Moments is time

Sep 20, 20120

MOMENTS IN TIME

The History Channel

• On Oct. 6, 1847, “Jane Eyre,” a book about the struggles of an orphan girl who grows up to become a governess, is published. Charlotte Bronte, the book’s author, wrote of her experiences at being sent to a boarding school at the age of 5.

• On Oct. 1, 1920, Scientific American magazine reports that the rapidly developing medium of radio soon would be used to broadcast music: “Experimental concerts are at present being conducted every Friday evening from 8:30 to 11:00 by the Radio Laboratory of the Bureau of Standards.”

• On Oct. 5, 1930, a British dirigible crashes in Beauvais, France, killing all 56 people aboard. The R-101, Great Britain’s biggest blimp, was flying only 250 feet above the ground, unbeknownst to the pilots because of the dark night. The blimp skimmed treetops before hitting a ridge, igniting the hydrogen supply.

• On Oct. 4, 1944, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower distributes to his combat units a report by the U.S. Surgeon General that reveals the hazards of prolonged exposure to combat. Based on this evaluation, American commanders judged that the average soldier could last about 200 days in combat before suffering serious psychiatric damage.

• On Oct. 2, 1968, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson strikes out 17 Detroit Tigers in the first game of the World Series, breaking Sandy Koufax’s record for the most strikeouts in a Series game.

• On Oct. 7, 1975, a New York State Supreme Court judge reverses a deportation order for John Lennon, allowing him to remain legally in the U.S. The judge wrote that “The courts will not condone selective deportation based upon secret political grounds.” An FBI investigation of Lennon had turned up no evidence of involvement in illegal activities.

• On Oct. 3, 1995, Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the double murder of his estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, despite a DNA match, a wound on Simpson’s hand, the recent purchase of a “Stiletto” knife and matching shoeprints at the scene.