1914, German troops stationed in the Belgian village of Louvain during the opening month of World War I burn and loot much of the town, executing hundreds of civilians.

Aug. 25, 1915 – The Evergreen Courant reported that George and Robert Jones had just completed the construction of a new home on Salter Street in Evergreen, Ala, and that work was in progress on a home on Bruner Avenue. The former Orrie Hotel building was also being torn down to make room for another building being constructed for Miss Barfield.

Aug. 25, 1916 – The United States National Park Service was created.

Aug. 25, 1918 – Conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence, Mass.

Aug. 25, 1919 – Four-time Alabama governor and three-time candidate for U.S. president, George C. Wallace, was born in Clio in Barbour County, Ala. Wallace early in his career epitomized white resistance to Civil Rights demands in the 1960s. Almost killed by a would-be assassin in 1972, Wallace later recanted his segregationist views and was re-elected governor largely due to votes of African Americans.

Aug. 25, 1921 – Novelist Brian Moore was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Aug. 25, 1928 – NFL fullback John “Kayo” Dottley was born in Birmingham, Ala. He went on to play for Ole Miss, where he was an All American in 1949, and for the Chicago Bears, where he was a Pro Bowl selection in 1951.

Aug. 25, 1932 – The Evergreen Courant reported that if Senator J.M. Bonner of Camden, Ala. had succeeded in passing a measure, which he introduced into the Senate the previous week, to abolish the 11 State Secondary Agricultural Schools of Alabama. Evergreen had one of these schools, so there was much interest locally as to the final outcome of the measure. Obviously, there was considerable opposition to the bill and plans had been laid to fight it every step of the way.

Aug. 25, 1935 – Poet Charles Wright was born in Pickwick Dam, Tenn.

Aug. 25, 1936 - When he was still only 17, Bob Feller made his first Major League pitching start, striking out 15 St. Louis Browns with a blazing fastball and knee-buckling curveball that would be the hallmarks of his long and storied career.

Aug. 25, 1938 – Russian explorer Aleksandr Kuprin passed away at the age of 68 in Leningrad, Soviet Union. In addition to being an explorer, he was also a writer, pilot and adventurer, who is perhaps best known for his 1905 story, “The Duel.”

Aug. 25, 1939 - The movie "Wizard of Oz" opened around the United States.

Aug. 25, 1946 - Alabama author Charles Ghigna was born in Bayside, N.Y.

Aug. 25, 1946 – National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers was born in Steubenville, Ohio. During his career, he played for the Oakland A’s, the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Aug. 25, 1946 – Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders was born in Richlands, N.C. He went on to play for the University of Minnesota and the Detroit Lions. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

Aug. 25, 1948 - A movie version of Alabama author James H. Street's book “Tap Roots” was released.

Aug. 25, 1949 – Novelist Martin Amis was born in Oxford, England.

Aug. 25, 1952 - Alabama baseball great Virgil Trucks pitched his second of two no-hitters during the 1952 season, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 1-0 win over the New York Yankees. He pitched his first no-hitter in May, and became one of just five major league pitchers to throw two no-hitters in a single season.

Aug. 25, 1955 – The Conecuh County Board of Education abolished high school tuition fees in all of the county’s high school.

Aug. 25, 1956 - Author Han Nolan was born in Birmingham, Ala.

Aug. 25, 1956 - During the ninth month of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the home of Montgomery, Ala. minister and boycott activist Robert Graetz was bombed. A white West Virginian, Graetz pastored Trinity Lutheran Church, a black congregation. Graetz and his family were away from home when the dynamite blast occurred.

Aug. 25, 1957 - The Conecuh County Amateur Baseball League was scheduled to end its season on this Sunday with the finals of the Shaughnessy playoffs in Brewton, Ala. starting at 1:30 p.m. This round robin series featured finalists Lyeffion and Castleberry. Robert Dees was scheduled to pitch for Lyeffion, and Red Green was scheduled to pitch for Castleberry.

Aug. 25, 1965 – NFL linebacker Cornelius Bennett was born in Birmingham, Ala. He went on to play for Ensley High School, Alabama, the Buffalo Bills, the Atlanta Falcons and the Indianapolis Colts.

Aug. 25, 1967 - Defense Secretary McNamara conceded that the U.S. bombing campaign had had little effect on the North’s “war-making capability.”

Aug. 25, 1968 – U.S. Army Sgt. William Wayne Seay, a native of Brewton, Ala., would receive the Medal of Honor for his actions on this day near Ap Nhi, Vietnam.

Aug. 25, 1971 - U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade, among the first U.S. ground units sent to Vietnam, ceased combat operations and prepared to redeploy to the United States as part of Nixon’s troop withdrawal plan.

Aug. 25, 1972 – Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison was born in Philadelphia, Pa. He went on to play for Syracuse and the Indianapolis Colts.

Aug. 25, 1973 – Cadet Ellis W. Golson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mylous T. Golson, Rt. 2, Evergreen, completed summer training at Camp Buckner on the reservation of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. The eight-week program was designed to acquaint the West Point Third Classmen (sophomores) with all equipment and weapons used at the platoon and company level in Army combat and combat support units.

Aug. 25, 1976 – NBA point guard/shooting guard Damon Jones was born in Galveston, Texas. He went on to play for the University of Houston, the New Jersey Nets, the Boston Celtics, the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks, the Vancouver Grizzlies, the Detroit Pistons, the Sacramento Kings, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Aug. 25, 1977 - The 1977 edition of the Evergreen High School Aggies were scheduled to open their football season in Evergreen on this Thursday night when they were to meet traditional rival W.S. Neal. Kickoff in Brooks Stadium was set for 7:30 against the Golden Eagles. Evergreen Head Coach Charles Branum and assistants Ronnie Brogden and Danny Covin had been working their charges hard in an attempt to get the season off to a winning start. Players expected to start in the opener included QB Tony Rogers, LHB William McCreary, RHB John Crosby, FB Greg Johnson, WR John Ingram or Phillip Harold, TE Byron Bradley or John Ingram, tackles Warren Locke and Keith Rabb, and guards Terrell Rabb and Johnny Hill. Mark Phillips and Wendell Parker would not be starting due to illness. Others players expected to see action were Mike Adams, Chris McNeil, Greg Thomas, Calvin Thomas, Earnest Williams, Tommy Freeman, Garvin Freeman, Sanford Moye, Johnny Stowers, Melvin Pitts, Willie Willis, Leo Cobb, Ernie Edeker, Frank Davis and Jimmy Lambert.

Aug. 25, 1978 - The “Turin Shroud,” believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, went on display for the first time in 45 years.

Aug. 25, 1978 – Excel opened the 1978 football season with a 28-0 win over Southern Normal in Excel, Ala.

Aug. 25, 1980 - Monroe Academy students reported for classes on this Monday to start the 1980-81 school year.

Aug. 25, 1984 – Truman Capote died from liver disease at the age of 59 in Los Angeles at the home of Joanna Carson, the fourth wife of talk-show host Johnny Carson.

Aug. 25, 1984 – National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt passed away at the age of 84 in Cincinnati, Ohio. During his career, he played for the New York Giants, the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, the Detroit Tigers, the Philadelphia Athletics, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.

Aug. 25, 1985 - Dwight “Doc” Gooden led the New York Mets to a 9-3 win over the San Diego Padres at Shea Stadium to become the youngest pitcher to win 20 major league baseball games in a season.

Aug. 25, 1986 - There was to be an organizational meeting on this day at 7 p.m. at the field house for any boys interested in playing Junior High football at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Ala.

Aug. 25, 1987 – State Fire Marshal Ken Smith was called in to investigate a house fire at an unoccupied house at 408 Bruner Ave. in Evergreen, Ala. The fire occurred around 9:10 p.m. on this Tuesday night, and this was the second fire to have occurred at this house within the course of a few months. Smith said the fire was of a “suspicious nature,” The Evergreen Courant reported.

Aug. 25, 1989 – Hillcrest High School played its first football game ever and defeated W.S. Neal, 14-0, at Brooks Memorial Stadium in Evergreen, Ala.

Aug. 25, 1989 – Excel opened the 1989 football season with a 32-0 win over A.L. Johnson in Excel, Ala.

Aug. 25, 1989 – “Heart of Dixie,” a movie version of Alabama author Anne Rivers Siddons' book “Heartbreak Hotel,” was released.

Aug. 25, 1990 - Military action was authorized by the United Nations to enforce the trade embargo that had been placed on Iraq after their invasion of Kuwait.

Aug. 25, 1994 – The Evergreen Courant announced that Livingston University student Christopher “Chris” Evans had been awarded the 1994 Wendell Hart Scholarship.

Aug. 25, 1994 - Jimmy Buffett's plane flipped after taking off in Nantucket, Mass. He swam to safety.

Aug. 25, 2001 – Springdale in Andalusia was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Aug. 25, 2005 – Excel opened the 2005 season with a 7-6 win over Frisco City at Panther Stadium in Excel, Ala.

Aug. 25, 2011 – Bessie Munden Park in Camden, Ala. was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Aug. 25, 2011 – The Alabama Textile Products Corporation and the Church Street School, both in Andalusia, was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Aug. 25, 2011 – Excel opened the 2011 season with a 55-20 win over J.U. Blacksher at Panther Stadium in Excel, Ala.

  

Aug. 25, 2012 – The Voyager 1 spacecraft entered interstellar space, becoming the first man-made object to do so.