BROOKLYN BRIDGE ACROSS EAST RIVER IS OPENED
The longest suspension bridge in the world opened today connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan across the East River in New York.
The bridge is 1595.5 feet long.
The Brooklyn Bridge was dedicated today by President Chester A. Arthur & New York Governor Grover Cleveland.
The Brooklyn Bridge, which took 14 years to complete, was the brainchild of the late John A. Roebling who died as a result of an injury during construction.
The architect's son, Washington Roebling, took over for his father only to suffer compression sickness in the process of directing continued construction of the bridge.
At today's ceremony, Roebling's wife, Emily, carried a rooster across the bridge as a symbol of victory.
Brooklyn Bridge
photo by Jim Henderson (2009)
May 24, 1844
1ST TELEGRAPH MESSAGE SENT ACROSS THE WIRES
American inventor Samuel Finley Breese Morse sent the 1st telegraph message today from Baltimore, Maryland to Washington, D.C.
Samuel F.B. Morse
Inventor of the Telegraph
Photo by Matthew Brady (1866)
The text of the message, a quote from the book of Numbers in the Holy Bible, was suggested to Morse by Annie Ellsworth, the daughter of the commissioner of patents.
The message is:
"What hath God wrought?"
Morse Plaque in Washington, D.C.
Photo by DB King
In sending this 1st message, Morse has effectively established the world's 1st telegraph line.*
*A couple of things relating to JFK come to mind in regard to the telegraph.
When JFK addressed the nation after being elected President, he said he had received a "wire" from Richard Nixon & proceeded to read the telegraph message.
Also, the killer of Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, was at the Western Union Telegraph Office just down the street from the Dallas Police Station "wiring" money to one of his employees minutes before he shot Oswald.
May 24, 1941
HMS HOOD SUNK BY GERMAN BATTLESHIP
The "Pride of the British Fleet", the HMS Hood, was sunk today by the German battleship Bismarck.
The sinking took place off the Northeast coast of Ireland in the North Atlantic.
We are saddened to report the deaths of 1500 British sailors. There were only 3 survivors.
HMS Hood in Sydney Harbor (1924)
May 24, 1959
FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE DULLES IS DEAD
The man who served as Secretary of State for most of Dwight D. Eisenhower's 2 terms, John Foster Dulles, died today after a 3 year battle with cancer.
Dulles is considered to be the main architect of Eisenhower's foreign policy during the "cold war".
He initiated the idea of "massive retaliation" & "brinksmanship". That is, threatening the Soviets with the use of nuclear weapons.
JFK, Eisenhower &
Najeebe Halaby, FAA administrator
At the dedication of Dulles Airport
(1962)
May 24, 1962
SCOTT CARPENTER OVERSHOOTS LANDING TARGET
US Astronaut Scott Carpenter, after 3 successful earth orbits, splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean today 250 miles away from his scheduled landing point.
Carpenter had to wait 3 hours for navy personnel to get in a position to retrieve him.
Scott Carpenter is now the 2nd American to orbit the earth following the earlier flight of John Glenn.
Carpenter spent 4 hours & 56 minutes in space.
Scott Carpenter Awaits Rescue
