December 5: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

December 5, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

Share this:

ON THIS DAY IN 1895, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “HAVANA — General Suarez Valdes has telegraphed to Captain General Martinez de Campos, complimenting Lieutenant Winston Leonard Churchill and Lieutenant Spencer, both of the British army and following the operations of the Spanish troops, for distinguished behavior during the recent engagement near Ciego de Avila, when General Suarez met and defeated Maximo Gomez, who is said to have been compelled to retreat, with numerous loss. At the same time, as already cabled, General Navarro is reported to have defeated Antonio Maceo at Jicotea. In both cases the Spanish troops occupied the insurgent positions with insignificant loss.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1925, the Eagle reported, “ALBANY — The Public Service Commission has approved the use by the Long Island Railroad of a 100-ton oil and electric locomotive to be used for freight purposes in New York City. The railroad plans to use the locomotive between its various freight yards at Long Island City, Manhattan Beach and the Bay Ridge, Evergreen and Bushwick branches and for emergency operation elsewhere. Oil-electric locomotives will replace the steam locomotives now used on the Long Island Railroad tracks within the city limits, according to the railroad’s plans, as soon as these locomotives can be delivered and the track equipment for running them installed. About 50 of these locomotives will be needed, at a cost of $150,000 each, to carry out the electrification program in accordance with the Kaufman law. In addition to these, the railroad has already purchased several all-electric locomotives to be used on some freight divisions, and more have been ordered. The Kaufman law, prohibiting the operation of steam locomotives in the city limits, becomes operative on Jan. 1 next. On a claim that it has been physically impossible to comply with the terms of this law in the two years time allowed it, the Long Island Railroad will ask the Legislature at the next session for an extension of time.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1941, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — Japan told the United States today, in response to inquiries by President Roosevelt, that her troop concentrations in French Indo-China are in full accord with an agreement between Tokio and Vichy. The Japanese reply, given to Secretary of State [Cordell] Hull during a 25-minute interview with the two Japanese envoys, Kichisaburo Nomur and Saburo Kurusu, was understood to assert: 1. The agreement between Japan and Vichy provided for the stationing of Japanese garrisons in Indo-China. The number of troops now there is consistent with the agreement; 2. Foreign reports of the number of Japanese troops in Indo-China have been exaggerated; 3. The disposition of troops in Indo-China was calculated to offset what was described as a threatening concentration of Chinese troops in neighboring Yunnan Province and they are not in a position menacing to Thailand. The reply was reported to have avoided any reference to troops or naval movements of the ABCD powers which, Japan claims, in Tokio utterances, are attempting to encircle Japan in the Far East.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “Harold R. Moskovit, State president of the Affiliated Young Democrats of New York and national president of Votes for Youth, said today both organizations have started a drive to have the 44 State Legislatures to convene in January introduce legislation to change the voting age from 21 to 18 years. Letters have been sent to all the legislators in 31 States which introduced the bill last year with a request that they reintroduce it in 1945. Letters will be sent to the Governors and majority leaders of the Legislatures in the other 13 States, which have never introduced this resolution. ‘The letter states that it is most important to consider the question in view of the fact that if a man is old enough to fight for his country at 18 he is old enough to vote for the men and women who will run it,’ Moskovit said. It is also pointed out that in Georgia, 18 is the legal voting age.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “A target date of opening day 1956 for movement of major league baseball to Los Angeles and San Francisco is almost certain to be set at the Winter meetings which will open here tomorrow, it was learned today. The ‘Westward Ho’ operation is by far the most vital item on a heavy agenda, but the club owners in three days of sessions also will have to cope with some pressing new demands from players, two major lawsuits over radio and television broadcasts, the desperate position of minor league baseball, and an amendment to lower the player limit from 25 to 23 per club. The American and National Leagues, meeting in separate hotels, will keep their maneuvers on expansion highly secret, since each is trying to be first in grabbing the two vast untapped Pacific Coast population areas, even if it means going from eight to 10-team circuits. That is something both leagues seek to avoid, since a 10-team structure would cause a series of dislocations. But unless new ‘weak sister’ franchises develop during the coming season, the enlarged circuits will be the only solution. A 10-team league would call for 198-game schedules on the present basis of 11 home games against each club. Since there are only 168 playing dates from April 15 to Sept. 30, that obviously is impossible. Thus it would be necessary to reduce the number of games played against each team to come close to the current 154-game schedules.”

***

Margaret Cho
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include humorist Calvin Trillin, who was born in 1935; operatic tenor Jose Carreras, who was born in 1946; two-time Super Bowl champion Jim Plunkett, who was born in 1947; Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Monk, who was born in 1957; Great White singer Jack Russell, who was born in 1960; rapper and radio personality Doctor Dre, who was born in 1963; Goo Goo Dolls singer John Rzeznik, who was born in 1965; actress and comedian Margaret Cho, who was born in 1968; former N.Y. Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd, who was born in 1972; sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Brian Lewis, who was born in 1974; “Precious” star Paula Patton, who was born in 1975; “Angel” star Amy Acker, who was born in 1976; former N.Y. Knicks center Eddy Curry, who was born in 1982; “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz, who was born in 1985; former National League MVP Christian Yelich, who was born in 1991; and “American Idol” winner Maddie Poppe, who was born in 1997.