Category: American History
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Abolitionist John Brown Guides a Small Group on an Assault Against a Federal Armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an Endeavor to Begin an Armed Insurrection of Enslaved Black People and Overthrow the Practice of Slavery. October 16, 1859.
Title: The Harper’s Ferry insurrection–The U.S. Marines storming the engine house–Insurgents firing through holes in the doors / from a sketch made on the spot by our special artist. (Public Domain) On this day in history, October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown guides a small group on an assault against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry,…
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The Great Chicago Fire Begins. October 8, 1871.
Image: The Currier & Ives lithograph shows people fleeing across the Randolph Street Bridge. Thousands of people literally ran for their lives before the flames, unleashing remarkable scenes of terror and dislocation. “The whole earth, or all we saw of it, was a lurid yellowish red,” wrote one survivor. “Everywhere dust, smoke, flames, heat, thunder…
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Brothers John and Simeon Reno and Frank Sparkes Hold the First Train Robbery in United States History, Stealing $16,000 From an Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Train in Jackson County, Indiana. October 6, 1866.
Image: The Reno Gang 1860s. (Public Domain) On this day in history, October 6, 1866, brothers John and Simeon Reno and Frank Sparkes hold the first train robbery in United States history, stealing $16,000 from an Ohio and Mississippi railroad train in Jackson County, Indiana. The Reno brothers’ influence on criminal history was to halt…
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The Dalton Gang Attempted to Hold Up Two Banks at the Same Time When Five Members of the Gang Rode Into the Town of Coffeyville, Kansas. It Ended Badly. October 5, 1892.
Image: Memento Mori of the Dalton Gang following the 1892 Coffeyville, Kansas raid. Left to right: Bill Powers; Bob Dalton; Grat Dalton, Dick Broadwell. (Public Domain) On this day in history, the Dalton Gang attempted to hold up two banks at the same time when five members of the Dalton Gang (Grat Dalton, Emmett Dalton, Bob Dalton,…
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Wild West Wednesday: Outlaw Belle Starr
(Image: A studio portrait of Belle Starr probably taken in Fort Smith in the early 1880s. Public Domain.) Belle Starr was born Myra Maybelle Shirley near Carthage, Missouri, on February 5, 1848. She was called May by her family. Her father, John Shirley, thrived raising wheat, horses, corn, and hogs, though he was viewed as…
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The United States Army Executed By Hanging Four Native Americans Found Guilty of Killing American Civil War General Edward Canby during the Modoc War in Oregon. October 3, 1873.
Image: Major General Edward Canby (Public Domain). On this day in history, October 3, 1873, the United States Army executed by hanging four Native Americans found guilty of killing American Civil War general Edward Canby during the Modoc War in Oregon. Canby was the highest-ranking army officer and the only general ever murdered by Native…
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Amazing Vintage Photographs of Clark Gable Who Served in Uniform, Flew Combat Missions in World War II
Clark Gable was an American hero. Not because of his superstar status where he earned the title “The King Of Hollywood”, but because he gave up that life and put himself in great peril to serve his country in World War II. He and his wife Carole Lombard were active in the war bonds effort…
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Confederate spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow Drowns Off the North Carolina Coast When a Yankee Vessel Runs Her Ship Aground, and She Falls in While Holding $2000 in Gold. October 1, 1864.
Image: Rose O’Neal Greenhow with her youngest daughter and namesake, “Little” Rose, at the Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D.C., 1862. (Public Domain) On this day in history, October 1, 1864, Confederate spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow drowns off the North Carolina coast when a Yankee vessel runs her ship aground, and she falls in while holding…
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24-year-old Actor James Dean Died in Cholame, California, When the Porsche He Was Driving Crashed Into a Ford Tudor Sedan at an Intersection. September 30, 1955.
Photograph of Dean next to his Porsche 550, a few hours before his death. (Public Domain) On this day in history, September 30, 1955, 24-year-old actor James Dean died in Cholame, California, when the Porsche he was driving crashed into a Ford Tudor sedan at an intersection. The motorist in the other car, 23-year-old California…
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A Chicago Grand Jury Indicts Eight Players From the Chicago White Sox on Allegations of Game-Fixing During the 1919 World Series Baseball. September 28, 1920.
Image: 1919 Chicago White Sox team photo. (Public Domain.) On this day in history, a Chicago grand jury indicts eight players from the Chicago White Sox on allegations of game-fixing during the 1919 World Series baseball. White Sox owner Charles Comiskey instantly suspends Chick Gandil, Buck Weaver, Happy Felsch, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullin, Eddie Cocotte, Lefty…
History Daily With Francis Chappell Black 