December 15: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

December 15, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1842, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “A meeting of Democrats friendly to the nomination of the Hon. James Buchanan for the Presidency took place in Philadelphia on Thursday evening, and was numerously attended. Delegates to the Eighth of January Convention, to be held at Harrisburg, were elected.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1879, the Eagle reported, “A ladies’ international six days’ go as you please race, for the American international championship belt of the world, was begun at 12:01 A.M. today, at the Madison Square Garden. The contest will last until 11:55 next Saturday night, and the woman who walks the furthest will receive the belt valued at $500 and $1,000 in cash. The second contestant will receive $750, the third $500 and the fourth $250. To the contestant having the neatest and best appearance on the track during the race a medal valued at $100 will be given. Twenty-five women started this morning, Madame Anderson being among the number. A large audience was present.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1885, the Eagle reported, “George R. Lockwood & Son, New York, issue the following ribbon tied, paper bound and tasteful little Christmas pamphlets, inclosed in envelopes: ‘Christmas Eve,’ consisting of five short poems, the first of which is ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas,’ by Clement C. Moore, followed by ‘Merry Christmas’ by Louisa Alcott, the remaining three, entitled ‘Stocking Song on Christmas Eve,’ ‘Once a Year’ and ‘A Song of St. Nicholas,’ being anonymous. The whole five poems are contained in fifteen pages.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1902, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON — The arrangements for the funeral of Mrs. Julia Dent Grant, the widow of the former President, will not be made until Brigadier General Fred D. Grant, one of her sons, arrives from the West. It is expected that he will reach here Thursday. Adjutant General Corbin has telegraphed to him to proceed to Washington, waiving the usual strict requirements that army officers before leaving their post must have their requests for leave of absence approved officially. The President will take no action on the death of Mrs. Grant beyond the sending of a handsome floral piece from the White House conservatories, conveying an expression of his grief and that of Mrs. Roosevelt.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1908, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON — President Roosevelt today sent to the Senate and House his message, further explaining details of the purchase of the Panama Canal. The document is chiefly notable because of its excoriation of certain critics of the President, especially Joseph Pulitzer, owner of the New York World. The severity of the language employed in denouncing Mr. Pulitzer made Senators gasp as they listened to the words falling from the lips of the reading clerk. Practically every known synonym for liar was exhausted by the President in roasting his enemies. Such references as ‘slanders,’ ‘infamous libels,’ ‘lying editorials,’ ‘blackmail,’ ‘infamy’ and ‘vilifier’ are liberally sprinkled through the part referring to the publisher. The balance of the message is intended to disprove the charge that an American syndicate made a lot of money in the purchase of the canal.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “Dr. George B. Hoadley, in charge of the instructional microwave laboratory at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, told the 597th meeting of the New York Electrical Society last night in the Engineering Auditorium, 29 W. 39th St., Manhattan, that nationwide television hookups through microwave radio stations 20 to 100 miles apart will operate in the postwar period. ‘With the great impetus the war has given electronics and the tremendous still secret advances which have been made, the succession of booster stations long envisioned by scientists is now practical,’ Dr. Hoadley said.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “This business of ‘The Cradle Will Rock’ (Marc Blitzstein’s magnum opus) has Broadway slightly agog. It was recently revived for two performances at the City Center. On the night after Christmas it will open at the Mansfield Theater, under the wing of Michael Myerburg, and for that night only Maestro Leonard Bernstein will conduct.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (U.P.) — Water from the River Jordan specially flown to England for the occasion will be used today to christen Prince Charles Philip Arthur George of Edinburgh, month-old son of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The water will be contained in an elaborate silver gilt font which has been used for every christening in the British royal family since Queen Victoria’s first child was christened in 1841. The solemn ceremony will take place in one of the state rooms of Buckingham Palace. The decision to hold the christening in London was made so that King George, who is suffering from a serious and painful leg ailment, could attend. Officiating will be the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual head of the Church of England. Prince Charles will be dressed for the occasion in a lace christening robe made for Queen Victoria’s first child and worn subsequently by King George and his two daughters, the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose.”

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Garrett Wang
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Pro Football Hall of Famer Billy Shaw, who was born in 1938; former Supremes member Cindy Birdsong, who was born in 1939; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Clark, who was born in 1939; incoming Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Leyland, who was born in 1944; drumming legend Carmine Appice, who was born in Brooklyn in 1946; former N.Y. Mets manager Art Howe, who was born in 1946; “Miami Vice” star Don Johnson, who was born in 1949; Fuzztones singer Rudi Protrudi, who was born in 1952; theater and film director Julie Taymor, who was born in 1952; “Supergirl” star Helen Slater, who was born in 1963; former N.Y. Knicks player David Wingate, who was born in 1963; “Star Trek: Voyager” star Garrett Wang, who was born in 1968; “Stargate SG-1” star Michael Shanks, who was born in 1970; “The O.C.” star Adam Brody, who was born in 1979; “Downton Abbey” star Michelle Dockery, who was born in 1981; and N.Y. Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was born in 2000.