Today in History for Sept. 3, 2017

Belleville Baptist Church in Conecuh County, Ala.

Sept. 3, 1189 – Richard I of England (a.k.a. Richard "the Lionheart") was crowned at Westminster.

Sept. 3, 1558 - Three vessels sailed from the Mexican port of Veracruz on a mission to find a haven for Spanish ships in distress along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. A few days later they reached "the largest and most commodious" bay yet to be seen, with deep anchorage, abundant grass and water for livestock, timber and stone for building, and soil suitable for both brick-making and pottery. It is now known as Mobile Bay, but the expedition named it Bahía Filipina (Philip's Bay), honoring the new Spanish king, Philip II. The Native American towns along the shore boasted fields of corn, beans, and pumpkins, and several inhabitants were seen fishing. A second expedition followed Lavazares's return to Veracruz in 1558. Led by Juan de Rentería, it explored Mobile and Pensacola bays.

Sept. 3, 1704 – French explorer Joseph de Jussieu was born in Lyon, France.

Sept. 3, 1777 – During the American Revolutionary War, at the Battle of Cooch's Bridge in Delaware, the Flag of the United States was flown in battle for the first time. Patriot General William Maxwell ordered the “Stars and Stripes” banner raised as a detachment of his infantry and cavalry met an advance guard of British and Hessian troops. The rebels were defeated and forced to retreat to Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania, where they joined General George Washington’s main force.

Sept. 3, 1782 - In the Indian Ocean, the British and French fought in the Battle of Trincomalee.

Sept. 3, 1783 – The American Revolutionary War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by the United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain. This event formally recognized the United States as a free and independent nation after eight years of war. The Treaty of Paris was ratified by the Continental Congress on January 14, 1884.

Sept. 3, 1783 – Great Britain ceded both east and west Florida to Spain. No northern boundary was fixed for the Floridas under this Treaty of Cession. Spain claimed the northern boundary to be at 32 degrees 28 minutes north latitude as fixed by the British Royal Proclamation of 1767. The United States claimed the northern boundary to be at 31 degrees north latitude, as fixed by the Treaty of Paris.

Sept. 3, 1813 – Soldiers from Glass Redoubt, a small fort just south of Suggsville near the Alabama River in Clarke County, Ala., were sent to the home of Ransom Kimball, about a mile from Fort Sinquefield, where they recovered the bodies from the Kimball-James Massacre and returned to Sinquefield with them in an oxcart.

Sept. 3, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Worcester, Mass. and Tolland, Conn.

Sept. 3, 1833 - The first successful penny newspaper in the U.S., "The New York Sun," was launched by Benjamin H. Day.

Sept. 3, 1838 – Future abolitionist Frederick Douglass boarded a train in Maryland on his way to freedom from being a slave.

Sept. 3, 1849 – Write Sarah Orne Jewett was born in South Berwick, Maine.

Sept. 3, 1855 – John DeLoach was commissioned for his first of four terms as Monroe County, Alabama’s Circuit Court Clerk. He would be recommissioned for the same office in August 1859, July 1865 and August 1868.

Sept. 3, 1856 – Architect Louis Henry Sullivan was born in Boston, Mass.

Sept. 3, 1861 - Confederate troops led by General Leonidas Polk entered Columbus, Ky., negating Kentucky's neutrality and caused the Unionist legislature to invite the U.S. government to drive out the invaders. This preemptive move against the forces of General Ulysses S. Grant, who waited across the Ohio River in Illinois, proved costly for the Confederates. Kentucky's Unionist legislature invited Federal troops in to drive away the invaders, and on September 6, Grant occupied Paducah and Southland, at the mouths of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, respectively.

Sept. 3, 1862 – Florence Elizabeth Chandler Maybrick was born in Mobile, Ala., the daughter of William George Chandler, a partner in the banking firm of St. John Powers & Company, and a former mayor of Mobile. In 1889, she was convicted in Great Britain of murdering her considerably older husband, James Maybrick, a suspect in the Jack the Ripper killings.

Sept. 3, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought with Indians at Fort Abercrombie in the Dakota Territory; at Edwards Ferry, Md.; at Neosho, Mo.; and at Falls Church, Va.

Sept. 3, 1863 – Ward’s Raiders burned the Coffee County Courthouse, a two-story frame structure, at Elba in Coffee County, Ala.

Sept. 3, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought with Indians in the Hoopa Valley of California; with Indians near White Stone Hill in the Dakota Territory; and near Alpine, Ga.

Sept. 3, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought near Sycamore Church and Berryville in Virginia; near Rocheport, Mo.; and at Bunker Hill, W.Va.

Sept. 3, 1892 – On this Saturday, Charley Hamil, Ernest Cargill, Tom Carey and Will Stallworth spent the day in hunting in the country. Stallworth shot and killed a “monstrous rattlesnake,” and upon investigation it was learned that the monster had 15 rattles, according to the Evergreen newspaper.

Sept. 3, 1895 - The first professional football game was played in Latrobe, Pa. The Latrobe YMCA defeated the Jeannette Athletic Club 12-0. John Brallier was the first openly professional American football player, when he was paid $10 by David Berry, to play for the Latrobe Athletic Association in this game.

Sept 3, 1895 – Nat Coven “received injuries resulting in his death” after becoming “involved in a difficulty” with his brother-in-law Marion Mixon at Burnt Corn, Ala. on this Tuesday.

Sept. 3, 1903 – The Atmore Record newspaper was established.

Sept. 3, 1906 – The 14th annual session of the Southwest Alabama Agricultural School opened in Evergreen, Ala. with nine teachers. J.A. Liner was principal. Full literary, scientific and music courses were to be offered, and tuition was free. Board was $10 per month, and catalogs were free on request.

Sept. 3, 1907 – Anthropologist and author Loren Eiseley was born in Lincoln, Neb.

Sept. 3, 1910 - Boll weevils were first discovered on Alabama soil in Mobile County. The devastation the insect would cause to cotton throughout the South ultimately spurred agricultural diversification away from "King Cotton."

Sept. 3, 1914 – The Monroe Journal announced the opening of a new mercantile store owned by M. Katz of Selma and the start of plans for the construction of an electric light plant in Monroeville, Ala.

Sept. 3, 1914 – It was announced that during the preceding summer months, the Monroeville, Ala. chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy had awarded Crosses of Honor to Confederate veterans C.M. Biggs, Whit B. Green, William Green, Tomas Lewis and J.M. Helton.

Sept. 3, 1914 – During World War I, the Battle of Grand Couronné started with a German assault against French positions on high ground near the city of Nancy.

Sept. 3, 1914 - Barely a month after the outbreak of World War I, Italian native Giacomo della Chiesa was elected to the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming Pope Benedict XV.

Sept. 3, 1915 – Major League Baseball second baseman and manager Eddie Stanky, who would go on to adopt Alabama as his home state and become the head coach at the University of South Alabama, was born in Philadelphia, Pa. During his Major League career, he played for the Chicago Cubs, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Boston Braves, the New York Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals and went on to manage the Cardinals, the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers. He passed away at the age of 83 in Fairhope, Ala. on June 6, 1999.

Sept. 3, 1916 – During World War I, Leefe Robinson destroyed the German airship Schütte-Lanz SL 11 over Cuffley, north of London; the first German airship to be shot down on British soil.

Sept. 3, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Amos Weatherspoon, 23, of Evergreen, Ala. “died of disease.” Born on May 15, 1895, he was buried in the Marietta Cemetery in Castleberry. (Some sources say that he died on Sept. 31, 1918.)

Sept. 3, 1926 – Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Alison Lurie was born in Chicago. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 1985 for her 1984 book, “Foreign Affairs.”

Sept. 3, 1931 – The Evergreen Courant reported that a survey of landing field facilities throughout the state was being made by W.L. Wilkinson, director of the state air tour, in September, to determine what towns and cities may be considered as stops on the tour. Wilkinson, who left Birmingham on Mon., Sept. 1, expected to visit every town and city of any size in Alabama during the week. After his return, he was to decide on a tentative route and then a pathfinding plane would be sent over the course to check flying time and other details. Approximately 20 planes were to form the tour fleet and these were to include a flight of five military ships and a nationally known trio of stunt fliers with planes especially designed for that purpose. An air circus with acrobatic and formation flying and parachutes was to be given in each town visited. Towns being checked by Wilkinson that week included Monroeville, Flomaton, Brewton, Andalusia, Greenville, Evergreen, Columbus, Ga., Panama City, Fla. and Meridian, Miss.

Sept. 3, 1933 – Yevgeniy Abalakov became the first man to reach the highest point in the Soviet Union, Communism Peak (now called Ismoil Somoni Peak and situated in Tajikista).

Sept. 3, 1933 – Evergreen beat Ft. Deposit in baseball, 6-2, on this Sunday afternoon at Gantt Field in Evergreen, Ala. Evergreen players included Barfield (first base), Jones (pitcher), Kendall (short stop), Elmer “Longboy” Kelly, Hansen (centerfield), Joe Hagood (right field), Mack Binion (catcher), Tom Melton (third base), Hanna (second base) and “Skeeter” Amos.

Sept. 3, 1940 – Nearly 3,000 votes were cast in a Monroe County, Ala. election to determine if liquor should be outlawed or sold legally in the county through the state store system. The measure was voted down, 1,472 to 1,167. At the time, Monroe County was one of 24 counties operating with state liquor stores and licensed sales of alcohol under the Alabama ABC law.

Sept. 3, 1944 – Diarist Anne Frank and her family were placed on the last transport train from the Westerbork transit camp to the Auschwitz concentration camp, arriving three days later.

Sept. 3, 1945 – Conecuh County, Alabama’s public schools were scheduled to open for the first day of classes for students. Harvey G. Pate was Conecuh County Superintendent of Education. Pate announced that for the first few weeks of school short schedules would be observed so that pupils could assist in harvesting the cotton and peanut crops.

Sept. 3, 1947 - The New York Yankees got 18 hits in an 11-2 win over Boston. All 18 hits were singles.

Sept. 3, 1947 – The classic children’s bedtime story, “Goodnight, Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown, was published for the first time.

Sept. 3, 1949 - H.B. Lee Sr., 47, prominent Monroeville and Frisco City merchant, died suddenly of a heart attack while at work in his place of business at Monroeville on this Saturday afternoon about 3 p.m. A resident of Frisco City and a church deacon there, Lee was a native of Monroe County. He had resided at Frisco City for more than 20 years, owning the Jitney Jungle food store in that community. For the previous several years, he had also owned and operated the Quality Cash Store in Monroeville. He was widely known throughout Monroe County. Born on May 30, 1902, he was buried in the Rumbley Cemetery in Monroe County, Ala.

Sept. 3, 1950 - U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) of 35 men arrived in Saigon to screen French requests for American military aid, assist in the training of South Vietnamese troops, and advise on strategy.

Sept. 3, 1954 – Former Conecuh County, Ala. Sheriff William Abbott Moore passed away at the age of 68 in a local hospital after a long illness. A native of the Brooklyn community, Moore moved to Evergreen in 1923 to become Chief Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff A.M. Barfield. In 1926, he was elected Sheriff and for the next 24 years was either Sheriff or Chief Deputy, alternating between these offices with his brother, J.G. Moore. Born on June 10, 1886, he was buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Evergreen, Ala.

Sept. 3, 1957 - Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves recorded his 41st career pitching shutout.

Sept. 3, 1963 – Annie Baxter of Louisville, Ala. was struck by a Volkswagen car in front of Harper’s Furniture Co. on West Front Street in Evergreen, Ala. on this Tuesday night around 9 p.m. Baxter was the mother of Evergreen High School English teacher Anzolette Harden. The Volkswagen was driven by Michael Lewis Piper of Durham, N.C.

Sept. 3, 1964 – Conecuh County, Ala. schools opened on this day for the 1964-65 school year.

Sept. 3, 1965 – As of this Friday, the day of registration for students at Monroe County High School in Monroeville, the school had an enrollment of 554 students, including a “Negro girl, the only Negro enrolled in previously all white schools in the county.” She enrolled under the “county’s freedom of choice place.” James Allen was MCHS’s principal.

Sept. 3, 1967 - In South Vietnam’s national election, General Nguyen Van Thieu won a four-year term as president with former Premier Nguyen Cao Ky as vice-president.

Sept. 3, 1970 – The Evergreen Courant announced that a project had been launched to erect a suitable historical marker on the grounds of the Belleville Baptist Church in Belleville, Ala.

Sept. 3, 1970 – Dan Bilbro Jr. and Lovelace Lowe killed a large rattlesnake on the Old Sparta Road in Conecuh County, Ala. The snake had 16 rattles and a button and was about five feet long.

Sept. 3, 1970 – The Evergreen Courant reported that members of Boy Scout Troop No. 40 in Evergreen, Ala. had completed a 50-mile canoe trip from Travis Bridge to McGowin’s Bridge on the Sepulga River. Boys completing the trip included Jeb Barron, Lester Daw, Oliver Garrett, Sammy Garrett, Chuck Neese, Gene Price, Lewis Price, Terry Pugh and Frederick Stevens.

Sept. 3, 1970 – Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi died of cancer at the age of 57 in Washington, D.C.

Sept. 3, 1970 - Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs ended his National League record of 1,117 consecutive games played.

Sept. 3, 1971 – Sparta Academy played its first football game ever, a 13-13 tie against Greenville Academy in Evergreen, Ala.

Sept. 3, 1976 – Sparta Academy’s football team beat South Butler Academy, 20-0, in Evergreen, Ala. Bobby Johnson, Jerry Peacock and Andy Skipper led Sparta’s rushing attack with 355 yards and three touchdowns. Bobby Padgett led Sparta’s defense with seven solo tackles and nine assists.

Sept. 3, 1976 - The Viking 2 spacecraft landed at Utopia Planitia on Mars and sent back the first close-up, color images of the planet's surface.

Sept. 3, 1976 – NFL defensive end Jevon Kearse was born in Fort Myers, Fla. He went on to play for the University of Florida, the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sept. 3, 1976 – NFL player and coach Raheem Morris was born in Irvington, N.J.

Sept. 3, 1977 - Sadaharu Oh of Japan’s Yomiuri Giants hits the 756th home run of his career, breaking Hank Aaron’s professional record for career home runs. He retired in 1980 with 868 home runs.

Sept. 3, 1981 - The Boston Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners played the longest game in Fenway Park history. The game was ended in a 7-7 tie after 19 innings the previous day. The Mariners won the game, 8-7.

Sept. 3, 1984 - Bruce Sutter of the St. Louis Cardinals set a National League record by earning his 38th save of the season.

Sept. 3, 1986 - The Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 8-7 in the 18th inning. The game ended after 14 innings were played. The two teams had used a record 53 players the day before.

Sept. 3, 1987 – Congressman Bill Dickinson of Alabama’s 2nd District was scheduled to visit Evergreen, Ala. to speak to constituents in the council meeting room at Evergreen City Hall at 10 a.m. on this Thursday morning.

Sept. 3, 1990 - Bobby Thigpen set a Major League record when he got his 47th save.

Sept. 3, 1993 – Hillcrest High School, which went 1-9 in 1992, was scheduled to open the 1993 football season against Daphne High School in Daphne. Hillcrest’s head football coach in 1993 was Dennis Anderson, who had been an assistant coach at Eufaula High School for several years prior to 1993. Gerry Watson was an assistant coach at Hillcrest. Cheerleaders at Hillcrest that season included Capt. Monica Williams, Co-Capt. Angie Ward, Amanda Chavers, Rebecca Dillard, JoKeyra Ballard and Meredith Baggett.

Sept. 3, 2000 - Kenny Lofton tied a Major League record when he scored in his 18th straight game.

Sept. 3, 2001 - Bud Smith became the 16th Major League rookie to throw a no-hitter. It was his 11th career start.

Sept. 3, 2005 - All four of the detained suspects in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, 18, of Mountain Brook, Ala. were released by a judge despite the attempts of the prosecution to keep them in custody, on the condition that they remain available to police.

Sept. 3, 2007 - Adventurer Steve Fossett vanished after taking off on a solo flight over the Nevada desert.