October 4: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

October 4, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1904, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “PARIS — Frederick Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor, died at 8 o’clock this morning. Mr. Bartholdi was born in Colmar, Alsace, now a province of Germany, April 2, 1834. Intended for a lawyer by his parents, he preferred the studio of Ary Scheffer, who had recognized his latent artistic talent, and became a sculptor. This entrance into the work of the greatest of arts was the turning point of a life subsequently noteworthy for some excellent productions, including the gigantic ‘Liberte Eclairant le Monde,’ which now stands at the New York gateway of the new world.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1909, the Eagle reported, “Merely as an appetizer before undertaking his heavy work late in the afternoon, Wilbur Wright drove his aeroplane on a twenty-one mile flight above the Hudson River to Grant’s Tomb and beyond, encircling that monument and returning to his starting point on Governor’s Island in 33 minutes and 33 seconds. The running was unofficial in the sense that it was not officially timed or officially announced by the Hudson-Fulton aeronautic committee, but Mr. Wright says it fulfills every condition of his contract that requires only an extended flight of half an hour’s duration. This afternoon’s flight will be official, and will be announced by signal flags and bombs. It will take place about 3 or 4 o’clock. Mr. Wright announces that it will take place anyhow, but says he will be governed by weather conditions in making his start. If the wind appears to be dropping at 3 o’clock, he will wait, but if it appears to be increasing, he will start on scheduled time.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “The century-old Penny Bridge at the foot of Montague St., picturesque as it was, could no longer stand in the way of progress. The small metal footbridge which spanned the street where it cuts deeply from Brooklyn Heights to the East River, mecca of youngsters and nursemaids of the area by day and haven of spooners at night, has been torn down in the interests of the Brooklyn-Queens Connecting Highway. Engineers at Borough Hall today said that the present ramp will be filled in to bring everything to the upper level … Once before, in 1934, the span was in danger — but that time it was saved by the protests of aroused Brooklynites … One of the small bridge’s attractions was the splendid view of the Manhattan skyline it afforded. According to borough engineers, this view will be vastly improved by the improved park at the foot of the street now planned.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “PARIS (U.P.) — Dmitri Manuilsky of the Ukraine denounced President Truman for his atomic energy policy today, and American delegate Warren Austin countered with a demand that the Russians ‘stop throwing mud.’ An exchange occurred as the United Nations Political Committee resumed debate on atomic control. Austin in effect rejected the Soviet proposal of Saturday on atomic control. He asked the Russians whether they really wanted ‘effective international control of atomic energy’ or were clinging to the ‘idea that nationalism is supreme.’ Austin made the first of the Western replies to the Soviet proposal put forth by Andrei Vishinsky Saturday. Vishinsky had retreated from the Soviet position that all U.S. atom bombs must be destroyed at once, proposing a prohibition on such weapons simultaneously with the implementation of an international agreement. Manuilsky claimed that Mr. Truman’s main objective was to preserve a monopoly on atomic energy for use by the United States in a new war. He accused the United States of ‘ultra-imperialism’ and scoffed at what he called America’s ‘magnanimous offer’ on atomic energy. Austin reported that the United States would ‘go a long way to obtain unanimity’ on atomic questions, but only if Russia ceased its holdout against the minimum requirements laid down in the majority plan.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “The World Series starts today. The baseball championship of this green footstool opens up in the Bronx at 1 p.m. as the Giants and the Yankees clash. The Dodgers are shut out, beaten in a real heartbreaker in the sudden-death third game of the playoff series at the Polo Grounds that decided the National League pennant winner. This was the first pennant for the Giants in 14 years. The Yankees, winners of the American League championship for the third straight time, have been sitting back since Sunday night, waiting for the two teams that tied over the National League schedule to finish their incredible feud. It was certainly one of the great sports stories of all time that was climaxed with one out in the last half of the ninth inning when Bobby Thomson, the Scottish-born third baseman of the Giants, slugged a home run into the left field stands at the Polo Grounds off Ralph Branca. The blow converted a 4 to 2 deficit against the Giants into a 5 to 4 victory for the club that had come back after having trailed at one stage of the race by 13 1/2 games … The Yankees, shooting for their third consecutive world championship, are quoted as 8 to 5 favorites to win the first game and 9 to 5 to win the Series.”

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Melissa Benoist
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include former N.Y. Rangers left wing Vic Hadfield, who was born in 1940; Baseball Hall of Famer Tony La Russa, who was born in 1944; “Amen” star Clifton Davis, who was born in 1945; Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon, who was born in 1946; Triumph drummer and singer Gil Moore, who was born in 1953; “Coach” star Bill Fagerbakke, who was born in 1957; “Just Another Day” singer Jon Secada, who was born in 1961; “The Omen” star Liev Schreiber, who was born in 1967; former N.Y. Knicks forward Kurt Thomas, who was born in 1972; “Clueless” star Alicia Silverstone, who was born in 1976; “She’s All That” star Rachel Leigh Cook, who was born in 1979; “Supergirl” star Melissa Benoist, who was born in 1988; “Fifty Shades of Grey” star Dakota Johnson, who was born in 1989; and “Charlie’s Angels” star Ella Balinska, who was born in 1996.