Today in History for Dec. 23, 2017

Famous Hollywood filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille

Dec. 23, 583 - Yohl Ik’nal, also known as Lady Kan Ik, ascended to the throne as ruler of the Maya city-state of Palenque. She ruled until her death in 604.

Dec. 23, 1672 - Giovanni Cassini discovered Rhea, Saturn's second largest moon.

Dec. 23, 1779 - In Morristown, New Jersey, Benedict Arnold's court martial reconvened.

Dec. 23, 1783 – Following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, General George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis and retired to his home at Mount Vernon, Va.

Dec. 23, 1788 - Maryland voted to cede a 100-square-mile area for the seat of the national government. About two-thirds of the area became the District of Columbia.

Dec. 23, 1805 – Swedish explorer and author Pehr Osbeck died at Halland, Sweden at the age of 82.

Dec. 23, 1813 – Brigadier General Ferdinand Claiborne and his Mississippi militiamen stormed the Upper Creek town of Ikanatchaka (Holy Ground) on the south side of the Alabama River, between Pintalala and Big Swamp creeks, in Lowndes County, about 30 miles west of present-day Montgomery, Ala. The Red Sticks, a Creek traditionalist faction led by William Weatherford and others, fought local militia and federal troops, under the command of Claiborne. Fighting with Claiborne were Choctaw warriors under the leadership of Pushmataha. The event was a major battle in Creek War of 1813-14, and one white soldier and 30 Red Sticks were killed. William Weatherford jumped his horse off a bluff and escaped across the river as Claiborne destroyed the town, which was believed by Creek prophets to be invincible. Although the Creeks suffered relatively few casualties, the defeat and the total destruction of the town dealt a great blow to their morale.

Dec. 23, 1814 - The Battle of New Orleans began and continued through Jan. 8, 1815. Chief Bowlegs and several hundred Miccosukee and Seminole sided with the British. They were not at the actual battle, but waited to be deployed from ships that were miles away.

Dec. 23, 1814 - Major Uriah Blue and his militia attacked a Creek village near the Yellow River in northwest Florida. The “Old Alabamo King” and 30 of his warriors were killed while 75 others of the village were taken prisoner. The village was on the East side of Yellow River, in present-day Okaloosa County.

Dec. 23, 1823 - The U.S. Senate ratified the “Treaty of Moultrie Creek.”

Dec. 23, 1823 – The holiday poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” was published anonymously in The Troy Sentinel in New York.

Dec. 23, 1844 – Confederate soldier John Monroe Stacey was born, and he would go on to serve in the 36th Alabama Infantry. He was wounded at New Hope Church and, after recovering, he served with the 42nd Alabama Regiment. He passed away at the age of 76 on Jan. 12, 1921 and was buried near his parents at Polar Bridge Cemetery at Manistee, Ala.

Dec. 23, 1858 – Monroe County, Ala. County Commissioners were ordered to “secure plans and report to the Court on building a new jail on Lot 27 and part of Lot 28 as designated on the town plat of Monroeville.”

Dec. 23, 1860 – American editor, literary critic and poet Harriet Monroe was born in Chicago.

Dec. 23, 1861 – During the Civil War, the first day of an eight-day Federal operation in eastern Kentucky began as Federal forces advancd from Louisa, Ky.

Dec. 23, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Dayton, Mo.

Dec. 23, 1861 – During the Civil War, Federal operations began in the vicinity of Lexington, Mo.

Dec. 23, 1862 - Confederate President Jefferson Davis declared Union General Benjamin Butler a felon and insisted that he must be hanged if captured. The Union captured New Orleans in early 1862 and Butler became the military commander of the city, and his actions there soon made him the most hated Yankee in the Confederacy. Despite the Confederate president’s declaration that Butler was a felon, the Union general was never captured by the Rebels.

Dec. 23, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought on the St. Francis Road, near Helena, in Arkansas and near Nashville, Tenn. A nine-day Federal operation in the Sugar Creek Hills area of Missouri also began.

Dec. 23, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Jacksonport, Ark.; in the vicinity of Corinth, Miss.; at Mulberry Village, Tenn.; and in the vicinity of Culpeper Court House, Va. Confederates also attacked Centerville, Mo., and a Federal reconnaissance was conducted from Blain’s Cross Road to Powder Spring Gap in Tennessee.

Dec. 23, 1864 – William Tecumseh Sherman completed his famous “March to the Sea” by capturing Savannah, Ga.

Dec. 23, 1864 – During the Civil War, a two-day Federal operation between Baton Rouge and Clinton in Louisiana began.

Dec. 23, 1864 – During the Civil War, the USS Louisiana, loaded with 350 tons of black powder, was exploded by Federal forces near Fort Fisher, Wilmington, N.C., with no subsequent damage to the fort.

Dec. 23, 1864 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Warfields, out from Columbia, in Tennessee.

Dec. 23, 1864 – During the Civil War, the Federal Government honored David Glasgow Farragut’s naval role in the Battle of Mobile Bay by promoting him to the newly created rank of Vice Admiral, the army equivalent of lieutenant general.

Dec. 23, 1872 - George Catlin, an American painter, author and traveler that specialized in portraits of Native Americans in the Old West, died at the age of 76 in New Jersey.

Dec. 23, 1888 - In a fit of madness, Vincent Van Gogh severed part of his ear on this day.

Dec. 23, 1902 – Fisherman, firefighter, scholar and teacher Norman Maclean was born Clarinda, Iowa. He is best known for writing the autobiographical novella, “A River Runs Through It.”

Dec. 23, 1914 – Monroe County High School and Monroeville Grammar School suspended work for the holiday recess.

Dec. 23, 1914 – During World War I, Australian and New Zealand troops arrived in Cairo, Egypt.

Dec. 23, 1915 – The Monroe Journal reported that A.J. Dees, who lived near Peterman, had killed three “fine porkers,” weighing 294, 337 and 358 pounds dressed, a total of 993 pounds.

Dec. 23, 1915 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Rev. C.A. Williams, the new pastor of the Monroeville, Ala. group of Methodist churches, was expected to arrive with his family around the first of the New Year.

Dec. 23, 1915 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Rev. D.F. Ellisor “spent a few days among Monroeville friends this week while arranging for the shipment of his household effects to his new home at Jackson.”

Dec. 23, 1915 - Roland Leighton, the fiance of Vera Brittain, a nurse in the British Red Cross who would become a famous author and feminist after the war, died of wounds sustained in battle at the Western Front in France.

Dec. 23, 1916 – During World War I, at the Battle of Magdhaba, Allied forces defeated Turkish forces in the Sinai Peninsula.

Dec. 23, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. William C. Gillis, 23, of Andalusia, Ala. was killed in action with serving with the 306^th Engineers. Born on April 27, 1895, he was buried in the Pleasant Home Baptist Cemetery in Covington County, Ala.

Dec. 23, 1921 - Alabama author William Lavender was born in Elrod, Ala., in Tuscaloosa County.

Dec. 23, 1926 – Poet Robert Bly was born in Madison, Minn.

Dec. 23, 1933 - John Alex Brown, 21, of Skinnerton was shot in the chest with a pistol during a “difficulty” that took place in Evergreen, Ala. on this Saturday night. Brown was taken to the Betts & Newton hospital, where he was treated for the wound that was allegedly inflicted by E.M. Binion Jr. The bullet, said to have been a .32-calibre, entered the chest on the right side and passed entirely through the body, coming out under the shoulder blade on the same side.

Dec. 23, 1934 - Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Capote and Master Truman Capote arrived in Monroeville, Ala. on this Sunday from New York City to spend the Christmas season with Misses Callie, Jennie and Nannie Faulk.

Dec. 23, 1935 – Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback Paul Hornung was born in Louisville, Ky. He went on to play for Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

Dec. 23, 1936 – Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Willie Wood was born in Washington, D.C. He went on to play for Southern Cal and the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Dec. 23, 1940 – Judge L.W. Price dismissed vagrancy charges against Andrew Schwarzmann, a 36-year-old actor, in lieu of the 10 days he spent in jail at Evergreen, Ala. as local officials checked to see if he was wanted by the FBI. When taken into custody, officers found in his possession “many maps, pamphlets (mostly religious), names and addresses, hotel bills, postcards and a newspaper clipping. The maps were chiefly points in Florida and the east coast. One contained a detailed diagram of the Charleston, S.C. harbor.” The clipping told of conflicts between Schwarzmann and Cecil B. DeMille, the famous motion picture producer. Schwarzmann had been arrested in 1936 for sending threatening letters to DeMille. In December 1940, he wasn’t wanted by the FBI.

Dec. 23, 1946 - Alabama author Frye Gaillard was born in Mobile, Ala.

Dec. 23, 1943 – The Monroe Journal reported that Jim Bailey of Frisco City, Ala. had two sons in the military, Hubbard Bailey and J.D. Bailey. Hubbard had been in North Africa for more than a year, and J.D. had been sent there about six weeks before. By the help of the Red Cross, they met each other over in North Africa and spent Thanksgiving and the following Sunday together.

Dec. 23, 1943 – The Monroe Journal reported that Monroe County High School beat Excel High School, 15-3, in “an exciting basketball game last week.”

Dec. 23, 1948 – Pro Football Hall of Fame outside linebacker Jack Ham was born in Johnstown, Pa. He went on to play for Penn State and for the Pittsburg Steelers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Dec. 23, 1951 - A National Football League championship game was televised nationally for the first time. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns, 24-17. The DuMont Network had paid $75,000 for the rights to the game.

Dec. 23, 1954 - Jacob Franklin Betts Lowrey, age 73, a prominent farmer and cattleman of Burnt Corn, died at his home on this Thursday, following an illness of several weeks. Lowrey was a native of Burnt Corn and a lifelong resident of that community. He was a steward of the Methodist Church there for the past 35 years. A cattleman and farmer all of his life, he was a well known leader in those fields in Conecuh and Monroe Counties. He also operated a store in Burnt Corn and owned a large acreage of timbered lands near Burnt Corn. Born on April 24, 1881, he was buried in the Puryearville Cemetery at Peterman, Ala.

Dec. 23, 1955 – British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy was born in Glasgow, Scotland.

Dec. 23, 1966 - Francis Cardinal Spellman, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York and military vicar of the U.S. armed forces for Roman Catholics, visited U.S. servicemen in South Vietnam.

Dec. 23, 1972 – The 16 survivors of the Andes flight disaster were rescued after 73 days, having survived by cannibalism.

Dec. 23, 1972 - The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders, 13-7, in an NFL playoff game on a last-second play that was dubbed the "Immaculate Reception." Pittsburgh's Franco Harris caught a deflected pass and ran it in for the winning touchdown.

Dec. 23, 1972 - The East German Embassy and the Hungarian commercial mission in Hanoi were hit in the eighth day of Operation Linebacker II.

Dec. 23, 1974 – Birmingham, Ala. native Lee May was traded from the Houston Astros to the Baltimore Orioles, along with minor league outfielder Jay Schlueter for infielder-outfielder Enos Cabell and second baseman Rob Andrews.

Dec. 23, 1975 - Harvey Godwin Pate, 69, of Evergreen died on this Tuesday in a Greenville hospital. Pate served a total of five terms as Conecuh County Superintendent of Education. He did not seek re-election, but retired when he completed his fifth term of office in 1973. Pate was first elected superintendent in 1944 and then was re-elected in 1948 and 1952. He was associated with education in various capacities until he again sought the office in 1964 and won election and was re-elected in 1968. A native of Paul, he received his early education in the school of this county. He earned his BS degree from Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University, and did graduate studies at Auburn and Columbia University, New York City. Prior to being elected to his first term as superintendent, Pate served as principal of Annex School for six years and Conecuh County High School for three years and taught at Evergreen High School for two years. In all, he was associated with the county school system for nearly 40 years. Born on Feb. 17, 1906, he was buried in the Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery at Paul, Ala.

Dec. 23, 1976 – Major League Baseball pitcher Brad Lidge was born in Sacremento, Calif. He went on to play for the Houston Astros, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals.

Dec. 23, 1981 – Polish-Australian technical diver, cave explorer, marine archaeologist underwater photographer, and author Agnes Milowka was born in Częstochowa, Poland.

Dec. 23, 1987 - Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, serving a life sentence for the attempted assassination of U.S. President Ford in 1975, escaped from the Alderson Federal Prison for Women in West Virginia. She was recaptured two days later.

Dec. 23, 1991 - Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll retired after 23 seasons. He was the only coach to win four Super Bowls.

Dec. 23, 1993 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Army Staff Sgt. Willie J. Meeks, a 1980 graduate of Evergreen High School, was one of the more than 3,500 military personnel who participated in “Joint Logistics Over the Shore III,” a month-long joint logistics exercise held at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Dec. 23, 1993 – The first full-color photo appeared in The Evergreen Courant. The photo, which appeared on the front page, was a photo of a live nativity scene sponsored by the Lone Star Reorganized Churches of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Dec. 23, 1993 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Willie Crutchfield had been presented a plaque of appreciation by Hillcrest High School principal Ronnie Brogden for his years of volunteer service to Hillcrest and Evergreen High School. Crutchfield served as public address announcer during football games and was always ready to support other activities through Woodmen of the World. At the time, Ralph Pugh was the president of Hillcrest’s Booster Club, and Dennis Anderson was the school’s athletic director.

Dec. 23, 1993 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Greenville Academy’s varsity boys basketball team had beaten Sparta, 53-49. Senior Britt Ward led Sparta with 18 points, and sophomore Nicholas Jones followed with eight points. Other players on Sparta’s team that year included Brian Gorum, James Johnson, Adrian Mitchell, Casey Grant, Sandy Salo and Larry Wright.

Dec. 23, 1997 – In “V for Vendetta,” Dr. Delia Surridge performed the Bishop’s autopsy. Finch gave her the violet Carson found at the scene of the crime. Derek’s frustration grew. Evey swore to V she will never help him kill again. Finch and Dominic connected V to the “resettlement” camps, discovering that both Prothero and Lilliman worked at the Larkhill Resettlement Camp at the same time. They discovered everyone who worked at Larkhill are dead, except for Delia Surridge. V visited and killed Delia Surridge. V also killed Derek Almond who arrived to arrest him. Deliah’s diary was found. Finch swore he’ll see V dead for Deliah’s murder.

Dec. 23, 1997 - Terry Nichols was convicted by a Denver jury on charges of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter in the 1995 federal building bombing in Oklahoma City. The bomb killed 168 people.

Dec. 23, 2000 – The Rev. A.L. Shehan, 92, of Evergreen died on this Saturday at his residence. Shehan was saved at an early age and spent seven years preparing for the ministry. He was a minister for 72 years and 52 of those years he served in Evergreen. For 41 years, he had a radio ministry on the local, national and international levels, and it was the longest running radio ministry in the world. Funeral services were held Tues., Dec. 26, at 2 p.m. from the Chapel of Cope Funeral Home with Rev. Harold Tyus, Rev. Jackie Davis and Rev. C.L. Dyess officiating. Burial was in Union Cemetery in Frisco City.

Dec. 23, 2002 – Fred “The Town Dog” passed away in Rockford, Ala.

Dec. 23, 2002 – An MQ-1 Predator was shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25.

Dec. 23, 2003 - The first case of Mad Cow Disease in the United States was announced.

Dec. 23, 2005 – American dog sled racer and explorer Norman D. Vaughan died at the age of 100 in the Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage at around 10:30 a.m.

Dec. 23, 2008 – In the ongoing lawsuit over Evergreen, Alabama’s disputed mayoral election, Judge Edward McDermott of Mobile gave Pete Wolff III’s attorney, James H. Anderson of Montgomery, a timeline to file his position on a number of legal points in the case. Wolff ran for mayor against incumbent Larry Fluker only to lose by two votes in the Oct. 7 runoff election. Anderson eventually filed his brief on Jan. 20, 2009.

  

Dec. 23, 2014 – Weather reporter Betty Ellis reported 4.06 inches of rain in Evergreen.