Today in History for Sept. 30, 2015

William Wrigley Jr. 

Sept. 30, 1541 – Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto and his forces entered Tula territory in present-day western Arkansas and encountered fierce resistance.

Sept. 30, 1776 - In a letter to his nephew, Lund Washington, plantation manager of Mount Vernon, General George Washington wrote on this day of his displeasure with the undisciplined conduct and poor battlefield performance of the American militia. Washington blamed the Patriot reliance on the militia as the chief root of his problems in the devastating loss of Long Island and Manhattan to the British.

Sept. 30, 1777 - The Congress of the United States moved to York, Pa. due to advancing British forces.

Sept. 30, 1787 - The Columbia left Boston and began the trip that would make it the first American vessel to sail around the world.

Sept. 30, 1791 - The Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart opera “The Magic Flute” premiered at Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden in Viena, Austria.

Sept. 30, 1813 – Scottish physician and explorer John Rae was born at Hall of Clestrain, Orkney, Scotland. Rae explored Northern Canada, surveyed parts of the Northwest Passage and reported the fate of the Franklin Expedition. He was noted for physical stamina, skill at hunting and boat handling, use of native methods and the ability to travel long distances with little equipment while living off the land.

Sept. 30, 1846 - Ether was used as an anesthetic for the first time in a dental procedure when Boston dentist William Morton painlessly removed a client's tooth.

Sept. 30, 1847 – U.S. Senator George Perkins Marsh delivered an address before the Agricultural Society of Rutland County, Vermont that helped spark the conservation movement when he became the first person to publicly raise the issue of manmade climate change. As a result of his speech, Marsh went on to publish a book titled “Man and Nature: or, Physical Geography as Modified by Human Action” (1864).

Sept. 30, 1861 - Chewing gum tycoon William Wrigley Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pa. Wrigley bought a minority stake in the Chicago Cubs baseball team in 1916, and Wrigley was majority owner by 1921. Wrigley Field, the Cubs' ballpark in Chicago, was later named for him in 1927.

Sept. 30, 1861 – During the Civil War, an operation against Indians from Camp Robledo in the New Mexico Territory was carried out.

Sept. 30, 1862 – Major Pinckney D. Bowles of the Conecuh Guards was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Sept. 30, 1864 - Confederate General Robert E. Lee counterattacked Union forces with several brigades moved from Petersburg.

Sept. 30, 1864 - In an attempt to cut the Southside Railroad, the last rail line into Petersburg, Virginia, Union troops under Generals Gouvernor K. Warren and John G. Parke attacked the Confederate defense around the besieged city on this day in what is now known as the Battle of Poplar Springs Church (Peeble’s Farm). Although initially successful, the attack ground to a halt when Confederate reinforcements were rushed into place from other sections of the Petersburg line. The Union lost 2,800 troops, including nearly 1,300 captured during the Confederate counterattack, while the Confederate army suffered only 1,300 casualties.

Sept. 30, 1864 - Alabama author Joseph Glover Baldwin died in San Francisco, Calif.

Sept. 30, 1865 - Alabama's Constitutional Convention of 1865 adjourned. Although the 99 delegates repealed Alabama's 1861 Ordinance of Secession and declared slavery illegal, they produced an essentially conservative document. Blacks were not given the right to vote, representation was based on the white population only, and the constitution was ratified without a vote by the people.

Sept. 30, 1865 – William A. Ashley represented Conecuh County in the constitutional convention.

Sept. 30, 1867 – Peyton Finley, the negro member of the three-man board of registrars in Monroe County, Ala., telegraphed General Swayne on this day, asking for troops: “People riotous. Impossible to hold election. Send cavalry by train this evening to Monroeville.”

Sept. 30, 1882 – Major League catcher Gabby Street was born in Huntsville, Ala. He went on to play for the Cincinnati Reds, the Boston Beaneaters, the Washington Senators, the New York Highlanders and the St. Louis Cardinals. He also managed the Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns.

Sept. 30, 1888 – The infamous “double event” of “Jack the Ripper” occurred as two more prostitutes – Elizabeth “Liz” Stride and Catherine “Kate” Eddowes - were murdered and carved up on the same night. Stride was Jack’s third victim, and Eddowes was his fourth victim.

Sept. 30, 1893 – The George W. Foster Camp of United Confederate Veterans was organized in Monroe County, Ala.

Sept. 30, 1893 - Julia Tutwiler persuaded the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama to try a qualified form of co-education. A faculty committee agreed to "admit young women of not less than 18 years of age, of good character and antecedents, who are able to stand the necessary examinations: for entrance to the sophomore class or higher." A required proviso was that "suitable homes and protection" be provided. In the fall of 1893, two women students entered the university.

Sept. 30, 1905 – Baseball pitcher John Thomas “Johnny” Allen was born in Lenoir, North Carolina.

Sept. 30, 1912 – W.B. James assumed the duties of Evergreen, Alabama’s postmaster, replacing G.C. Dean, who had been postmaster for the past six years.

Sept. 30, 1914 – The Evergreen (Ala.) City School closed on account of cases of scarlet fever that were developing among the students. The school reopened on Oct. 12.

Sept. 30, 1915 – The Monroe Journal reported that Alabama Gov. Charles Henderson had appointed G.B. Barnett of Monroeville, J.U. Blacksher of Uriah, C.J. Jackson of Tunnel Springs and T.T. Ivey of Beatrice to the new Monroe County Board of Revenue, which combined the Commissioners Court and County Highway Commission.

Sept. 30, 1915 – The Monroe Journal reported that Monroe County High School in Monroeville, Ala. had an enrollment of 101 students, which ranked it third among the state’s high schools.

Sept. 30, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. David J. Fails of Excel, Ala. “died from disease.”

Sept. 30, 1923 - The second movie version of Alabama author Augusta Jane Evans Wilson's book “St. Elmo” was released.

Sept. 30, 1924 – “In Cold Blood” author Truman Capote was born as Streckfus Persons in New Orleans, La. He published his first novel, “Other Voices, Other Rooms,” in 1948, but is probably best known for his 1948 nonfiction novel, “In Cold Blood.”

Sept. 30, 1926 – National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts was born in Springfield, Illinois. He went on to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Baltimore Orioles, the Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976.

Sept. 30, 1927 – On the last day of the season against lefty Tom Zachary of the Washington Senators, George Herman "Babe" Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season, setting a record that would stand until 1961 when Roger Maris broke the record for most home runs in a single season.

Sept. 30, 1927 – Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet, translator and environmental activist W.S. Merwin was born William Stanley Merwin in New York City.

Sept. 30, 1932 – Baseball pitching great John Joseph “Johnny” Podres was born in Witherbee, N.Y.

Sept. 30, 1934 – St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dizzy Dean won his 30th game of the season in a 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Sept. 30, 1935 - Author Anne Nall Stallworth was born in Birmingham, Ala.

Sept. 30, 1935 – The Works Progress Administration in Washington, D.C. announced that it had approved a project for the construction of a new school building at Castleberry, Ala. The Castleberry project was for an outright grant of $22,090 from WPA funds The remainder of the sum required for constructing the building was to be put up by the Conecuh County Board of Education.

Sept. 30, 1935 – The Hoover Dam, astride the border between the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada, was dedicated.

Sept. 30, 1939 – NBC broadcasted the first televised American football game between the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets and the Fordham Rams. Fordham won, 34-7.

Sept. 30, 1939 - "Captain Midnight" was heard for the first time on the Mutual Radio Network.

Sept. 30, 1943 - Alabama author Thomas Rabbitt was born in Boston, Mass.

Sept. 30, 1945 - Aliceville Camp, a prisoner-of-war camp in Pickens County, Ala. for members of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Africa Korps, was deactivated. The camp was activated in December 1942 and eventually held 5,000 prisoners. Other German war prisoners were held in Alabama at camps in Opelika, Fort McClellan, and Fort Rucker.

Sept. 30, 1946 - An international military tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany, found 22 top Nazi leaders guilty of war crimes.

Sept. 30, 1947 - The World Series was televised for the first time. The sponsors only paid $65,000 for the entire series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees.

Sept. 30, 1950 – Evergreen High School senior left halfback Billy Mudge Lee saw his football career come to an end when he was X-rayed at Stabler’s Hospital in Greenville, Ala. on this Saturday. The x-rays revealed that he broke his third vertebra the night before in a 13-12 Evergreen win over Andalusia in Andalusia. Lee sustained the injury when he tackled an Andalusia back in the second quarter, but he played on for four or five minutes before going out of the game. He came out of the game only a few plays before the end of the first half and went back in to kick the winning extra point that extended Evergreen’s undefeated string to 12 straight.

Sept. 30, 1950 – Verdell Evans Cunningham, 46, of Montgomery ended his own life in Evergreen, Ala. on this Saturday morning, shortly after stepping off an early morning train. Shortly after arriving in Evergreen, he walked into Wild Bros. Hardware and purchased a long butcher knife, then walked to the men’s room at the City Café and slashed his throat. He died instantly.

Sept. 30, 1954 – Future NBA basketball player and J.F. Shields High School graduate John Drew was born in Vredenburgh. He went on to play guard/forward for Gardner-Webb University and then 11 seasons in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz. He was named an NBA All-Star in 1976 and 1980.

Sept. 30, 1957 – On a Monday night in Frisco City, Ala., Frisco City High School beat Repton High School, 41-0. The game was originally scheduled to be played on Thurs., Sept. 26, but was postponed to Mon., Sept. 30, because of rain.

Sept. 30, 1961 – Evergreen, Alabama’s newly organized Civitan Club held its charter night. Officers included Ralph Crysell, president; Wayne Hutcheson, vice president; Murray Johnson, secretary and treasurer; Sammy Gaines, sergeant at arms; and Tulley Coleman, chaplain. The club’s board of directors included Earl Windham, Delma E. Bowers, W.C. Boswell, James Finley and Eugene Darby.

Sept. 30, 1962 – Pensacola, Fla. firefighter Vista S. Lowe, 23, was killed in the line of duty while responding to a house fire at 409 East Zarragossa St. Upon arrival at the scene, Firefighter Lowe stepped from the rear tailboard of the pumper he was riding (Engine 5, a 1957, 1,000-gallon Seagrave Pumper Truck), tripped and fell to the ground. Unaware of Lowe’s location, the pumper’s driver began backing his truck, trapping Lowe under the truck and crushing him. Lowe was the third firefighter with the Pensacola Fire Department (PFD) and the 33rd Florida firefighter to lose his life in the line of duty.

Sept. 30, 1963 - The first gerenuk was born in the United States, at NYC's Zoological Park. The long-necked creature, also known as a "giraffe gazelle" is native to eastern Africa.

Sept. 30, 1964 - Alabama author Joseph Glover Baldwin died in San Francisco, Calif.

Sept. 30, 1965 – Alabama Gov. George Wallace appointed Evergreen, Ala. attorney Robert E.L. Key as the first circuit judge of the newly created 35th Judicial Circuit, which was created by the governor and legislature on Sept. 24. Prior to this, Monroe and Conecuh counties were part of the 21st Circuit. Key was to serve as circuit judge until the next general election in November 1966.

Sept. 30, 1966 - Albert Speer and Baldur von Schirach were released at midnight from Spandau prison after completing their 20-year sentences. Speer was the Nazi minister of armaments and von Schirach was the founder of Hitler Youth.

Sept. 30, 1971 - The Washington Senators played their last game in Washington, D.C. before moving to Arlington, Texas. They were forced to forfeit the game to the New York Yankees when fans stormed the field in an effort to take souvenirs.

Sept. 30, 1972 – Sparta Academy beat Wesleyan Academy of Citronelle, 6-0, at Stuart-McGehee Field in Evergreen, Ala. Buddy Monroe returned a punt 70 yards for Sparta’s only touchdown.

Sept. 30, 1972 - Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates recorded his 3,000th and final career hit. During the ensuing off season, he was killed in a plane crash in Venezuela.

Sept. 30, 1973 - Hank Aaron finished the season one short of Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs. He broke the record in the first month of the 1974 season.

Sept. 30, 1973 - The New York Yankees completed their 50th season at Yankee Stadium.

Sept. 30, 1973 – Marengo County, Ala. native Tommie Agee made his final Major League appearance for the St. Louis Cardinals

Sept. 30, 1974 – The trial of criminal cases on the docket of the Fall Term of Conecuh County, Ala. Circuit Court was scheduled to begin on this Monday with Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key presiding. District Attorney Ted Pearson of Monroeville and County Solicitor Henry J. Kinzer of Evergreen were to prosecute for the state. There are 23 cases set on the docket, according to Circuit Clerk Leon A. Salter. In addition, six civil cases, continued from the recent session, were also set for trial that week.

Sept. 30, 1978 – Rachel Griffin was crowned Miss Homecoming at Lyeffion (Ala.) High School, and Rhonda Salter was selected as Miss Football. They were recognized during the halftime of Lyeffion’s homecoming football game, which they lost to Frisco City, 6-0.

Sept. 30, 1980 – A Conecuh County, Ala. jury found Willie Carl Calhoun Jr., who was charged with murder, guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Calhoun was represented by attorney Windell C. Owens, and Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key presided over the trial. Calhoun was to be sentenced on Oct. 28.

Sept. 30, 1982 – Cyanide-laced Tylenol kills six people in the Chicago area. Seven were killed in all.

Sept. 30, 1984 – A dedication ceremony was held at the Monroe County Library moved into its new location, the former LaSalle Hotel building on Pineville Road in Monroeville, Ala.

Sept. 30, 1984 - Mike Witt of the California Angels became only the 11th pitcher to throw a perfect game in major league baseball. He defeated the Texas Rangers, 1-0.

Sept. 30, 1984 - The Los Angeles Rams set an NFL record when they registered three safeties in a 33-12 victory over the New York Giants.

Sept. 30, 1989 - Neil Young appeared on "Saturday Night Live" and performed "Rockin' In The Free World."

Sept. 30, 1992 - George Brett of the Kansas City Royals reached his 3,000th career hit during a game against the California Angels. He was the 18th player to reach the mark.

Sept. 30, 1995 - Albert Belle of the Cleveland Indians became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and 50 doubles in the same season.

Sept. 30, 1999 - The San Francisco Giants played the Los Angeles Dodgers in the last baseball game to be played at Candlestick Park (3Com Park). The Dodgers won, 9-4, with 61,389 fans on hand.

Sept. 30, 2002 - Chris McAlister of the Baltimore Ravens returned a missed field goal 108 yards to set an NFL record.

Sept. 30, 2004 – A reception in honor and appreciation of out-going Evergreen, Ala. mayor Lomax Cassady was scheduled to be held at the Historic L&N Depot in Evergreen from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cassady had served the City of Evergreen for 20 years – 12 as mayor and eight years as a city councilman.

Sept. 30, 2005 – The movie “Capote” was released in U.S. theatres.