March 28: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

March 28, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Dr. S.S. Goldwater, commissioner of public health, yesterday announced that ‘Typhoid Mary’ Mallon, who, the commissioner said, was ‘the greatest typhoid germ carrier in the country,’ had been located in Corona, L.I., and this afternoon quarantined on North Brother Island. ‘Typhoid Mary,’ the commissioner said, was released from North Brother Island in 1910, after she had been there three years. Her case is a remarkable one in medical history; although not ill herself, she carries the typhoid infection with her.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “UNO HEADQUARTERS (U.P.) — The United Nations Security Council took its crisis over Russia’s walkout behind closed doors today, with the possibility that restoration of Big Five unanimity may require a direct appeal to Generalissimo Josef Stalin. The council — with or without Russia — will meet late today in secret session for a bitter, free-for-all battle over ways to get the Soviet representative back to the council table. When Big Five unanimity has been shattered in the past by Soviet policy, the United States has often appealed directly to Premier Stalin. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes has been in direct telephonic communication with the White House ever since Russia walked out on the council late yesterday. Other UNO delegates were dispatching urgent cables to their governments asking, ‘What do we do next?’ Soviet Ambassador Andrei A. Gromyko, who stalked from the council chamber when his request for postponement of the Iranian case was denied, apparently was doing the same. He worked at the Soviet Consulate office until 2 a.m. When he left for his hotel, he told reporters: ‘I have nothing to say. If I had plans I would not tell you. I am going to bed.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — Representative J. Parnell Thomas, chairman of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, said today he has ‘definite’ proof that the American Communist party is directed from Moscow. The New Jersey Republican declined to elaborate on the nature of the evidence but said it would be disclosed in a report to be made public ‘today or tomorrow.’ ‘It will show definitely,’ he said, ‘that the Communist party in America is an agency of a foreign government.’ FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover told the committee previously that the American Communist party was a puppet outfit directed from Moscow. He said Communist orders came from Paris but that they were only relayed from Russia. Thomas also reaffirmed his intention to have the committee make a ‘thorough’ investigation of Communist infiltration of the Hollywood movie capital. Another member urged the committee to give first priority to exposing Communists in government and labor unions.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “Magistrate Anthony E. Maglio last night urged a ‘get tough’ policy to be adopted ‘immediately’ by the courts and the cops to curb young hoodlums and called on Mayor [Robert] Wagner to form a Youth Welfare Commission to deal with the problem on a continuing and effective basis. The youthful judge made headlines recently when 31 teenagers, hauled in as they were preparing to wage a gang war in Boro Park, were excoriated as ‘young punks’ and sent to Raymond St. Jail after hearing the judge declare that cops should be allowed to use night sticks on them. Saying there was a lot of ‘unnecessary talk’ as to who is responsible for juvenile delinquency, the judge, addressing himself to the mayor, yesterday wrote: ‘You must lead us and place the full resources of the city in action.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “A new high in the cost of living in the New York metropolitan area was set last month, the Department of Labor said yesterday. The Regional Bureau of Labor Statistics said higher prices for food, medical care, reading and recreation pushed the price index for the New York area to 107.6 — as compared with the base index of 100. To the housewife, this means it cost $10.76 in February to buy what $10 would have purchased in 1957-59.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Four Weddings and a Funeral” director Mike Newell, who was born in 1942; Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Barry, who was born in 1944; Oscar-winning actress Dianne Wiest, who was born in 1948; Country Music Hall of Famer Reba McEntire, who was born in 1955; sportscaster Chris Myers, who was born in 1959; former N.J. Nets coach Byron Scott, who was born in 1961; rapper and actress Salt, who was born in 1966; “Wedding Crashers” star Vince Vaughn, who was born in 1970; model and actress Shanna Moakler, who was born in 1975; “Save the Last Dance” star Julia Stiles, who was born in 1981; “Joanne” singer Lady Gaga, who was born in 1986; and “Hollywood” star Laura Harrier, who was born in 1990.

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A STAR IS BORN: Freddie Bartholomew was born in London on this day in 1924. He appeared in 24 films and became the second-highest-paid child star after Shirley Temple. He is best known for his roles in “Captains Courageous” and “Little Lord Fauntleroy.” He died in 1992.

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SAFETY FIRST: On this day in 1979, a series of accidents took place at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station near Harrisburg, Pa. Equipment and other failures reportedly brought the uranium core close to a meltdown, threatening severe radiation contamination. The incident led to extensive reevaluation of the safety of existing nuclear power-generating operations.

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

Quotable:

“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.”

— Country Music Hall of Famer Reba McEntire, who was born on this day in 1955