November 14: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

November 14, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1928, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “CATANIA, SICILY (AP) — The loss caused by the torrent of molten lava pouring from Mount Etna today was estimated at about $18,500,000. Work of reconstruction was being planned with the complete cessation of the eruption predicted within two or three days. The damage estimates included $8,500,000 for devastation of forests, $3,000,000 for destruction of agricultural lands and $2,500,000 for interruption of traffic and consequent loss to commerce. Destruction of buildings, roads, bridges, railways and telephone and telegraph lines made up the balance. The lava reached a road over which passengers had been taken in automobiles to trains on the other side of the main lava stream. This shut off that route between Messina and Catania and the Italian Engineer Corps seized picks and shovels and started construction of a new road 150 feet beyond the demolished one. The route is essential for maintenance of the economic life of Sicily’s 4,000,000 inhabitants and mapping of new transportation arteries around lava deposits was under way. One of the most radiant over the diminution of the lava flow was Leonard Patane, whose age is 100 and who is known as the ‘Grandpa of Nunziata.’ This intrepid centenarian steadfastly refused to budge from the threatened village. He proclaimed that he would be the last to leave. Today he exhibited a broad grin, saying ‘I told you so’ to all visitors.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1932, the Eagle reported, “Twenty-five awards for meritorious workmanship displayed in the construction of the Radio City Music Hall known as Unit 10 of the Rockefeller Center will be made by the New York Building Congress to mechanics selected from the various building trades at a ceremony of award to be held tomorrow. The craftsmanship exercises will take place at 11:45 a.m. in the main auditorium of the theater, where all workmen on the building will assemble. J.P.H. Perry, chairman of the Committee of Award for the building, will preside. Nelson Rockefeller, representing the owners, will make a short address at the award ceremony.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1938, the Eagle reported, “BERLIN (AP) — Minister of Education Bernhard Rust today expelled Jewish students from all universities, technical schools and other institutions of higher learning in the latest move toward separation of Jews and Germans. The Minister of Education telegraphed the rectors of all universities ordering them to oust Jewish students immediately and to not permit any more to enter even for lectures which do not involve examination for degrees. He said a decree embodying that order was being prepared and would be issued soon. This means final elimination of Jews of all ages from the German school system. Lower grade pupils from 6 to 14 years old were taken from German schools in 1936 and put into Jewish private schools. Jewish professors had previously been ousted.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1940, the Eagle reported, “Spokesmen for aviation interests now operating at Floyd Bennett Field voiced strong opposition today to the city’s proposal to give ten-year leases for space there to six major airlines whose headquarters are at LaGuardia Field. The proposal contemplates the use of Floyd Bennett Field as an auxiliary to the larger municipal airport in Queens. The objections were raised at a public hearing before the Board of Estimate. On the motion of Deputy Mayor Rufus McGahen, action on the matter was deferred for one week. This ended the hearing, although Borough President [John] Cashmore had urged that it be continued. ‘I don’t believe that Brooklyn was properly represented here today,’ said Mr. Cashmore. ‘I want additional information, especially on the Navy angle.’ This referred to reports that the Navy might purchase Floyd Bennett Field from the city. Mr. Cashmore invited objectors to the airline leases to visit him at his office during the week and outline their views more fully.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “Only a few weeks ago the football Giants, having abandoned hopes of winning the Eastern Conference race in the National Football League, were aiming at second place. Now they’ll be satisfied if they wind up on the fourth rung. One step in the direction of settling for that dubious consolation prize would be to knock off the tough Pittsburgh Steelers at the Polo Grounds tomorrow. The Steelers are a full game ahead of the home team and a local upset would create a deadlock.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1962, the Eagle reported, “President George Weiss of the New York Mets promised ‘drastic changes’ in the roster of the last-place club within the next three weeks through the player draft and trades. Weiss, who said he talked trade with every major league team except the world champion New York Yankees since the end of the World Series, said that ‘a couple’ of deals with American League teams are ‘more ready for culmination’ than are deals with National League teams. The Mets president made his shakeup promise as he distributed copies of the Mets’ current 38-man roster. Weiss said two things clear — 1. There are no ‘untouchables’ among the 38 players; any one of them can be had in a trade; 2. Not many of the 38 will be on hand wearing Mets uniforms when the 1963 season opens in the Mets’ new ballpark in Flushing Meadow.”

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Francisco Lindor
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise, who was born in 1933; “House of Cards” author Michael Dobbs, who was born in 1948; King Charles III, who was born in 1948; Styx guitarist James Young, who was born in 1949; “The Simpsons” star Maggie Roswell, who was born in 1952; former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was born in 1954; composer and music producer Yanni, who was born in 1954; Basketball Hall of Famer Jack Sikma, who was born in 1955; “The Cutting Edge” star D. B. Sweeney, who was born in 1961; “Just Shoot Me!” star Laura San Giacomo, who was born in 1962; “The Tick” star Patrick Warburton, who was born in 1964; 2001 World Series MVP Curt Schilling, who was born in 1966; Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, who was born in 1975; former “Saturday Night Live” star Vanessa Bayer, who was born in 1981; and N.Y. Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was born in 1993.