Today in History for Jan. 28, 2018

The USS Constitution, aka, 'Old Ironsides'

Jan. 28, 1624 – Sir Thomas Warner founded the first British colony in the Caribbean, on the island of Saint Kitts.

Jan. 28, 1777 – British general John Burgoyne submitted an ill-fated plan to the British government to isolate New England from the other colonies.

Jan. 28, 1781 - General Daniel Morgan reported to General Nathanael Greene that his men had observed the British army moving towards the Catawba River.

Jan. 28, 1798 – Future University of Alabama President Basil Manly Sr. was born near Pittsboro, N.C. He went on to serve as the University’s president from 1837 to 1855. He died at the home of Basil Manly Jr. in Greenville, S.C. at the age of 70 on Dec. 21, 1868 and was buried in Springwood Cemetery in Greenville.

Jan. 28, 1813 – Jane Austen's “Pride and Prejudice” was first published in the United Kingdom.

Jan. 28, 1820 – A Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev discovered the Antarctic continent, approaching the Antarctic coast.

Jan. 28, 1821 – Alexander Island was first discovered by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen.

Jan. 28, 1828 - Confederate General Thomas Carmichael Hindman was born in Knoxville, Tenn. Hindman was raised in Alabama and educated in New York and New Jersey. He fought at Chickamauga and Atlanta, and was wounded twice.

Jan. 28, 1841 – Welsh-American explorer and journalist Sir Henry Morton Stanley was born in Denbigh, Wales, UK. He went on to become a journalist and explorer famous for his exploration of central Africa and his search for missionary and explorer David Livingstone. Upon finding Livingstone, Stanley allegedly asked, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

Jan. 28, 1846 - Montgomery was selected as the capital of Alabama by the state legislature on the 16th ballot. Montgomery won the final vote largely because of promises of Montgomery city leaders to provide $75,000 for a new capitol and because of the emerging prominence of the Black Belt region of the state.

Jan. 28, 1855 - The Panama Railway, which carried thousands of unruly miners to California via the dense jungles of Central America, dispatched its first train across the Isthmus of Panama.

Jan. 28, 1856 - Alabama author and dramatist Joseph M. Field died in Mobile, Ala.

Jan. 28, 1858 – Welsh-Australian geologist and explorer Tannatt William Edgeworth David was born in St. Fagans, near Cardiff, Wales.

Jan. 28, 1861 – During the Civil War, Federal property in New Orleans and Ft. Macomb, near New Orleans, were seized by the 1st Regiment, Louisiana Infantry.

Jan. 28, 1862 - The tenth president of the United States, John Tyler, passed away at the age of 71 in Richmond, Va.

Jan. 28, 1862 – During the Civil War, six days of Confederate operations between Greensburg and Lebanon in Kentucky began.

Jan. 28, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Indian Village, La. and at Collierville, Nashville, and Yorkville in Tennessee. A four-day Federal operation between La Grange, Tenn. and Ripley, Miss. began.

Jan. 28, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Dallas, Ark.; and at Fain’s Island, Indian Creek, Island Ford, Kelley’s Ford and Swann’s Island, near Dandridge, and at the Lee House on the Cornersville Pike, all in Tennessee. Two days of skirmishing also began near Jonesville, Va. A 14-day sustained operation began in the vicinity of New Berne, N.C. A 12-day Federal operation between Gallatin and the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee began.

Jan. 28, 1865 – During the Civil War, the Confederate torpedo boat St. Patrick attacked the USS Octorara in Mobile Bay, Ala.

Jan. 28, 1865 – During the Civil War, a 13-day Federal operation against Indians began in the vicinity of Fort Zarah, Kansas, and a skirmish was fought at Combahaee River, S.C. A three-day Federal expedition from Strawberry Plains to Clinch Mountain, Tenn. began with a skirmish being fought at Athens, Tenn.

Jan. 28, 1873 – Novelist Colette was born Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette in Saint-Sauveur-en Puisaye, France.

Jan. 28, 1878 – The Yale Daily News became the first daily college newspaper in the United States.

An. 28, 1884 – Swiss physicist and explorer Auguste Piccard was born in Basel, Switzerland.

Jan. 28, 1887 – In a snowstorm at Fort Keogh, Montana, the world's largest snowflakes are reported, 15 inches wide and eight inches thick.

  

Jan. 28, 1904 - The University of Chicago awarded blankets with the letter “C” to all seniors that played football during the 1903 season. This event marked the beginning of the sports letter tradition.

Jan. 28, 1905 – Residents of Gadsden and Attalla in Alabama felt an earthquake around 10:20 p.m. The quake “shook houses, rattled windows and doors, broke up glassware and frightened the superstitious.”

Jan. 28, 1906 – The Rev. J.B. Kilpatrick filled his regular appointment at Pleasant Hill Church and “preached a most excellent sermon.”

Jan. 28, 1912 – Artist Paul Jackson Pollock was born in Cody, Wyoming.

Jan. 28, 1915 – The Monroe Journal reported that the contract for the construction of a railroad bridge across the Alabama River near Pine Hill, Ala. had been awarded to the American Bridge Co. by the Gulf, Florida and Alabama Railroad.

Jan. 28, 1915 – Will “Willie” Ellis, 49, of Evergreen, Ala. died on this night from consumption and he was buried the following day. The local Masonic lodge, of which he was a member, conducted the funeral at his home and he was buried in the cemetery at Antioch Church. He was raised to the degree of Master Mason on May 2, 1896.

Jan. 28, 1915 - The Coast Guard was created by an act of the U.S. Congress to fight contraband trade and aid distressed vessels at sea.

Jan. 28, 1915 - In the country’s first such action against American shipping interests on the high seas, the captain of a German cruiser ordered the destruction of the William P. Frye, an American merchant ship.

Jan. 28, 1918 - Private Eugene English of Conecuh County was run over and killed by an automobile at Camp Wheeler on this Monday. Another soldier, who was with him at the time, was seriously injured. Private English was a son of Joe English of Conecuh County.

Jan. 28, 1920 – H.P. Lovecraft completed “The Terrible Old Man,” which was originally published in Issue No. 4 of The Tryout, 7 in July 1921.

Jan. 28, 1922 - The National Football League franchise in Decatur, Ill. transferred to Chicago, and the team took the name “Chicago Bears.”

Jan. 28, 1927 - Alabama author Thomas Turner was born in Oxford, Ala.

Jan. 28, 1932 – The Monroe Journal reported that Howard Hunt and Jack Dees had opened a barber shop on the south side of the square in Monroeville and “bid for a share of the public patronage.”

Jan. 28, 1932 – The Monroe Journal reported that Monroe County High School’s band had received notice that they would be invited to come to Mobile Mardi Gras if sufficient funds could be raised. If the band went that year, it would be their second trip to Mardi Gras, which showed the “high standing held by our band in the state.” The band from Auburn was the only other band invited that year so far.

Jan. 28, 1932 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mr. W.M. Lindsay had chaperoned seven boys scouts to Mobile to see “Old Ironsides,” including Armistead Harper, John Barnett, Walter and Clifton Lindsay and three Scouts from the Uriah troop. “The boys experienced quite a thrill in seeing a battleship which had been through 84 years actual service, 42 battles, and had never known defeat. In fact, she had more life and action than any battleship ever put out by any country.”

Jan. 28, 1938 - German race car driver Bernd Rosemeyer, known as the “Silver Comet,” reached the speed of 268 mph on the Autobahn, just before his death.

Jan. 28, 1941 – Evergreen High School’s basketball team was scheduled to play Lyeffion High School in Lyeffion, Ala.

Jan. 28, 1941 – The Evergreen Courant reported the following Confederate Pensioners in Conecuh County as of Jan. 1, 1941: Veteran: Brown, John T., McKenzie, Ala., Rt. 1; Widows: Brown, Emma, Evergreen, Ala.; Carter, Drucilla, Evergreen, Ala., Rt. 2; Castleberry, Susie M., Castleberry, Ala.; Crosby, Janie, Evergreen, Ala.; Floyd, Virginia B., Evergreen, Ala.; Hardee, Virginia, Belleville, Ala.; Kendall, Rebecca J., Brooklyn, Ala.; McKittrick, Margaret, Evergreen, Ala.; Nichols, Fannie, Evergreen, Ala., Rt. 2; Nored, Susan H., Repton, Ala.; Raines, Mary E., Repton, Ala.; Salter, Eugenia A., Evergreen, Ala.; Thomas, Mary C., Herbert, Ala.; Worrell, Ardella Viola, Castleberry, Ala.

Jan. 28, 1941 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the recent ratings of enlisted men in Battery C, 117^th Field Artillery, who formerly were stationed as a unit of the Alabama National Guard at Evergreen, Ala., had been announced that week by Captain William D. Lewis, battery commander. The ratings were as follows: Sergeants, George H. Joyner; Corporals, Floyd H. Purnell, Robert Salter, Marvin Kindig, Elmer Morrison and James Tanner; Privates First Class, Herman Armstrong, Walter Bower, Walter Holland, Cecil Padgett, Olon Padgett, Winton McIntyre, Wesley Shefield, James Bryant, Lee Cole, Hagood Ellis, Bennie Gatlin, James Henderson, James Logan, Richard Potts, Rufus Burt and James Weaver. Besides Captain Lewis, other commissioned officers in the unit were First Lt. John C. Holman and Second Lt. Leon A. Salter.

Jan. 28, 1948 – German SS officers Hans Aumeier, 41, and Arthur Liebehenschel, 46, were both executed by hanging in Krakow, Poland.

Jan. 28, 1949 – Evergreen High School’s varsity boys basketball team improved to 6-4 on the season by beating Georgiana, 47-38, in Evergreen.

Jan. 28, 1953 – The Alabama Historical Association erected three historical markers in Autauga County. Those markers were erected in memory the Pratt Gin Factory, Albert J. Pickett and Alibamo Indians.

Jan. 28, 1957 - The Brooklyn Dodgers announced that circus clown Emmett Kelly had been hired to entertain fans at baseball games.

Jan. 28, 1958 - Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers was seriously injured in an auto accident in New York. He would never return to play again.

Jan. 28, 1959 - The Green Bay Packers of the National Football League signed Vince Lombardi to a five-year contract as the team's coach and general manager.

Jan. 28, 1960 – The National Football League announced expansion teams for Dallas to start in the 1960 NFL season and Minneapolis-St. Paul for 1961 NFL season.

Jan. 28, 1960 - Alabama author Zora Neale Hurston died in Fort Pierce, Fla.

Jan. 28, 1971 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Sandra Owens, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Owens of Evergreen, Ala., was to be a contestant in the Lurleen B. Wallace State Junior College’s first annual Beauty Pageant to be held on Feb. 6, 1971 at 7:30 p.m. in the Andalusia High School Auditorium. Sandra, a freshman majoring in elementary education, was a popular student at Evergreen High School, where she was chosen class favorite; served as a majorette; and was selected to appear in the senior Superlatives in the annual. She was Miss Evergreen for 1970 and was selected to attend Girls State.

Jan. 28, 1973 – During the Vietnam War, a cease-fire went into effect at 8 a.m., Saigon time (midnight on Jan. 27, Greenwich Mean Time).

Jan. 28, 1975 - President Gerald Ford asked Congress for an additional $522 million in military aid for South Vietnam and Cambodia.

Jan. 28, 1976 – Basketball player Mark Madsen was born in Walnut Creek, Calif. He went on to play at Stanford and the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jan. 28-30, 1976 - Conecuh County High School of Castleberry was scheduled to host the Conecuh County Basketball Tournament on this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Varsity and B teams were to participate. Varsity action was scheduled to begin on Thurs., Jan. 29, with Castleberry and Repton meeting at 6:30 p.m. and Evergreen and Lyeffion playing at 8 a.m.

Jan. 28, 1985 – Supergroup USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) recorded the hit single “We Are the World,” to help raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief.

Jan. 28, 1986 - The U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after takeoff from Cape Canaveral, Fla. All seven of its crewmembers were killed.

Jan. 28, 1989 – The Bank of Andalusia on South Court Square and the Covington County Courthouse and Jail were added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Jan. 28, 1990 - Aaron Neville sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XXIV. Joe Montana got his third MVP award. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos, 55-10.

Jan. 28, 1991 - On this Monday, Hillcrest High School’s basketball teams were scheduled to host T.R. Miller, starting at 5 p.m.

Jan. 28, 1996 - Diana Ross performed as the featured halftime performer at Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, AZ. The Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17. It was the fifth Super Bowl for the Cowboys.

Jan. 28, 2002 - J.U. Blacksher High School’s girls basketball team improved to 11-3 on this Monday with a 52-48 win over Flomaton High School in Flomaton. Alisha McGhee led Blacksher with 22 points, six rebounds and four steals. Gretta Gregson scored 15 points. Other standout Blacksher players in that game included Lora Fralick, Brooke Harrison, Lindsey Harrison and Jennifer Silcox.

Jan. 28, 2006 – Iraqi-Israeku rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri died around 10 p.m. in the Bikur Holim Hospital in Jerusalem after being hospitalized with pneumonia.

Jan. 28, 2006 - A clean-up for the Belleville area destroyed by a tornado two weeks before was planned for this Saturday, according to Belleville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Sid Lambert. The firehouse was totally destroyed when an estimated F1 strength tornado tore through the community on Jan. 13, leaving a path of debris and structural damage a half-mile wide and a mile long along U.S. 84.

Jan. 28, 2010 - Sparta Academy recognized its senior basketball players before the final home game of the season on this Thursday night in Evergreen. Senior players that season included Erica Palmer, Nick Andrews, Rebekah Coleman, Nicholas Hardin, Dwayne Hardin, Cody House and Drayton Rodgers.