July 22: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
ON THIS DAY IN 1898, a Brooklyn Daily Eagle editorial said, “Probably without his knowledge and certainly without his consent, Theodore Roosevelt is being boomed for governor of this state. Explanations are scarcely necessary. Not long ago he was one of the most popular and unpopular men in what was then New York City. There can be no doubt that he made many active enemies and many passive friends while he held the office of police commissioner. From the metropolis he went to Washington, where he proved to be anything but an idle official. Tremendous powers are placed in the hands of the assistant secretary of the Navy. He is to many intents and purposes the head of the department. Officers of the highest rank are anxious to ingratiate themselves with him. He becomes accustomed to ceremonies and pleasing receptions and is everywhere regarded as a factor of great consequence.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1925, the Eagle reported, “MONTAUK, L.I. — The latest sensational fishing story emanating from this port of good yarns is the report of eye witnesses of a fight between a monster swordfish and an equally big shark. Not only were two fishermen witnesses to the bloody scrap but they took part in it and were in at the death of both big fish. ‘Oh, for a movie camera,’ sighed one. ‘This battle is better than anything the movies ever faked.’ The report — and the two big fish, both weighing in the neighborhood of 800 pounds each — was brought ashore by Lester Wolcott and W.H. Bennett of Belmar, N.J., fishing 20 miles or so off shore here. When they visited their big sea net, they found the two fish trapped within and both of them fighting ferociously … During the melee the fishing boat was nearly overturned when both big fish at once crashed up against its side. The fishermen slashed at the fighting monsters with picks and axes and finally killed both of them. The swordfish is described as being more than 12 feet long and the shark was nearly as big.”