ON THIS DAY IN 1846, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “THE MEXICAN DECLARATION OF WAR. — Paredes’ proclamation, announcing hostilities against this country, and his having given orders to the General in Chief of the division on the Northern frontier to make war on the American Army, is dated ‘National Palace of Mexico, April 23rd.’ This was nearly three weeks before President Polk announced that war existed.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1865, the Eagle said, “The War Fund Committee, at its meeting on Saturday evening, appointed a Committee of three to prepare a history of the several regiments recruited in this country during the war. Such a record will be deeply interesting and valuable in the future. It is important that the work shall be thoroughly performed, and officers of these regiments are invited to lend their assistance in the compilation of the record, by giving every fact and incident worthy of note in the experience of their commands. The Committee consists of Messrs. M. F. Odell, G. B. Lincoln, and J. S. T. Stranahan.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1898, the Eagle reported, “SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. — Lists have been distributed at the post office and its various stations in the city for the signatures of letter carriers who will pledge themselves to pay the sum of 50 cents on the first of each month to a fund to be known as the Letter Carriers’ Relief Fund for the Benefit of Sick and Wounded Soldiers now engaged in the war with Spain. The lists are being singed with eagerness.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1917, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON — Regular Army recruiting yesterday totaled 1,542 men, making 79,920 already recruited of the 183,898 necessary to raise the army to full war strength. Pennsylvania regained the lead with 195 men, Illinois coming second with 186. The greatest gain was recorded in California with 103 men as against less than 75 a day for many preceding days.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1934, the Eagle reported, “Representatives of 25 organizations joined with the Robert I. Porter Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, last Sunday in their annual pilgrimage to the Barkaloo Cemetery, Narrows Ave. and MacKay Place, in which are buried two Revolutionary War soldiers. It was shortly before 10 o’clock that the various veterans units, auxiliaries, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and representatives of other organizations, 2,000 strong, assembled in front of the Porter Post headquarters, 4th Ave. and 52nd St. A few minutes later the parade, escorted by a detail from the Fourth Ave. police station, and led by the Porter Post band, started. The parade continued down 4th Ave. to Ovington Ave. to Ridge Boulevard, north to Bay Ridge Ave., west to Narrows Ave. to MacKay Place. Col. William A. Taylor was grand marshal. Memorial services were held at the cemetery. The program opened with the playing of ‘America’ by the Porter Post band, followed by greetings from Past Commander Frank Gleeson, chairman of the ceremonies committee. The hymn, ‘Lead Kindly Light,’ was then played by the band, after which the invocation was made by Post Commander Edward Loughlin.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1943, the Eagle reported, “BOXFORD, MASS., MAY 22 (U.P.) — Mrs. Sarah Foster of Boxford, whose husband was killed in World War I, received word today that her son, Marshall, 30, a staff sergeant in the army air corps, was one of five soldiers killed Thursday in an airplane crash at Rapid City, S.D.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “A Korean cease-fire plan based on a 20-mile buffer zone north of the 38th Parallel soon may be formally reoffered to the Chinese Communists, informed sources at United Nations headquarters disclosed today. The probability that the offer — first made last December — might be repeated appeared to be substantiated by the Senate testimony of Gen. Omar N. Bradley, who said that although the United States still desires an independent and unified Korea, ‘I think we could consider it a victory with something less than that.’ Bradley’s statement came amid intangible reports of peace-feelers from the Russian-led Communist world.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “HANOI, INDO-CHINA, MAY 22 (U.P.) — French warplanes today bombed and strafed the spearhead of the victorious Red legions of Dien Bien Phu pushing on Hanoi from the west. South and east of the city amphibious tanks led French infantrymen in a two-pronged attack on Red forces in the rice-rich Red River delta, the French high command said. Fighters and fighter bombers followed up the tank-led action and bombed and machine-gunned the Reds as they fled across monsoon-flooded rice paddies in the delta region. Disquiet among Hanoi’s 6,000 French population increased, despite the encouraging reports by the French high command. The vanguard of Red Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, conquerors of Dien Bien Phu, were reported only 73 miles west of Hanoi in the rolling hills of the Black River valley.”
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Joan Collins. Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Suddenly Susan” star Barbara Barrie, who was born in 1931; “Dynasty” star Joan Collins, who was born in 1933; Basketball Hall of Famer Rod Thorn, who was born in 1941; former N.Y. Mets and Yankees manager Buck Showalter, who was born in 1956; “Tuesdays with Morrie” author Mitch Albom, who was born in 1958; “The Price Is Right” host Drew Carey, who was born in 1958; “Orange is the New Black” star Lea DeLaria, who was born in 1958; “The Walking Dead” star Melissa McBride, who was born in 1965; “Pretty
Maxwell. Photo: Seth Wenig/AP
Wings” singer Maxwell, who was born in Brooklyn in 1973; “Hands” singer Jewel, who was born in 1974; “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, who was born in 1986; and former NFL defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who was born in 1991.
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FULL ATTENTION: Franz Anton Mesmer was born on this day in 1734. The German physician used magnetism and hypnotism to treat disease — a therapeutic movement known as “mesmerism.” He died in 1815.
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WINGS OF CHANGE: Edward Norton Lorenz was born in Connecticut on this day in 1917. The influential mathematician, meteorologist and father of chaos theory formulated the idea of the
Ryan Coogler. Photo: Phil McCarten/Invision/AP
“butterfly effect” — that a small, seemingly insignificant act or disturbance can actually have huge consequences. His famous 1972 talk, “Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly’s Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?” helped popularize the notion. He died in 2008.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“I like to remember phone numbers because it keeps your brain alive. If you don’t use it, you lose it.” — actress Joan Collins, who was born on this day in 1933.
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
