August 29: ON THIS DAY in 1945, Yanks pour ashore

August 29, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1883, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “An island inhabited by some millions of people and studded with volcanoes suddenly became the theater of the most extraordinary manifestation of those activities for which science is able to give but a poor explanation. Some time ago a small volcanic island a few miles off the coast and containing a volcano was observed to be in a state of excitement. This was not an unusual occurrence, it appears, and though the wonderful phenomena were watched with intense interest, no especial alarm was felt in the main island. The glow and detonations on Krakatoa were distinctly perceptible forty-five miles distant, and a few hours later a shower of red hot rocks and ashes began to fall. The deposit increased for several hours; the water which separates the two islands was observed to be in a state of profound agitation, literally boiling or approaching that state. The bed of the strait was undoubtedly heated to a tremendous temperature, sharing the condition of Krakatoa. For 500 miles round the sea gave evidences of similar disturbances. But the sinister energy at work was traveling steadily toward Java carrying death and devastation with it.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1911, the Eagle reported, “Berne, Switzerland, Aug. 29 — Tourists while crossing the Loetschen glacier yesterday saw deep down in the clear ice the faces of two dead men. Guides accompanying the party chipped out with their ice axes the frozen bodies of the two men and brought them to the surface. The bodies have not yet been identified, but they probably are those of two London tourists named Bemebecke and Coin, who disappeared fourteen years ago.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1932, the Eagle reported, “Albany — Governor [Franklin] Roosevelt today postponed Mayor [Jimmy] Walker’s removal hearing, scheduled to have been resumed tonight, until after the funeral of the mayor’s brother, George F. Walker, who died early today at a Saranac Lake sanatorium. Informed of the death of Mr. Walker, Roosevelt telephoned John J. Curtin, the mayor’s attorney, to ask him if he desired an adjournment. The latter communicated with the mayor, who said he would appreciate the courtesy … Postponement of the hearing has given the limelight to a decision to be handed down today by Supreme Court Justice Ellis J. Staley, Albany Republican, as to whether the governor has power to remove the mayor.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “London, Aug. 29 (AP) — Prime Minister [Neville] Chamberlain declared firmly amid tremendous cheers in the House of Commons today that ‘we shall hold fast to the lines which we have laid down’ and ‘we are ready for any eventuality.’ In a speech of 16 minutes, delivered in a serious but at times challenging voice, he asserted Britain’s policy — to stand by Poland against attack — remained unchanged and the issue of peace or war now lay solely with Adolf Hitler. He was almost apologetic for some of the defense measures affecting private citizens, but said sharply in an obvious reference to Germany that ‘at any rate we have not had to begin here by issuing ration cards.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “In Tokyo Bay, Aug. 29 (AP) — Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey sailed triumphantly into Tokyo Bay aboard his flagship, the super-dreadnaught Missouri, today. And with him he brought the silver-mounted saddle he hopes to use to ride Emperor Hirohito’s white horse through the streets of Tokyo. The bomb ruins of Tokyo were visible in the distance as the Missouri dropped anchor off Yokohama. There was no word from the Japanese regarding Admiral Halsey’s designs on the imperial horse, but the enemy had erected an immense block-long sign on the top of Yokohama’s largest building. ‘Three Cheers for the United States Navy and Army!’ it proclaimed. If the Japanese choose to hail Halsey as a conquering hero, he may get his long-wished horseback ride yet. Halsey stood on the bridge of the Missouri as it negotiated the narrow, mine-swept Uraga Straits and entered Tokyo Bay at exactly 7:08 a.m. (6:08 p.m. Tuesday, Brooklyn time).”