This'n'That; September Fifteenth #1; Other Happenings

Today In History:

**In 1794:  James Madison marries Dolly Payne Todd.  With almost opposite personalities, Mrs Madison was robust and lively--Mr Madison was not!  During the Jefferson presidency Vice-President Madison's wife acted as the White House hostess.  During the War of 1812, the First Lady saved a portrait of George Washington by smuggling it out of town ahead of the attacking British forces.
**1858:  The Overland Mail Company initiates coast-to-coast--twice a week--mail delivery.  The postal contract required that the mail be delivered twice a week, St Louis to San Francisco in less than 25 days.  Later--after it's completion in 1869--the transcontinental railroad system took over mail trasportation, ending the 'Pony Express' and mail shipments by stagecoach.
**1862:  Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson captures Harpers Ferry, (West) Virginia.  Previously radical John Brown attacked and captured the arsenal and armory in 1859.
**1890:  Mary Clarrisa Agatha Miller (author Agatha Christie) is born in Torquay, Devon, England.
**1916:  Tanks are introduced into warfare by British forces fighting in the battle of Somme (France).  Although slow and subject to mechanical failure, the tanks showed enough promise that U.S. General Douglas Haig ordered the War Department to produce hundreds of tanks for U.S. forces.
**1931:  The Philadelphia Athletics defeat the Cleveland Indians for their third consecutive AL pennant.  This marked the last game; the last of nine pennants for Connie Mack (born: Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy-09/22/1862).
**1935:  Adolf Hitler strips German Jews of their citizenship, reducing them to mere 'subjects-of-the-state.'
**1940:  The british Royal Air Force shoots down 56 invading German aircraft in less than one hour!  This convinces Adolf Hitler and his high command that Germany will never achieve air superiority over the British Isles.
**1950:  UN forces land at Inchon, Korea.  After overcoming light resistance, the-- primarily US--invading force recaptures the South Korean capital city, Seoul.
**1954:  The famous Marilyn Monroe (born: Norma Jean Mortensen; aka: Norma Jean Baker) photo of her skirt blasted up with air from a subway vent is taken.  This infuriates then-husband Joe Diamaggio, as exhibitionist; they divorce shortly thereafter.
**1958:  A commuter train plunges off a bridge into Newark Bay, NJ, killing 47, injuring 48.  Operator error is the primary cause!
**1962:  The Four Seasons' hit, "Sherry" becomes #1.  The Four Seasons and The Beach Boys were the only two American groups to have significant success prior to; during, and after the 'British Invasion.'
**1963:  The 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Al., is bombed-killing four young negro girls: Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins-all 14; plus Denise McNair, 11.  Fourteen sticks of dynamite are placed in the church's basement, directly under the girls' restroom.
**1972:  ARVN (Army of the Republic of Viet Nam) forces retake Quang Tri City after a 4-day battle; allegedly killing 8,135 NVA (North Vietnamesee Army) guerillas.
**1978:  Muhammad Ali (born: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr) defeats Leon Spinks to take the World Boxing Championship for the third time.

Til Nex'Time....