On this day in 1945 the first atomic bomb was successfully tested in the desert of New Mexico. The top secret Manhattan Project involved the sharpest minds of the day to create a device so lethal that it would help to end WWII in one blast. Little did the scientists who created know that it would also create an arms race that would threaten to wipe out the entire planet.
On this day in 1994 the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with Jupiter. Astronomers calculated the impact months before and turned their telescopes to the Jovian world to witness impact clouds the size of planet Earth. The comet was broken into many large pieces that impacted like a necklace across Jupiter as it rotated.
On this day in 1999 John F. Kennedy Jr. was killed in an airplane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. His wife Carolyn and her sister Lauren were also aboard. Although famous mostly for being the son of a slain president and the iconic image of him saluting his father's funeral procession, Kennedy Jr. had shown interest in politics and his name alone would have garnered him attention. Kennedy's should avoid planes at all cost as this wasn't the only death in the family due to a plane crash. Joseph Kennedy Jr. crashed his plane in WWII before he could fulfill his destiny to become first Kennedy in political office in Washington. He had to give that honor to his little brother John. Kathleen Kennedy was killed in a plane crash in France four years later. Ted Kennedy was involved a plane crash that killed the pilot and another passenger, but he survived.
On this day in 1863 there were draft riots in New York City over the forced proscriptions of men into the United States army. A man could pay $300.00 to stay at home for the war, but only the richest of Americans could afford that. Discontent with the draft process caused five days of riots that targeted not only the draft office, but affluent houses and blacks as well. The clan of the Dead Rabbits also went to war over control of the Five Points at this time and Bill the Butcher was killed.
The residents of Bend won't know where to go to escape the fall out!
ReplyDeleteFlustered resident to a mob:
"I thought there was a fall out shelter inside this building! There used to be a sign right there!"
Now that sign is hanging proudly in my home.