Today in History for May 27, 2018

King Baggot

May 27, 1692 – In connection with the Salem witchcraft trials, William Phips issued a commission for a Court of Oyer and Terminer and appointed as judges John Hathorne, Nathaniel Saltonstall, Bartholomew Gedney, Peter Sergeant, Samuel Sewall, Wait Still Winthrop and Lieutenant Governor William Stoughton.

May 27, 1790 – Wealthy English heir Jeremiah Carlton, the “laziest man in history,” passed away at the age of 89. He went to bed one day and stayed there for 70 years.

May 27, 1813 - Former President Thomas Jefferson wrote to former President John Adams to inform him that Dr. Benjamin Rush had died.

May 27, 1813 – During the War of 1812, in Canada, American forces captured Fort George.

May 27, 1819 – Poet Julia Ward Howe, who wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” was born in New York City.

May 27, 1827 - Unable to support himself, Edgar Allan Poe enlisted in the United States Army as a private. Using the name "Edgar A. Perry," he claimed he was 22 years old even though he was 18.

May 27, 1831 – American hunter, explorer, and author Jedediah Smith was mortally wounded by Comanche warriors while searching for water off the Sante Fe Trail and died at the age of 32, south of Ulysses, Kansas. Surviving three massacres and one bear mauling, Smith's explorations and documented discoveries were highly significant in opening the American West to expansion by white settlers and cattlemen.

May 27, 1837 – Gunfighter, scout and lawman James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok was born in Troy Grove, Ill.

May 27, 1862 – During the Civil War, an engagement was fought at Hanover Court House in Virginia, and a skirmish was fought at Big Indian Creek in Arkansas.

May 27, 1863 - Chief Justice Roger B. Taney issued ex parte Merryman to challenge the authority of Abraham Lincoln and the military to suspend the writ of habeas corpus (the legal procedure that prevents the government from holding an individual indefinitely without showing cause) in Maryland. Taney denounced Lincoln’s interference with civil liberties and argued that only Congress had the power to suspend the writ.

May 27, 1863 – During the Civil War, the first Assault on the Confederate works at the Siege of Port Hudson occurred as Nathaniel Banks' Union forces opened fire on Port Hudson with cannons and riverboats. The fort did not surrender until July 8 when Confederate General Franklin Gardner was convinced that further resistance was futile.

May 27, 1863 – During the Civil War, on day nine of the Vicksburg, Miss. siege, there was an engagement between the Vicksburg batteries and the USS Cincinnati.

May 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, an “action” took place at Pond Springs, Ala.

May 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, the Battle of Pickett’s Mill was fought in Paulding County, Ga.

May 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, multiple skirmishes were fought at Sexton's Station, Mount Carmel Church, Dabney's Ferry, Hanover Junction, Pole Cat Creek, Salem Church and Little River in Virginia.

May 27, 1865 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Switzler's Mill, Missouri and at Saint Mary's Station, Wyoming.

May 27, 1873 - The first Preakness Stakes was won by Survivor.

May 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that Capt. Wiggins was “having his store nicely painted.”

May 27, 1886 – In this day’s edition of The Monroe Journal, publisher Q. Salter told readers that “we owe an apology to our readers for non-appearance of The Journal last week, which was due to our absence, having been called away on business.”

May 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that “a very pleasant and enjoyable picnic was given at the Mineral Springs, near the residence of Dr. J.T. Russell. It was gotten up under the auspices of Miss Ida and Miss Mattie Russell.”

May 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mrs. W.K. Agee of Perdue Hill was visiting her mother, Mrs. T.W. Daugette.

May 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mr. C.M. Simmons was on the sick list.

May 27, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mr. R.G. and Dr. Gladin Scott of Mt. Pleasant were in Monroeville during the previous week.

May 27, 1886 - The following officers of the Alabama Press Association were elected for the ensuring year at Marion on this day: President, W.M. Meeks of The Gadsden Times; Vice Presidents, Thos. Hudson of The Marion Standard and H.G. McCall of The Shelby Sentinel; Secretary, J.H. Nunnelee of The Tuscaloosa Gazette; Treasurer, Robt. Rawls of The Athens Courier.

May 27, 1894 – Novelist Dashiell Hammett was born in St. Mary’s County, Md.

May 27, 1904 - Dennis McGann set a Major League record when he stole five bases.

May 27, 1906 – The Rev. M.E. Grant filled his regular appointment at the Methodist church at Wilkinsonville on this Sunday, but the congregation was quite small on account of rain, according to The Monroe Journal.

May 27, 1906 – The Rev. J.B. Kilpatrick filled his regular appointment at Pleasant Hill Church on this Sunday.

May 27, 1907 – Ecologist and nature writer Rachel Carson was born in Pennsylvania.

May 27, 1911 – Marie Louise Woodson passed away at the Orphans Home in Evergreen, Ala. after an illness of several years. Her remains were taken to Selma, her hometown, for burial. Years before, she deeded property to the Orphans Home, which bore her name, the Louise Short Baptist Widows and Orphans Home.

May 27, 1912 – Major League Baseball outfielder Terry Moore was born in Vernon in Lamar County, Ala. He would play his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a four-time All Star and was part of two World Series championship teams.

May 27, 1912 – Novelist and short story writer John Cheever was born in Quincy, Mass.

May 27, 1915 – The Arcade Theatre in Evergreen, Ala. was scheduled to begin showing a three-reel featured called “Jim Webb the Senator,” featuring King Baggot.

May 27, 1917 - The wind of on this Sunday was so severe that the Steamboat Burke had to tie up at Cobb’s Landing, according to the Wilcox Progressive Era. Fortunately, no damage was done in Wilcox County.

May 27, 1917 - Mrs. Julia A. Middlebrooks died at the home of her son, Mr. J.W. Middlebrooks, about seven miles east of Camden, aged 79 years. The deceased lady was the widow of Mr. Rufus Middlebrooks, who died in 1870. The interment was in the Society Hill cemetery.

May 27, 1917 – The Rev. A.P. Majors of Fatama visited Natchez on this fourth Sunday of the month. This was the first time he had been able to make the trip within six months, according to the Wilcox Progressive Era.

May 27, 1918 - In the early morning hours, the German army began the Third Battle of the Aisne with an attack on Allied positions at the Chemin des Dames ridge, in the Aisne River region of France.

May 27, 1923 – James O. Archer, the last surviving son of four Confederate soldier sons of Amos Archer of Monroe County, Ala., passed away at the age of 79 at his home near Monroeville. after an illness of several months. Born on Oct. 1, 1843, he enlisted in Monroeville as a private in Co. F of the 36th Alabama Infantry (under Capt. W.S. Wiggins) on April 10, 1862. He was discharged on Jan. 23, 1863. He was buried in the Methodist Cemetery in Monroeville, Ala.

May 27, 1926 - Bronze figures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer were erected in Hannibal, Mo.

May 27, 1926 – Evergreen’s baseball team beat Georgiana, 28-3, in Georgiana, Ala. Evergreen first baseman Miller hit three home runs, two doubles and a single in six trips to the plate. The week before, Evergreen beat Georgiana, 5-4.

May 27, 1929 – Denny Chimes was officially dedicated on The Quad at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. with Gov. Bib Graves presiding. This monument in honor of University President George H. Denny was built by Skinner, Maxwell & Co.

May 27, 1930 – The 1,046 feet Chrysler Building in New York City, the tallest man-made structure at the time, opened to the public.

May 27, 1932 – Poet Linda Pastan was born in the Bronx.

May 27, 1937 – In California, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic, creating a vital link between San Francisco and Marin County, California.

May 27, 1948 – The Evergreen Courant reported that “local political front was broadened” by the entry of five new candidates for places on the city council. The total at that point in the race for council posts was nine with five to be elected. Tues., June 1, was the last day for qualifying. The five announcing for council posts that week were J.W. Shannon, H.H. Beasley, H.J. Kinzer, H.A. Deer and D.T. Stuart. There were no further announcements for mayor. Present mayor, J.H. Robison, and M.M. Cardwell announced for that office the week before. The first primary of the municipal elections was to be held on June 29. A second, if necessary, was to be held on July 27. Candidates nominated in the primary elections would be entered in the general election to be held Sept. 20. New officials would take office on Oct. 1, 1948.

May 27, 1948 – The Monroe Journal reported that the work of marking the streets of Monroeville, Ala. was well under way that week and Mayor Charles Cole said it would continue until all streets on which persons were at that time residing were properly marked. The work was the outgrowth of efforts of the town to obtain free mail delivery within its corporate limits. The Post Office Department had refused to consider such delivery until streets had been named and marked and houses numbered.

May 27, 1949 – This Friday night was the “big night” for 88 seniors in the four Conecuh County high schools who were scheduled to receive diplomas. The exercises were scheduled to begin at eight o’clock at all four schools. Repton, Lyeffion and Castleberry were to award diplomas in the school auditoriums, while at Evergreen High School the ceremony was to take place in Memorial Gymnasium.

May 27, 1951 – Truman Capote finished his novel, “The Grass Harp,” which he began writing in June 1950. It would be released by Random House on Oct. 1, 1951.

May 27, 1953 – Evergreen High School Assistant Coach Ralph Law was scheduled to report to Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga.

May 27, 1953 – National Baseball Hall of Fame left fielder Jesse Burkett passed away at the age of 84 in Worcester, Mass. During his career, he played for the New York Giants, the Cleveland Spiders, the St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals, the St. Louis Browns and the Boston Americans. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946.

May 27, 1954 – Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater was born in Jackson, Miss. He went on to play for Jackson State and the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

May 27, 1955 - Norm Zauchin of the Boston Red Sox got 10 RBIs against the Senators.

May 27, 1962 – First baseman Fred Whitfield, a native of Vandiver, Ala., made his Major League debut, pinch-hitting for future Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. Whitfield drew a walk off Bob Shaw of the Milwaukee Braves, but was promptly erased in a double play.

May 27, 1963 - Graduation exercises at all of Monroe County’s high schools were scheduled to be held on this Monday night with 146 students slated to received diplomas. All baccalaureate sermons were scheduled to be held on Sun., May 26.

May 27, 1965 – During the Vietnam War, American warships began the first bombardment of National Liberation Front targets within South Vietnam.

May 27, 1968 - After 48 years as coach of the Chicago Bears, George Halas retired.

May 27, 1968 - It was announced that baseball franchises had been awarded to Montreal and San Diego. The Montreal team, the Expos, was the first MLB franchise in Canada and the first franchise outside the United States.

May 27, 1968 – National Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman and designated hitter Frank Thomas was born in Columbus, Ga. He went on to play for the Chicago White Sox, the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

May 27, 1969 - Construction of Walt Disney World began in Florida.

May 27, 1971 – Oakleigh Mansion in Mobile, Ala. was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

May 27, 1971 - In Sweden, Foreign Minister Torsten Nilsson revealed that Sweden had been providing assistance to the Viet Cong, including some $550,000 worth of medical supplies.

May 27, 1974 – At Monroe County High School’s annual basketball-baseball awards banquet, sophomore pitcher Terry Coleman was named the baseball team’s Most Valuable Player. Johnny Bartlett was named the team’s best hitter, and Buddy Black was named team captain. Tim Pullen was named the team’s best fielder.

May 27, 1986 - Mel Fisher recovered a jar that contained 2,300 emeralds from the Spanish ship Atocha. The ship sank in the 17th century.

May 27, 1987 - Phil Niekro of the New York Yankees became the third pitcher to make 700 starts.

May 27, 1989 - The television program “La Strega,” teleplay by Alabama author Robert McDowell, was broadcast as part of the “Monsters” series.

May 27, 1993 - Mack Roberts, Alabama Highway Director, announced on this day that the contract for repairing the bridge on Interstate Highway 65 had been let. The apparent low bidder was McInnis Corp. of Montgomery, with an apparent low bid of $283,000. The bridge, which collapsed after an 18-wheeler hit the concrete support, fell on I-65, blocking the entire southbound roadway. The accident occurred just after midnight on Wed., May 19. The roadway was opened to traffic that evening by 7:30 p.m.

May 27, 1993 – The Monroe Journal reported that Jeff Howard, a 6-foot-1 standout pitcher at Monroe County High School for the previous four years, had signed a baseball scholarship with Faulkner State Junior College in Bay Minette, Ala. Howard completed his senior season with an .080 earned-run average, a 10-2 pitching record, 108 strikeouts, seven home runs and a .385 batting average. The highly sought-after left-hander led MCHS to the semifinals of the 5A state baseball playoffs, where the team suffered a pair of losses to eventual state champion Daphne High School.

May 27, 1994 - The highest temperature created by humans, a balmy 920,000,000 F degrees (30 times hotter than the center of the sun) was produced at the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

May 27, 1998 - Michael Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison for not warning anyone about the plot to bomb an Oklahoma City federal building.

May 27, 1999 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Franklin Williams of Hillcrest High School had received a basketball scholarship to Alabama Southern Community College in Monroeville. Keith Nettles was assistant principal at HHS the time. Franklin was the son of Evelyn Williams.

May 27, 1999 – The Evergreen Courant reported that applications were being taken at that time for the Wendell Hart Scholarship. The Evergreen Rotary Club, administrators of the Wendell Hart Scholarship Fund, announced that applications for the $2,500 scholarship were available at that time. Applications could be picked up at the Evergreen Courant or by calling Robert Bozeman. The deadline for submitting applications was July 1, 1999. The scholarship was dedicated to the memory of the late Coach Wendell Hart, who deeply cared for his students and desired that all deserving young men and women be able to advance their education.

May 27, 1999 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Drew Skipper, valedictorian of Sparta Academy, and Will Lanier, valedictorian of Hillcrest High School, were being saluted by WSFA TV that summer in the annual Best of the Class program. This series of television announcements identified those students from south and central Alabama who had the highest grade point average in their graduating classes. Videotaping of the announcements took place at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts during a brunch honoring the students and their parents.

May 27, 1999 - The Monroe Journal reported that The Journal had been named the leading weekly newspaper of its size in Alabama. The Journal won the award for General Excellence in the 1999 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. Seventy-four newspapers submitted 2,702 entries which were judged by the Kentucky Press Association. The Journal last won General Excellence in 1992. “This award confirms what I have always said,” said Bo Bolton, Journal owner and publisher. “The Monroe Journal has the best weekly newspaper staff in the state.”

May 27, 1999 – The Monroe Journal reported that during Police Memorial Week, the Monroeville Police Department treated its officers to breakfast at Southside Baptist Church. Officers Charlie Steen, 21 years, Robert Champion, 23 years, Dewitt Everette, 32 years, and Danny Ikner, 23 years, were recognized for their long service to the department with a certificate and a mockingbird watch. Officers also remembered those killed in the line of duty: Raymond Chandler, 1996; Ed Brown, 1972; and Robert Lee, 1972.

May 27, 2012 – Matt Adams of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his first Major League home run. After being robbed by Shane Victorino’s leaping catch at the wall two innings earlier, Adams left no doubt about his first MLB home run. The highly touted rookie blasted the first pitch he saw from Phillies reliver Chad Qualls deep into the right field seats for a solo shot that helped the Cardinals to an 8-3 win.