July 31: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

July 31, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1857, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Two young sharks, one measuring 8 1-2 and the other 7 1-2 feet long, were captured in the East River, near Fulton ferry slip, about 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon. They were soon dragged ashore and dressed, and today they will probably be sold as specimens of the delicate fish of the season. Boys who bathe near the city should keep a sharp look out for these big-mouthed monsters. This morning two more sharks were caught near the same place, one of which measured ten feet long.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1901, the Eagle reported, “John Greives, a sailor on the Essex, which is in dry dock at the Navy Yard, donned a disguise this morning and attempted to escape from the yard. He was seen by Watchman Gustavus Voss and placed under arrest. Shipkeeper-in-Charge George Demarest went to the guard house after the prisoner. As he was bringing him back to the Essex, Greives offered the shipkeeper $25 if he would let him go. Officer Demarest indignantly declined the proffered bribe, and took Greives before the captain of the Essex. The captain heard the charge against the would be deserter and ordered him placed in double irons for ten days.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1934, the Eagle reported, “The Police Department’s radio system was silenced for 29 minutes late yesterday but not a single criminal benefited. The antenna at headquarters station WEPG had to be moved from the Police Academy building to a loft building across the street. Between 3:30 and 4 p.m. was selected as the time. Not a single alarm came in.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “TAIPEI, FORMOSA (U.P.) — Gen. Douglas MacArthur flew to Taipei today and immediately began talks with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek on the defense of Formosa against invasion by the Chinese Communists. MacArthur came here with his top aides in his capacity as commander in chief of American forces in the Far East. His arrival stirred speculation that the United States plans to play a bigger role in the defense of the little that remains of Nationalist China. The U.S. 7th Fleet already is patrolling Formosan waters under orders from President Truman to prevent a Red invasion of the island. Chiang on several occasions has expressed willingness to place his forces under MacArthur’s command.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “PHILADELPHIA (U.P.) — The ‘save the A’s’ campaign sputtered to a near halt today but Mayor Joseph S. Clark Jr., organizer of the drive to keep the Philadelphia Athletics in this city, said he would continue to urge aid for the faltering American League team. Clark said he received a ‘frankly disillusionary’ report from the executive committee of the campaign to increase attendance at Connie Mack Stadium and hold the Athletics’ franchise here. The three-man committee reported ‘apathy, particularly on the part of those who stood to benefit most from retention of the team.’ The committee said it had written 500 ‘selected individuals’ asking that tickets be purchased to be given to underprivileged children. One order for $6.50 worth of tickets was received. Only seven replies were received from 125 community leaders asked to serve as chairmen of various segments of the committee. Two of the replies declined any chairmanship.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1964, the Brooklyn Record reported, “Doreen Swan, blonde entry from the land of the plaid and bonnie bands, made headline news the other day when she quit the Miss Universe contest and took herself to the Hotel St. George in Brooklyn. For a couple of days, the phones hummed, the daily newspapers made their headlines and the television newsreel cameras clicked. The story is that the contest conditions were such that she lost 14 pounds and that was not keeping her in the best of shape for beauty competition. The Miss Universe officials say she was in love and that caused her to lose the weight. Be what it may, transoceanic calls brought kilt plaid, bagpipe playing bearded Watt Nicoll to these shores. Watt was packing his bags when an official from the Hotel St. George suggested that he and Miss Swan stay a few days in hospitable Brooklyn and, incidentally, say a few words for the vast television audience. They agreed. From there on the telephone interviews were numerous. Miss Swan said the food at the Hotel St. George was wonderful and soon she was back in her most beautiful form. Watt even played his pipes in the hotel’s grand ballroom for the benefit of CBS-television. Hotel guests viewing the news that evening in the hotel’s two television lounges were surprised to learn that the beauty queen was a fellow guest at the St. George. There was a stirring and gossip when the announcer said that the queen was interviewed right there … Last heard from, Doreen and Watt are seeing America. They are said to be in Las Vegas.”

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Wesley Snipes
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Knots Landing” star Don Murray, who was born in 1929; “The Bold and the Beautiful” star Susan Flannery, who was born in 1939; “Doctor Zhivago” star Geraldine Chaplin, who was born in 1944; former Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing, who was born in 1944; “The Terminator” star Michael Biehn, who was born in 1956; lawyer and media personality Ron Kuby, who was born in 1956; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who was born in 1958; jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan, who was born in 1959; “Blade” star Wesley Snipes, who was born in 1962; “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, who was born in 1965; “Lois & Clark” star Dean Cain, who was born in 1966; “South Park” producer Eric “Butters” Stough, who was born in 1972; Pro Football Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden, who was born in 1974; “Pitch Perfect” star Alexis Knapp, who was born in 1989; and “Modern Family” star Rico Rodriguez, who was born in 1998.