Today in History for Oct. 27, 2015

Spanish explorer Lope de Aguirre

Oct. 27, 1561 – Spanish explorer Lope de Aguirre, 50, was captured and shot to death at Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Nicknamed El Loco ('the Madman'), he styled himself '"Wrath of God, Prince of Freedom, King of Tierra Firme,” and he is best known for his final expedition down the Amazon river in search of the mythical golden King El Dorado. Since his death, Aguirre has come to be considered a symbol of cruelty and treachery in colonial Spanish America, and has become an antihero in literature, cinema and other arts.

Oct. 27, 1775 - King George III spoke before both houses of the British Parliament to discuss growing concern about the rebellion in America, which he viewed as a traitorous action against himself and Great Britain. He began his speech by reading a “Proclamation of Rebellion” and urged Parliament to move quickly to end the revolt and bring order to the colonies.

Oct. 27, 1780 - America sent its first astronomical expedition to observe a total eclipse of the sun from 11:11am to 1:50pm. The team, which traveled to the coast of Maine, was shocked to discover they weren't able to witness the complete obscuration of the sun. Modern analyses of the event suggest the scientists had actually miscalculated the path.

Oct. 27,1787 - The first of the “Federalist Papers” were published in the New York Independent. The series of 85 essays, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, were published under the pen name "Publius."

Oct. 27, 1795 – The United States and Spain signed the Treaty of Madrid, which established the boundaries between Spanish colonies and the U.S., fixing the southern boundary of the U.S. at the 31st parallel.

Oct. 27, 1810 – United States annexed the former Spanish colony of West Florida.

Oct. 27, 1817 – William James became the first postmaster at Burnt Corn Spring. (Some sources say this happened on Oct. 26, 1817.)

Oct. 27, 1842 – Richard Francis Burton reached Bombay, India after a journey around the Cape of Africa.

Oct. 27, 1858 - Theodore Roosevelt, who would go on to become the 26th president of the United States, was born in New York City.

Oct. 27, 1861 – During the Civil War, the CSS Sumter captured and burned the US schooner, Trowbridge, in the Atlantic Ocean.

Oct. 27, 1861 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought near Plattsburg, Fulton, and Spring Hill, Mo.

Oct. 27, 1861 – During the Civil War, the USS Lexington captured and burned three Confederate ships at Chincoteaque Inlet, Va.

Oct. 27, 1863 - Union troops captured Brown's Ferry and then held off a counterattack by the Confederates. Confederate General Longstreet withdrew his troops before dawn on October 28.

Oct. 27, 1863 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Little Bear Creek, Ala. on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.

Oct. 27, 1864 - The Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Albemarle was destroyed in a Union raid on Plymouth. It was the only Confederate ironclad to be destroyed by the Union during the war.

Oct. 27, 1864 - During the First Battle of Hatcher's Run (also known as the Battle of Boydton Plank Road) in Virginia, Union troops were turned back when they tried to cut the last railroad supplying the Confederate force in Petersburg, Virginia. About 1,700 Yankee men were killed, wounded,or captured. Confederate losses were not reported but were thought to be less than 1,000, most of them captured soldiers.

Oct. 27, 1870 – Ozark in Dale County, Ala. was officially incorporated.

Oct. 27, 1880 - Theodore Roosevelt married Alice Lee.

Oct. 27, 1906 – George Philips allegedly shot prominent Goodway farmer M.N. Melton in the face, “horribly mangling the mouth and right jaw,” during an argument around 9 a.m. on Faircloth’s farm, four miles north of Hadley. The two men had gotten into an argument over the sale of a bale of cotton that belong to Philips and Melton’s son-in-law. Philips wanted to sale the bale in his partner’s absence, and when Melton objected an argument ensued. Melton was not expected to survive his wounds.

Oct. 27, 1913 – President Woodrow Wilson passed through Evergreen, Ala. aboard a train that afternoon.

Oct. 27, 1913 – Native American author Joseph Medicine Crow-High Bird, best known as Joseph Medicine Crow, was born into the Apsáalooke people — the children of the large-beaked bird — near Lodge Grass on the Crow reservation in southern Montana.

Oct. 27, 1914 – Poet Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales.

Oct. 27, 1915 – The Evergreen Courant reported that during the past week C.J. Hines of Belleville and A.H. Mason of Evergreen had been appointed to the Conecuh County Board of Equalization. Hines and Mason were then supposed to elected a third member to the board and that member would serve as the board’s chairman.

Oct. 27, 1918 – Former Confederate officer William Stephen Wiggins died and was buried at Hamilton Hill Cemetery in Hixon in Monroe County, Ala. Born on Nov. 7, 1831, he took command Co. F of the 36th Ala. Regiment after the death of Capt. David Kelly and led the 36th until the end of the war. His unit was a part of the first brigade (Clayton's) to break the Federal line at Chickamauga and the defenders of the line at New Hope Church. He was noted for his bravery in the battle of Atlanta at the railroad cut at present day Grant Park.

Oct. 27, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Verner Haslip of Georgiana and Army Pvt. Charley Blackman of Camden “died from disease.”

Oct. 27, 1922 – National Baseball Hall of Fame left fielder Ralph Kiner was born in Santa Rita, N.M. He would go on to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

Oct. 27, 1930 – After being closed for three weeks for the installation of a new Western Electric sound system, the Arcade Theatre in Evergreen reopened to the public on this night. The movie scheduled for the big opening night was “High Society Blues” starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell.

Oct. 27, 1932 – Poet Sylvia Plath was born in Boston, Mass.

Oct. 27, 1938 – Fire of an unknown origin completely destroyed a house owned by Mrs. E.S. Cooper of Samson on Main Street in Evergreen at an early hour this Thursday morning. The alarm was sounded at 4 a.m., but the flames had gained such headway that it was impossible to save the house. The house was unoccupied, having been vacated only a few days before the fire.

Oct. 27, 1939 – John Lucas was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison as the fall term of Circuit Court came to a close in Monroeville.

Oct. 27, 1948 – The first hog festival in Monroeville and Monroe County in 10 years began with a gala banquet at the Williams Café that was attended by 125 persons, and Clarke County Probate Judge Coma Garrett was the keynote speaker. The festival got into full swing on Oct. 28 with a pure-bred hot show at the Monroe County Stockyards and was to be concluded at the American Legion Clubhouse. The main purpose of the festival was “to impress upon farms of this area the opportunities for profit to be found in the raising of hogs for the market.”

Oct. 27, 1950 – In a game that was said to have “provided more thrills than any game ever played in Brooks Stadium,” Evergreen High School picked up its fifth win of the season by beating Baldwin County High School, 24-14, in Evergreen. Standout Evergreen players in that game included Sam Cope, Shelton Craig, Gwyn Daniels, Ed Hooks, Capt. Jeff Moorer, Gillis Morgan, C.A. “Jackie” Robinson, Bobby “Pistol Pete” Wells and Franklin Williamson.

Oct. 27, 1954 - Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were divorced. They had been married on January 14, 1954.

Oct. 27, 1960 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Wayne Thames had been named assistant manager of the Farmers Cooperative Market in Frisco City.

Oct. 27, 1966 – The Evergreen Jaycees named George Stinson and Bubba Mininger as Outstanding Players of the Week for the previous two Evergreen High School football games. Stinson, a junior linebacker and halfback, received the honor for his performance against Lyeffion on Oct. 14, and Mininger, a senior left guard, received the honor for his performance against Frisco City on Oct. 21.

Oct. 27, 1964 - A movie version of Alabama author William Bradford Huie’s book “The Americanization of Emily” was released.

Oct. 27, 1973 - Alabama set an offensive record when they compiled 828 yards in a 77-6 victory over Virginia Tech.

Oct. 27, 1975 – Novelist Zadie Smith was born Sadie Smith in London.

Oct. 27, 1978 – Blacksher beat Lyeffion, 40-23, to clinch Blacksher’s only 10-0 season in school history.

Oct. 27, 1985 - Anthony Carter began a National Football League streak of 100-plus consecutive game receptions.

  

Oct. 27, 1995 - The contract that finalized the Cleveland Browns' move to Baltimore was signed in secret.

Oct. 27, 1995 – On homecoming night at Brooks Memorial Stadium in Evergreen, Hillcrest beat Charles Henderson, 20-0. Cindy Mims was named Hillcrest’s Miss Homecoming, and Kanesche Nevlous was named Miss Football.

Oct. 27, 1995 – Sparta Academy wrapped up their regular season schedule with a 19-14 loss to Coosa Valley Academy in Evergreen. Michael Pate led Sparta with 20 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown. Mike McIntyre scored Sparta’s other touchdown on a 29-yard run. Steve Bradley kicked both extra points.

Oct. 27, 1996 - Bud Adams, owner of the Houston Oilers, announced that he would allow his team to play one final season in Houston before moving the team to Nashville, Tenn.

Oct. 27, 1996 - Irving Fryer of the Philadelphia Eagles became the 15th player in NFL history to catch 600 passes in a career.

Oct. 27, 2002 - The Anaheim Angels won their first World Series. They beat the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the series.

Oct. 27, 2002 - Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys became the all-time leading rusher in the NFL when he extended his career yardage to 16,743. He achieved the record in his 193rd game. He also scored his 150th career touchdown.

Oct. 27, 2003 - The Monday Night Football game between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins was played in Tempe, Arizona. The game had been moved from San Diego due to wild fires.

Oct. 27, 2004 - Barry Bonds' 700th home run ball was sold at auction for $804,129.

Oct. 27, 2004 - The Boston Red Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1918, finally vanquishing the so-called "Curse of the Bambino" that had plagued them for 86 years.

Oct. 27, 2006 - A television version of Alabama author Ambrose Bierce's story "The Damned Thing" is broadcast as part of the Masters of Horror series.