ON THIS DAY IN 1899, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “Governor Theodore Roosevelt has stamped his approval on the National Dewey Home Fund by sending to this paper, to be credited to the fund, his check for $25. The letter which accompanies the check was written on the Fourth of July, a most appropriate date. The letter is as follows: ‘State of New York, Executive Chamber, Albany. At Oyster Bay, N.Y., July 4, 1899. To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle, Brooklyn, N.Y.: Dear sir — I inclose you a check as a slight token of my appreciation of your effort to get some memorial and to give recognition in whatever shape the Admiral himself deems best, to services to the country which have justly rendered him the man of all since the Civil War who stands highest in the popular regard. Very sincerely yours (Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT.’ That Governor Roosevelt has long been an admirer of Admiral Dewey is well known and this substantial mark of approval for the man and recognition of the worthiness of the fund is most gratifying to the managers of the fund.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1919, the Eagle said, “Perhaps the Red demonstrations were postponed on account of the heat … The crimson uprising was confined to the thermometer.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1921, the Eagle reported, “PHILADELPHIA — Assurances have been received from many of the leading tennis players of foreign countries that they would enter the national lawn tennis tournament for the singles championship, which will be held at the Germantown Cricket Club in September. Indications are that William T. Tilden, the title-holder, will meet as strong, if not stronger, competition in defending his title as he did at the tournament in Wimbledon, England, where he retained his title of world’s champion. Virtually every country that recognizes lawn tennis as a major sport will be represented.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle said, “SAN FRANCISCO (U.P.) — Charles McGill, Oakland radio amateur, reported today that he picked up at 10:35 a.m. (E.D.T.) a faded voice message on the band of Amelia Earhart’s missing plane saying: ‘NRUI-KHAQQ, KHAQQ-SOS, SOS, SOS-KHAQQ. 281 North Howland. Cannot hold out much longer. Drifting slowly northwest. We above water. Motor sinking in water. Very wet.’ Miss Earhart’s husband, George Putnam, said he placed ‘fair credence’ in the authenticity of the message McGill picked up. Coast Guard headquarters were skeptical. [At Washington, a radio message from the Coast Guard Cutter Itasca reported at 1:54 p.m. (E.D.T.) today that she had no information about the Earhart plane, according to the Associated Press.] At Honolulu the Coast Guard reported shortly after 9 a.m. (E.D.T.) that it was receiving carrier wave signals, believed to be coming from Miss Earhart. The Pan-American Airways radio also picked up the signals, but said they were too faint to permit calculating position. Coast Guard officials denied rumors that the minesweeper Swan had sighted the plane in which Miss Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were forced down out of fuel. McGill said this morning’s message was in a faint voice. He was unable to say whether it was a man’s voice or a woman’s voice. ‘It was too faint and came widely interspersed over the carrier of 31.05, one of Miss Earhart’s bands.’ McGill said Saturday’s message was in Miss Earhart’s voice. ‘She said SOS four times followed by the call letters of her plane — KHAQQ,’ he added. ‘Then she repeated SOS twice followed by KHAQQ. Then she said ‘Fred Noonan taking over.’ Her voice stopped and it was immediately followed by code.’ The code message, McGill said, was as follows: ‘225 north northwest off Howland. Battery very weak. Can’t last long. Flare all wet. Baks.’ McGill was unable to explain the meaning of the letters ‘Baks.’”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1942, the Eagle reported, “A separate box office has been opened at the RKO Palace for the sale of reserved seats for any of the 40 RKO theaters at which the world premiere of Samuel Goldwyn’s ‘The Pride of the Yankees’ will take place on the night of July 15. Although the Palace will not show the Goldwyn film biography of Lou Gehrig in which Gary Cooper plays the title role, this service has been installed for the convenience of patrons who happen to be in the Times Square area.”
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Willie Randolph. Photo: Seth Wenig/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Duke of Earl” singer Gene Chandler, who was born in 1937; former President George W. Bush, who was born in 1946; “Hunter” star Fred Dryer, who was born in 1946; “Rocky” and “Rambo” star Sylvester Stallone, who was born in 1946; Hockey Hall of Famer and former N.Y. Rangers defenseman Brad Park, who was born in 1948;
Sylvester Stallone. Photo: Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP
Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush, who was born in 1951; “Moonlighting” star Allyce Beasley, who was born in Brooklyn in 1954; former N.Y. Yankees co-captain and N.Y. Mets manager Willie Randolph, who was born in Brooklyn in 1954; “Absolutely Fabulous” star Jennifer Saunders, who was born in 1958; rapper and actor 50 Cent, who was born in 1975; “Sister, Sister” stars Tamera and Tia Mowry, who were born in 1978; former N.Y. Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, who was born in 1982; and “GLOW” star Kate Nash, who was born in 1987.
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THE STARS ALIGN:Major League Baseball held its first All-Star Game on this day in 1933. The game took place in Chicago’s Comiskey Park and Babe Ruth homered to lead the American League to a 4-2 victory over the National League. Prior to 1933, All-Star contests consisted of pre- and post-season exhibitions that often found teams made up of a few stars playing beside journeymen and minor leaguers.
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George W. Bush. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
MEET THE BEATLES: John Lennon and Paul McCartney met on this day in 1957. In Liverpool, England, 15-year-old McCartney watched a band called the Quarrymen, led by 16-year-old Lennon. The two spoke later that day and went on to create the most legendary rock group in history.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“Everywhere that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear.” — former President George W. Bush, who was born on this day in 1946.
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.
