January 19: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

January 19, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1892, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “NEW ORLEANS, LA. — Mr. [Grover] Cleveland, in company with Charles Jefferson, reached here early yesterday afternoon, and shortly afterward left for Orange island, Joe Jefferson’s plantation, where a week will be spent in hunting and fishing. The ex-President was not much inclined to talk, but said in regard to his candidacy for the presidency: ‘I am only a private citizen and there is no need for me to accept or decline an honor that has not been tendered me. The national issue, I believe, will be the tariff, but as a good Democrat I shall stand by the action of the party in the coming contest.’ He declined to discuss the situation in New York, except to say that all was serene in that state.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1925, the Eagle reported, “All New York was set for the remarkable drama of Nature Saturday when, for the first time in 119 years, a total eclipse of the sun will be witnessed in this vicinity. Naturally, the questions to which everyone sought answer concerned how much of the eclipse will be visible from this boro, where it can be seen to the best advantage and what the phenomenon will look like. Dr. E.E. Free, editor of the Scientific American; Dr. Clyde Fisher, head of the department of astronomy of the Museum of Natural History, and Albert Brooks, head of the department of astronomy of the Brooklyn Institute, answered those questions today. They made it plain that neither Brooklyn nor lower Manhattan will see the eclipse in its totality. But Brooklyn will see a first class show, nevertheless, and those who care to travel to Corona, Flushing, Hempstead, Floral Park or Bellmore, will see it although not for the same length of time as in such places as New Haven, Poughkeepsie and Montauk Point. What Brooklyn will see, said Dr. Free, will be a sun about 96 percent covered by a large black disc. On one side of that disc a crescent of light will shine forth like the new moon. This crescent of light will be obliterated within the pathway of totality.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — President Truman’s hope of preventing a bitter labor-management war was fading fast today. A nationwide strike of 750,000 C.I.O. steelworkers was scheduled officially for midnight Sunday. The walkout already had begun. At Pittsburgh, Jones & McLaughlin, giant independent producer, was hit by a wildcat strike that was expected to affect some 9,000 workers and shut down all operations by today. A C.I.O. spokesman said Philip Murray, United Steelworkers president (C.I.O.), and Henry Kaiser, nationally known industrialist, would confer with Mr. Truman today. The spokesman speculated on the possibility that Mr. Kaiser might have a new suggestion for a solution of the tense steel situation. Approximately 2,500 C.I.O. workers at the Pittsburgh, Cal, plant of the Columbia Steel Company walked off their jobs last night. What hope remained of avoiding a nationwide strike was tied to the possibility that the United States Steel Corp. would reconsider and accept Mr. Truman’s proposal for an 18½-cent hourly wage increase. His advisers admitted they did not expect this to happen.

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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “CHICAGO (U.P.) — Weary National Football League owners plodded toward completion of their annual draft of college players today, hoping that at least 50 percent of the stars plucked from the collegiate ranks would be able to play in 1951. The chances for the pro clubs, as evidenced by the top 14 choices, were not bright. Should the national emergency become more stringent, the pro hopes will grow progressively dimmer. Southern Methodist’s top flight single-wing tailback, Kyle Rote, was the number one draft pick. Steve Owen and the New York Giants plucked him off when Owen won the bonus choice by picking the white ball out of a hat. Rote was a good pro prospect because his draft classification is 4A — which is an exemption bracket for the only surviving son in a family. Rote’s brother was killed in World War II. The S.M.U. star also is married and has one child.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “TEHRAN (U.P.) — Sporadic demonstrations broke out in Iran today as supporters of Nationalist Premier Mohammed Mossadegh threatened to blow up the world’s largest oil refinery at Abadan unless the Premier receives an extension of his dictatorial powers. The premier has asked Parliament, which sat in extraordinary session again today, to grant him a one-year extension of his special powers. After a brief discussion, the Parliament recessed until later without voting on the issue. Mossadegh’s followers said they would blow the Abadan refinery to ‘smithereens’ by tomorrow if the Lower House of Parliament does not extend the premier’s special powers. Militant pan-Iranists (pro-Nazis) bolstered the threat today by surrounding the Parliament building where the bill was being debated. Some scaled the gates of the Parliament building and set up huge portraits of Mossadegh. Others threw a cordon around Parliament and shouted that the deputies would not be allowed to leave the building until they approved the bill extending Mossadegh’s powers. Shouts of ‘Mossadegh or death’ rang across the Parliament Square — the scene of many political riots — as pan-Iranist reinforcements flooded into the center of Tehran. In the capital’s central bazaar — long a stronghold of clerical opposition to Mossadegh – pan-Iranists forced merchants to close their establishments in support of Mossadegh.”

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Katey Sagal
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “The Birds” star Tippi Hedren, who was born in 1930; “Superman II” director Richard Lester, who was born in 1932; “Coach” star Shelley Fabares, who was born in 1944; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dolly Parton, who was born in 1946; chef and author Paula Deen, who was born in 1947; “Married… with Children” star Katey Sagal, who was born in 1954; comedian and singer Paul Rodriguez, who was born in 1955; former N.Y. Giants running back and Super Bowl XXV MVP Ottis Anderson, who was born in 1957; “Fame” star Paul McCrane, who was born in 1961; former N.Y. Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy, who was born in 1962; “The Sopranos” star Drea de Matteo, who was born in 1972; “MADtv” star Frank Caliendo, who was born in 1974; Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was born in 1982; Oscar-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle, who was born in 1985; and gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East, who was born in 1992.