This'n'That; September Seventeenth #1; Today in History

Here's What Happened:

**1778:  Indians and british loyalists attacked and burned German Flats (now: Herkimer, N.Y), N.Y., "to the ground!"  The 450-man group--led by Chief Joseph Brant and commanded by British Captain William Caldwell--stole most of the cows, horses and sheep available before 'torching' 63 houses; 57 barns; 3 gristmills and one sawmill.
**1787:  The United States Constitution is signed by 38 of the 41 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
**1796:  President Washington finalizes the final draft of his 'Farewell Address.'  The document is released to--and published by--American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia.  This is one of the first recorded instances in western civilization that a head-of-state voluntarily relinquished his title.
**1820:  English poet John Keats--looking for relief from the effects of Turberculosis--departs for Italy.  During the prior year, Mr Keats produced his classics: "Ode to a Grecian Urn, Ode to a Nightengale and La Belle Dame Merci."
Mr Keats dies of said disease in February, 1821.
**1862:  The "Battle of Antietam" between the Confederate "Army of Northern Virginia" and the Union "Army of The Potomac" is fought to a standstill.  Although a statistical 'draw,' the battle forced General Lee to end his 'invasion of the North.'
**1884:  Oakland, Ca., Judge Allen disposes of thirteen cases in just SIX MINUTES!
**1916:  The "Red Baron (Manfred von Richthofen)" shoots down his first of eighty aircraft during WWI.  The "Red Baron" was shot down and killed, April 25, 1918-at the age of 25.
**1923:  A Northern California wildfire threatens U.C.-Berkeley.  The fire--stopped by students (and a wind-shift) at the school's gates--eventually destroys nearly 1,000 homes, kills two, causes $10Million in damages.
**1939:  The U.S.S.R. exercises it's rights in the 'Hitler-Stalin Non-aggression pact and declares Polish government as 'ceasing to exist,' invades and occupies the country.
**1957:  As a direct result of nine negro students being denied entry into 'Central High School,' Little Rock, Ar.,  trumpeteer Louis Armstrong refuses to participate in a U.S. government-sponsored tour of the Soviet Union.  Mr Armstrong is quoted as saying:"The way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell!" ....and.... "It's getting so bad, the colored man has no country."
**1967:  The rock band, "The Who" is introduced to American TV audiences on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."  Their rendition of 'My Generation' ended with Pete Townsend's singed hair, shrapnel in Keith Moon's arm and knocking the TV show off the air for a few minutes.
**1972:  Hanoi releases three--US pilots--POWs, the first since 1969.  The remaining POWs were released the following year as a part of the Paris Peace Accords.
**1976:  The debut of the space shuttle, "The Enterprise."  The craft consumed $10Billion in development-and-testing expense over nearly ten years.
**1981:  Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela throws his eighth shut-out, setting a National League rookie record.  Known for his pin-point control, Mr Valenzuela befuddled batters with his screw-ball and unique pitching style in which he appeared to be looking--backward--at second base just before delivering the pitch!
**1983:  Vanessa Williams becomes the first negro 'Miss America.'  She's forced to give up the title in July of the next year when nude photos of her are published.

Til Nex'Time....