Today in History for Oct. 24, 2017

William Wayne Seay

Oct. 24, 1590 – John White, the governor of the second Roanoke Colony, returned to England after an unsuccessful search for the "lost" colonists.

Oct. 24, 1632 – Amateur scientist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, who perfected the microscope and was the first person to observe bacteria, was born in Delft, the Netherlands.

Oct. 24, 1775 - Virginia’s last royal governor, Lord John Murray Dunmore, ordered a British naval fleet of six ships to sail up the James River and into Hampton Creek to attack Patriot troops and destroy the town of Norfolk, Virginia.

Oct. 24, 1788 – Writer Sarah Josepha Hale was born in Newport, N.H. She is best known for writing the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and for convincing Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Oct. 24, 1851 - William Lassell discovered Ariel and Umbriel, two satellites of Uranus.

Oct. 24, 1861 - The first transcontinental telegraph line across the U.S. was completed, spelling the end of the 18-month-old Pony Express. The first message was sent when Justice Stephen J. Field of California transmitted a telegram to U.S. President Lincoln.

Oct. 24, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Camp Joe Underwood, Ky.

Oct. 24, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Springfield, Mo.

Oct. 24, 1862 - Union General Don Carlos Buell was replaced by William Rosecrans. Buell was replaced because of his ineffective pursuit of the Confederates after the Battle of Perryville, Ky. on Oct. 8. Rosecrans had distinguished himself in western Virginia in 1861 and provided effective leadership at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, just prior to Perryville.

Oct. 24, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Fayetteville, Ark.; along Bayou La Fourche, La.; on St. Helena Island, S.C.; near White Oak Springs, Tenn.; and at Manassas Junction and near Bristoe Station in Virginia. A three-day Federal expedition from Independence to Greenton, Chapel Hill and Hopewell in Missouri also began.

Oct. 24, 1863 – During the Civil War, the first day of two days of skirmishing occurred at Tuscumbia, Alabama.

Oct. 24, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Buffalo Mountain, Ark.; at Washington, La.; near Harrisonville, Mo.; and at Liberty and Bealeton in Virginia.

Oct. 24, 1863 – During the Civil War, a month long Federal expedition from Goodrich Landing, La. to Griffin’s Landing and Catfish Point in Mississippi began. This operation occurred in the Mississippi Delta in the vicinity of present day Greenville, Miss.

Oct. 24, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought near Magnolia, Fla. and near South River, Ga.

Oct. 24, 1864 – During the Civil War, an eight-day Federal operation in Issaquena County, Miss. began, and a four-day reconnaissance from Pine Bluff to Mount Elba in Arkansas began.

Oct. 24, 1865 - Henry Wirz was found guilty of conspiracy to injure the health and lives of Union soldiers and murder. On Nov. 10, he became one of the few people executed for crimes committed during the war.

Oct. 24, 1868 – Belgian-French explorer and author Alexandra David-Néel was born in Saint-Mandé, French Empire.

Oct. 24, 1895 – The Monroe Journal reported a “most bold and daring robbery” that happened a few days before at the store of C.A. Newton & Sons at Belleville and was also reported in The Montgomery Advertiser. During the robbery, a “big, brawny” man stole the pocketbook of a Mr. Knight, which contained about $60. The robber’s accomplice, Joe Brandon, was arrested the following day by J.W. Gaston, and the robber’s arrest was expected soon.

Oct. 24, 1895 – Col. David LaFayette Neville passed away on this Thursday at 10:30 p.m. after “a protracted illness” and “surrounded by his devoted family.”

Oct. 24, 1897 – The first comic strip appeared in a newspaper. The strip, created by Richard Outcault, was published under different names but usually known by the name of its main character, the Yellow Kid. The Yellow Kid started appearing in single-panel cartoons in 1896, but on this day, it was first published as a multipaneled comic strip, titled "The Yellow Kid Takes a Hand at Golf," with six panels showed the Yellow Kid's mixed success at attempting to hit a golf ball.

Oct. 24, 1901 - Annie Edson Taylor celebrated her 63rd birthday by becoming the first person to survive a barrel ride over Niagara Falls.

Oct. 24, 1904 – Playwright Moss Hart was born in New York City.

Oct. 24, 1910 – German SS officer and journalist Gunter d'Alquen was born.

Oct. 24, 1912 – Aviator Louis Mitchell, who was attempting a “daring descent” at the state fairgrounds in Montgomery, Ala. lost control of his plane, fell 200 feet and was “crushed beneath the wreckage” of his plane. He died with three minutes of the fall.

Oct. 24, 1914 – On this Saturday night, William Peak Murphy, a 75-year-old Confederate veteran, passed away in Evergreen, Ala. at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. G.G. Newton, and his remains were taken to Camden for burial. He had been bedridden for about six years prior to his death. For many years, Murphy was one of the most prominent merchants and planters in Wilcox County. Records reflect that he was buried in the Camden Cemetery in Wilcox County.

Oct. 24, 1914 – The No. 5 Passenger Train collided with a mule-drawn wagon at the Rural Street crossing, opposite the Taliaferro, McCreary & Ivey Store in Evergreen, Ala. “badly wrecking” the wagon. The wagon’s driver and mules escaped without serious injury. The wagon was owned by Cary Ellis.

Oct. 24, 1915 - Comic book artist and Batman creator Bob Kane was born in New York, N.Y.

Oct. 24, 1915 – Nearly 300 people witnessed the unveiling of a Woodmen of the World monument in honor of James H. Andrews, who was killed in September 1914. The event featured a speech by Dr. William A. Lovett of Tunnel Springs, who was a Past Consul Commander of Magic City Camp No. 4, Birmingham, perhaps the largest camp in the state, having more than 1,000 members, and was also a Past Head Manager of the Head Camp of Alabama. This was the first unveiling ceremony ever held by the local camp.

Oct. 24, 1917 – During the Battle of Caporetto, Italy suffered a catastrophic defeat by the forces of Austria-Hungary and Germany on the Austro-Italian front of World War I (This battle lasted until Nov. 19 and is also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo).

Oct. 24, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Ransom Bird of Owassa, Ala. “died from disease.”

Oct. 24, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Jon Adams of Brewton, Ala. both “died from disease.”

Oct. 24, 1918 – The Monroe Journal reported that Dr. Claude Dean, 33, who had passed through Monroeville, Ala. only a few days before, had died at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. He had, for the past four years, been one of the leading physicians in Bogaloosa, La., where he lived prior to his enlistment in the U.S. military. He was a brother of Mr. G.C. Dean of Monroeville. Born on May 21, 1885, he was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Conecuh County, Ala.

Oct. 24, 1921 - In the French town of Chalons-sur-Marne, an American officer selected the body of the first “Unknown Soldier” to be honored among the approximately 77,000 United States servicemen killed on the Western Front during World War I.

Oct. 24, 1923 – The Evergreen Courant reported that its plans to publish a special edition had been postponed because Mr. Christie, The Courant’s “field man,” had been placed in a Montgomery, Ala. jail on a “serious charge.” On Oct. 17, 1923, Christie was “driving a car through a restricted zone in (Montgomery when) he ran over a young lady, inflicting injuries that resulted in her death a short time later.” Christie had apparently sold all the ads for the special edition and was in possession of all the ad information, which prevented The Courant from putting out the special edition.

Oct. 24, 1923 – Poet Denise Levertov was born in Ilford, England.

Oct. 24, 1926 – Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle was born in Marshall, Texas. He went on to play for LSU, the Baltimore Colts, the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

Oct. 24, 1926 – Harry Houdini gave his last performance at the Garrick Theater in Detroit.

Oct. 24, 1929 – The "Black Thursday" stock market crash occurred on the New York Stock Exchange.

Oct. 24, 1931 – The George Washington Bridge opened to public traffic, between New York and New Jersey.

Oct. 24, 1933 – Lee Boyd and Lee Perkins were tried and convicted of the murder of a man at Fountain several months before during Monroe County (Ala.) Circuit Court on this Tuesday with Judge E.S. Thigpen presiding. “The killing took place before dawn following a gambling party in which a group of men had participated. The murdered man had won most of the money which probably cost him his life. After he had been killed, the body was placed on the railroad track in a crude attempt to make death appear accidental.”

Oct. 24, 1938 – The Fair Labor Standards Act went into effect, establishing the 40-hour work week and a minimum wage.

Oct. 24, 1943 - The Green Bay Packers intercepted nine passes in a 27-6 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Oct. 24, 1944 – During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Alabama native David McCampbell and six other pilots took on a flight of approximately 60 Japanese aircraft threatening U.S. ships. McCampbell alone shot down nine planes in that action (a U.S. Navy record) and drove many more enemy planes away from U.S. forces.

Oct. 24, 1946 – A camera on board the V-2 No. 13 rocket took the first photograph of earth from outer space.

Oct. 24, 1948 – William Wayne Seay was born in Brewton, Ala. to William and Pauline Seay. Known to many as “Billy Wayne,” he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army in the 62nd Transportation Company (Medium Truck), 7th Transportation Battalion, 48th Transportation Group. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action near Ap Nhi, Republic of Vietnam on Aug. 25, 1968. His citation reads in part "Again Sgt. Seay left his covered position and threw the armed grenade back upon the assaulting enemy. After returning to his position he was painfully wounded in the right wrist, however, Sgt. Seay continued to give encouragement and direction to his fellow soldiers. After moving to the relative cover of a shallow ditch, he detected three enemy soldiers who had penetrated the position and were preparing to fire on his comrades. Although weak from loss of blood and with his right hand immobilized, Sgt. Seay stood up and fired his rifle with his left hand, killing all three and saving the lives of the other men in his location. As a result of his heroic action, Sgt. Seay was mortally wounded by a sniper's bullet." 

Oct. 24, 1948 - The Chicago Cardinals scored 35 points in the third quarter on the way to a 49-27 victory over the Boston Yanks.

Oct. 24, 1952 – Baldwin County High School beat Evergreen High School, 38-7, in Evergreen. Billy Lewis and Ward Alexander led the Evergreen offense, and Sam Cope, Richard Taylor, Jimmy Frazier and Alexander led the defense. Other outstanding Evergreen players in that game included Pace Bozeman, Wayne Douglas, Ronnie Edson and Shirley Frazier.

Oct. 24, 1954 – Jimmy Lyons, 22, died and prominent Monroeville businessman Hugh Dickson was critically injured in a one-vehicle accident on this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. near Monroeville. Dickson was the driver of a 1952 Cadillac convertible involved in the accident, and Lyons, suffered fatal head injuries in the accident, was a passenger in the car.

Oct. 24, 1954 – Dwight D. Eisenhower pledged United States support to South Vietnam.

Oct. 24, 1955 - Los Angeles reached its 18th straight day of smog.

Oct. 24, 1963 – The Monroe Journal reported that Frisco City High School quarterback Joe Kelly had been named the “Back of the Week” by The Birmingham Post-Herald after he ran for two touchdowns and passed for two extra points in a 21-12 win over Jackson High School.

Oct. 24, 1963 – The Monroe Journal reported that Dr. J.V. Almon had opened a new dentistry office at 410 North Mt. Pleasant St. in Monroeville, Ala. in the building formerly occupied by Johnson Funeral Home.

Oct. 24, 1965 - Fran Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings threw for 407 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-41 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Oct. 24, 1966 - In Manila, President Johnson met with other Allied leaders and they pledged to withdraw troops from Vietnam within six months if North Vietnam “withdraws its forces to the North and ceases infiltration of South Vietnam.”     

Oct. 24, 1968 – The Evergreen Courant reported that George Bozeman, 20, of Evergreen, Ala. had been placed in the Conecuh County Jail on charges of murder, stemming from the bludgeoning death of 42-year-old Albert Stallworth. At Stallworth’s home on Oct. 12, 1968, Bozeman allegedly hit Stallworth in the head with a piece of flat iron, and Stallworth died from his wounds on Oct. 16 in a Montgomery hospital.

Oct. 24, 1970 – Army Staff Sgt. Carter Parker Jr., 23, of Monroeville, Ala. was killed in action in Binh Duong, Vietnam, reportedly by small arms fire. Born in Monroeville on July 20, 1947, Parker’s name can be found on panel 06W, line 019 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served as an Infantry Operations and Intelligence Specialist with E Co., 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for his combat wounds, the Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Unit Citation. He was buried in the Eastwood Memorial Gardens in Montgomery, Ala.

Oct. 24, 1971 - Texas Stadium officially opened in Irving, Texas.

Oct. 24, 1972 – National Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman Jackie Robinson passed away at the age of 53 in Stamford, Conn. During his career, he played for the Kansas City Monarchs and the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962.

Oct. 24, 1973 – Circuit Judge Robert R.E.L. Key administered the oath of office to Henry Sessions after the Evergreen City Council elected the former mayor to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Coy L. Harper, who had resigned, citing business reasons and the advice of his doctors. Miller Sellers was Evergreen’s city clerk at the time.

Oct. 24, 1976 - Chuck Foreman of the Minnesota Vikings rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-12 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Oct. 24, 1978 – The State Highway Department installed a red, flashing stop light and two additional stop signs at the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and State Highway 136 in Ollie, Ala. There had been numerous accidents at the intersection, according to Monroeville Police Chief Charles Colbert.

Oct. 24, 1978 – The Monroe County (Ala.) Commission filled two of three vacant seats on the Monroe County Hospital board of directors. The commission selected Dr. Jack Whetstone of Monroeville and George Burns of Frisco City to fill the unexpired terms of Dr. R.A. Smith and Charles Ikner, respectively. The third seat was vacated by Harvel Hines in June 1977, and County Commissioner Jerry Steele was responsible for filling the seat, according to Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs.

Oct. 24, 1984 – On the fictional “X-Files,” Fox Mulder joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation on this day after graduating with honors from the Quantico FBI Training Academy earlier in 1984.

  

Oct. 24, 1991 - Alabama author and Poet Laureate Morton D. Prouty died in Florence, Ala.

Oct. 24, 1992 - The Toronto Blue Jays became the first non-U.S. team to win the World Series.

Oct. 24, 1995 - In Cleveland, Ohio, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders sang the national anthem in Game 3 of the World Series.

Oct. 24, 1996 - The Atlanta Braves played their last game at Fulton County Stadium. They lost to the New York Yankees, 1-0, in Game 5 of the World Series. The next season the Braves began playing at Olympic Stadium.

  

Oct. 24, 1997 - Cass Ralls, the daughter of Eddie Ralls and Sandra O. Ralls, was crowned Miss Homecoming 1997 during Sparta Academy’s Homecoming activities on this Friday night.

Oct. 24, 1997 - Weather reporter Harry Ellis reported 1.11 inches of rain on this day in Evergreen, Ala. He reported a total of 3.46 inches between Oct. 21 and Oct. 26.

Oct. 24, 1997 – Hillcrest High School upset T.R. Miller, 21-13, at Brooks Memorial Stadium in Brewton. Hillcrest’s Tim Bush was selected as The Evergreen Courant’s Defensive Player of the Week with nine tackles, 12 assists, a pass break-up and an interception. Cedric Johnson was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week after grading 2.00 with 18 knockdowns.

Oct. 24, 1997 - Sparta Academy improved its record to 7-2 on this Friday night when they beat the Macon-East Montgomery Knights, 44-14, in an important region game played in Evergreen. Cliff Herbest was the leading rusher for the Warriors with 183 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. Other outstanding players for Sparta in that game included Lee Goodwin, Seth McIntyre, Chris Mitchell and Charlie Ward.

Oct. 24, 1998 - Ricky Williams of the University of Texas became the leading scorer in NCAA Division I history. At the end of the game, he had a total of 428 points.

Oct. 24, 2002 – Police arrested spree killers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, ending the Beltway sniper attacks in the area around Washington, D.C.

Oct. 24, 2005 – Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth video game was first released.

Oct. 24, 2011 – The Bowling Family Cemetery in Washington County, Ala. and the Thomas Bradford Jr. Gravesite in Clarke County, Ala. were added to the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register.

Oct. 24, 2012 – Filming for the horror movie, “Oculus,” began in Mobile and Baldwin counties, and was completed a few weeks later.