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MILESTONES: July 5, birthdays for Megan Rapinoe, DJ Pauly D, RZA

July 5, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Megan Rapinoe. AP Photo/Steve Luciano
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Greetings, Brooklyn.  Today is the 186th day of the year.

On this day in 1876, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Brooklyn never saw such a grand introduction, such stupendous preparations for the celebration of the nation’s birthday as that of the centennial. The sun had not set on the evening of the 3rd when the crowd began to gather along the line of the procession. Everywhere people were seen hurrying by horse cars and on foot toward the streets along which lay the line of march … The soft light of the summer evening hung over a city given up to the excitement and enthusiasm that found its vent in a myriad of ways. There was not much sleep for the people of Brooklyn on that night, the note of preparation was too loud and constant.’”

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On this day in 1934, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “A simple funeral was planned today for Mme. Marie Curie, who died a martyr to the cause of science. The co-discoverer of radium, physicians said, had accumulated radium rays in her system during her experiments and these contributed directly to the illness which ended in her death yesterday … She will be buried beside her husband, Pierre Curie, who died in 1906 when struck by a truck. His death came shortly after the discovery of radium, invaluable in treatment of cancer … The medical world has estimated that radium saved 50,000 wounded men from death in the World War.”

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On this day in 1939, the Eagle reported, “The husky figure climbed slowly up the old wooden stairs back of the Yankees’ dugout, shoulders bent, right leg limping and throat torn by sobs. This was Lou Gehrig leaving the most dramatic moment of his life. Back of him 61,808 fans, piled on Yankee Stadium’s tiered sides, cheered till the rafters shook, and out on the field a big round-faced, flat-nosed fellow stood as tears rolled down his cheeks. He was Babe Ruth, the one-and-only, who had just voiced for everyone who knows three strikes are out their feeling about Lou. He had gone over, put one of those big arms around Gehrig’s shoulders and patted Lou once or twice, trying to get him to stifle the emotion which had broken him up right out there on the ballfield. ‘C’mon, kid,’ the Babe whispered through his tears. ‘C’mon kid, buck up. We’re all with you.’”

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On this day in 1940, the Eagle reported, “Police launched an investigation today into the unsolved theft of 39 sticks of dynamite from a Manhattan construction company on the possibility that this was the explosive used in the bomb which claimed the lives of two detectives yesterday at the World’s Fair … Meanwhile, a reward of $1,000 for the apprehension of the criminal or criminals who planted the bomb in the British pavilion at the fair was offered by the Detectives’ Endowment Association … Killed in the blast were Detective Ferdinand A. Socha [and] Detective Joseph J. Lynch.”

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On this day in 1946, the Eagle reported, “There isn’t any Brooklyn accent. Authority for this statement is Dr. Robert C. Whitford, dean of students and professor of English at Long Island University, who appeared today on the Hi Jinx program, broadcast over WEAF from the Brooklyn Eagle city room. The professor insisted that what people call a Brooklyn accent is merely the way everybody talks in the metropolitan New York area. Dr. Whitford noted that the three guests appearing before him on the program — all of them Brooklynites – spoke in three different accents and that nobody said ‘goil’ for ‘girl’ or ‘erl’ for ‘oil.’”

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On this day in 1954, the Eagle reported, “A howling mob of 200 kids swarmed all over a pair of cops making a fireworks raid on a stand in a Red Hook lot yesterday, and they hampered the policemen to such an extent that two fireworks salesmen were able to make good their escape … The two cops tried to stow the seized fireworks in their radio car, but the irate kids stoned the car. The cops turned in a hurry call for reinforcements. Two more radio cars responded and the kids were dispersed.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actor FRANCOIS ARNUAD, who was born in 1985; actress EDIE FALCO, who was born in Brooklyn in 1963; choreographer and dancer ELIOT FELD, who was born in Brooklyn in 1942; Hall of Fame baseball player RICHARD MICHAEL “GOOSE” GOSSAGE, who was born in 1951; actress EVA GREEN, who was born in 1980; actress KATHERINE HELMOND, who was born in 1934; Tony Award-winning actress SHIRLEY KNIGHT, who was born in 1936; singer HUEY LEWIS, who was born in 1950; Hall of Fame tennis player AMELIE MAURESMO, who was born in 1979; soccer player MEGAN RAPINOE, who was born in 1985; singer and musician ROBBIE ROBERTSON, who was born in 1944; author GARY SHTEYNGART, who was born in 1972; and U.S. Sen. ROGER WICKER, who was born in 1951.

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PHINEAS TAYLOR BARNUM WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1810. As a promoter of the bizarre and unusual, he opened Barnum’s American Museum in 1842, promoting unusual acts including the Feejee Mermaid, Chang and Eng (the original Siamese twins) and General Tom Thumb. In 1850, he began his promotion of Jenny Lind, “the Swedish Nightingale,” and parlayed her singing talents into a major financial success. Barnum also cultivated a keen interest in politics. A founder of the newspaper Herald of Freedom, he wrote outspoken editorials that resulted not only in lawsuits but also in at least one jail sentence. In 1852 he declined the Democratic nomination for governor of Connecticut but did go on to serve two terms in the Connecticut Legislature beginning in 1865. He was defeated in a bid for U.S. Congress in 1866 but served as mayor of Bridgeport from 1875 to 1876. In 1871 “The Greatest Show on Earth” opened in Brooklyn. Barnum merged with his rival J.A. Bailey in 1881 to form the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Barnum died in 1891 in Connecticut.

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CLARA ZETKIN WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1857. The women’s rights advocate has been credited with being the initiator of International Women’s Day, which has been observed at least since 1910. She died in Russia in 1933.

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THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT WAS SIGNED ON THIS DAY IN 1935. This bill guaranteed workers the right to organize and bargain collectively with their employers. It also prohibited the formation of company unions and created the National Labor Relations Board. 

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JEAN COCTEAU WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1889. The French novelist, poet, director, actor and artist’s notable works include the play “Orpheus,” the novel “The Infernal Machine,” and the films “The Blood of a Poet” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Remembered as an avant-garde icon, Cocteau influenced several generations of French artists. He died in 1963 in France.

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STAMFORD RAFFLES WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1781. The English colonel is best known for founding Singapore in 1819. He discovered with Joseph Arnold an East Indian fungus that is named after them, Rafflesia Arnoldi. Raffles died in England on his birthday in 1826.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library. 

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“We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don’t like?” — Jean Cocteau, who was born on this day in 1889

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