May 2: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

May 2, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1908, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The greatest invasion of eels that has ever come to Brooklyn is causing any amount of trouble to the Department of Water Supply. In one day this week sixty-eight complaints about eels lodged in water pipes reached the office of the deputy commissioner. These complaints came from all parts of the borough. At first the residents of the Heights thought that the visitors were coming to them alone, but now from Williamsburg, Bushwick and many other sections word comes that the drinking water tastes ‘fishy,’ that the pressure is slow or stopped altogether, that hydraulic motors and pipes are clogged, and even that live eels are dangling from the faucets.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Eagle reported, “Considerable excitement marked the sailing of the Lusitania, of the Cunard line, which was scheduled to leave her pier at 10 o’clock yesterday morning, but had not made way an hour after that time. Scores of private detectives mingled with the passengers, who were forced to pick out and identify their baggage. Another inconvenience was the fact that no person was allowed to board the boat until they had procured credentials. There were 1,310 passengers aboard, of this number 300 were saloon. Among the more prominent on board were Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Charles Frohman, Elbert Hubbard, D.A. Thomas and his daughter, Lady Mackworth and Charles Klein. Numerous telegrams were received at the pier by passengers, signed with fictitious names, advising them not to sail as the big steamer was to be torpedoed by German submarines. Mr. Vanderbilt was the recipient of one of these, but after glancing at the message, destroyed it without comment.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “SHANGHAI (U.P.) — Nationalist troops repulsed Communist forces in the first heavy battle on the approaches to Shanghai, fought over the weekend in the area some 30 miles to the west, Shanghai garrison headquarters announced today. A government communique said Nationalist troops threw back a Communist assault on Ching-yangkang, two miles west of Kunshan, last night. Chinese reports said the Communists were forced to retreat beyond Chenyi, seven miles west of Kunshan. These reports said there was heavy artillery fire on both sides. The communique said Nationalist troops still were holding Kunshan despite a heavy Communist artillery barrage on the town during the night. In Shanghai, meanwhile, government troops set up American-made heavy machines along the famous Bund and in the upper floors of the city’s tallest buildings to prevent a Communist fifth column attack from within. From these commanding positions the guns were able to sweep the Pootung district across the river from Shanghai proper. Pootung is a hotbed of underground activity and the point where a Communist uprising is most feared.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “TOBRUK, MAY 1 (U.P.) — Queen Elizabeth II, monarch and mother, today clasped bonny Prince Charles and three-year-old Princess Anne in her arms for the first time in almost six months. For almost three hours before the Queen was reunited with her children, she was within sight of the royal yacht where they were waiting, but official duties kept her from them. The first embrace of mother and children was in private on the deck of the yacht Britannia, which brought the children here. However, reports said that it was one of the most enthusiastic receptions the Queen has received on her 50,000-mile commonwealth tour. Three years ago, the Queen, who was then Princess Elizabeth, returned from a lengthy tour of Canada to find that Prince Charles had forgotten her. Prince Charles and Princess Anne apparently knew their mother this time. The Britannia sailed out of Tobruk Harbor for Malta shortly after Elizabeth went aboard. The beaming Queen took the salute from the royal bridge, with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, beside her. Just slightly to her rear, as though fearful she might again disappear, were bright-eyed Charles and his golden-haired sister. Britain’s royal family was together again, although to Elizabeth it must have seemed that this morning’s official duties were the longest she had to endure.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “After the Lovin’” singer Engelbert Humperdinck, who was born in 1936; model and actress Bianca Jagger, who was born in 1945; “Agatha Christie’s Poirot” star David Suchet, who was born in 1946; Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Larry Gatlin, who was born in 1948; Foreigner singer Lou Gramm, who was born in 1950; “Cybil” star Christine Baranski, who was born in 1952; fashion designer Donatella Versace, who was born in 1955; “Amadeus” star Elizabeth Berridge, who was born in 1962; political commentator Mika Brzezinski, who was born in 1967; “Fast & Furious” star Dwayne Johnson, who was born in 1972; “Blossom” star Jenna von Oy, who was born in 1977; “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star Ellie Kemper, who was born in 1980; stock car driver Kyle Busch, who was born in 1985; Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Sarah Hughes, who was born in 1985; 2010 American League Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz, who was born in 1988; and eight-time NBA All-Star Paul George, who was born in 1990.

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IT IS WRITTEN: The King James Bible was published on this day in 1611. King James I had appointed a committee of learned men to produce a new translation of the Bible in English. In England it’s known as the Authorized Version.

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FROM FIRST TO LAST: Lou Gehrig benched himself on this day in 1939. The N.Y. Yankees first baseman asked manager Joe McCarthy to take him out of the lineup against the Detroit Tigers, ending a streak of 2,130 consecutive games that began in 1925. Gehrig was soon diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and died at age 37 on June 2, 1941.

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

Quotable:

“All success begins with self-discipline. It starts with you.”

— actor Dwayne Johnson, who was born on this day in 1972