Brooklyn Boro

August 7: ON THIS DAY in 1945, Jap base devastated by atom bomb burst

August 7, 2020 Brooklyn Eagle History
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ON THIS DAY IN 1892, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “FALL RIVER, MASS. — The latest development in the Borden murder, relating particularly to the theory of poisoning, has given way to discussion among the people today to talk of the funerals, which took place this morning. As early as 9 o’clock the house was surrounded by a great crowd of curiosity seekers. Reporters, artists, photographers and policemen were active among them. Shortly after 10:30, Mr. Morse came from the house and talked freely with a group of reporters. He said it was a terrible thing to be suspected and shadowed as he has been, but he courts the fullest investigation and is anxious and willing to do all that he can to trace the perpetrators of the great crimes. He said Miss Lizzie Borden’s health was in about the same condition as it was last Thursday afternoon. She did not mingle with the family to any great extent.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1916, the Eagle reported, “Microscopic examination of various sorts of insects that may be found in the city at this season will be made by a corps of thirty or forty naturalists to determine, if possible, if infantile paralysis is being spread by insect carriers. Health Commissioner Emerson, in announcing today that this work would be undertaken, said that the naturalists would be secured by federal health officers. Flies, mosquitoes, bugs and all kinds of winged and crawling insects will be subjected to microscopic and other tests in the hope of finding what insects, if any, are carriers of the infantile paralysis germ. No recovered infantile paralysis patients have answered the appeal of the Board of Health for blood as the basis of a serum to fight the disease, according to a statement issued by Dr. Emerson at noon today. Cooperating with the federal health authorities, the local board is preparing to visit homes for crippled and deformed persons outside New York which may be visited by patients suffering from the after-effects of the disease in the hope of securing the necessary blood for the new serum.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “GUAM (U.P.) — Tokyo said today that American atomic bombs descended on Hiroshima by parachute yesterday, exploded before reaching the ground and caused such great devastation that authorities still have not ascertained its full extent. Japanese propagandists said use of the new weapon was ‘sufficient to brand the enemy for ages to come as the destroyer of … mankind’ and ‘public enemy number one of social justice.’ An investigation was under way into the extent of the destruction in the world’s first atomic bombing, Tokyo said. First reports showed a ‘considerable number’ of houses had been demolished and fires broke out at several places, the broadcast added. The broadcast, coming 36 hours after the raid, said the destructive power of the new weapon ‘cannot be slighted,’ but claimed that Japanese authorities already were working out ‘effective counter measures.’ ‘The history of war shows that the new weapon, however effective, will eventually lose its power, as the opponent is bound to find methods to nullify its effects,’ Tokyo said hopefully.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “BOSTON (U.P.) — John F. Kennedy, handsome, blue-eyed son of the former Ambassador to Britain, revived a family tradition when he ran for nomination for Congress — and won. Though his father never held an elective post, Kennedy’s two grandfathers — former Mayor John F. Fitzgerald and the late U.S. Senator Patrick J. Kennedy — were men of winning ways, both in and out of politics. Kennedy, 29 and a Harvard graduate, decided to enter politics while lying on a hospital bed, recovering from wounds suffered as a PT boat skipper during the war. ‘It was either politics or the newspaper business,’ he said. ‘And the Kennedys always have been interested in politics. That probably tipped the scales.’ Kennedy won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative from the 11th Massachusetts District, and since nomination is tantamount to election, he undoubtedly will succeed 71-year-old James M. Curley in Congress.”


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