Saturday, July 10, 2010

Sunday, July 10, 1910. Tinkers ever to chance.

 These are the saddest of possible words:

      “Tinker to Evers to Chance.”

Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,

      Tinker and Evers and Chance.

Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,

      Making a Giant hit into a double—

Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:

      “Tinker to Evers to Chance.”

New York Evening Mail, this day, by Franklin P. Adams.  It refers to the Chicago Cub's infield, shortstop Joe Tinker, second baseman Johnny Evers, and first baseman Frank Chance, who played together from 1902 to 1912.

Joe Tinker.

Johnny Evers.

Frank Chance.

Acme Alberta was incorporated.

Last edition:

Friday, July 9, 2010

Saturday, July 9, 1910. Mile High.

Walter Brookins became the first person to fly an airplane to an altitude of more than one mile.

He lived until age 63, in 1953, which was an achievement in its own right for an early aviator.

Last edition:

Monday, July 4, 1910. The Fight of the Century.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Monday, July 4, 1910. The Fight of the Century.

Given that this was Independence Day, a lot of Americans had a two day (yes, two day) weekend.

A few had three day weekends.

Injuries and deaths went down on the July 4th holiday by 40%, compared to the prior year, through a public education program.

Saturdays off wasn't all that common.


Boxing legend Jack Johnson defeated James J. Jeffries for the heavyweight boxing championship, making the controversial and colorful Johnson the first black to take the title.  The match was held in Reno, and the results sparked riots.  Depending upon how you viewed the boxing title, Johnson may have claimed it, and quite legitimately, since 1908.

Jeffries was "the great white hope" who was expected to beat Johnson.

He didn't, suffering a TKO in the 14th round.

The fight was billed The Fight of the Century.  It was filmed, with both men making around $100,000 from the film.

Russia and Japan signed a treaty defining their spheres of influence in Manchuria.  Both countries were building railroads there.

Last edition:

Saturday, July 2, 1910. Binder clips.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Saturday, July 2, 1910. Binder clips.

The patent for the binder clip was granted.


President Taft withdrew 8,495,731 acres under the General Withdrawal Act of 1910, something that causes Mike Lee to go into corners and cry.

Last edition:

Friday, July 1, 1910. Comiskey Park.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Thursday, June 30, 1910. Moves on Finland. Dropping bombs.

Czar Nicholas II signed legislation "concerning the procedure to be complied with issuing laws and decrees of all-Empire significance for Finland", bringing the Grand Duchy of Finland and the Finnish people under direct Russian rule.


Glenn H. Curtiss demonstrated the practicality of aerial bombardment by dropping 20 mock explosives from a biplane over Lake Keuka in New York.

Glenn Cutis, 1909.

Last edition:

Tuesday, June 28, 1910. The Wireless Ship Act


Monday, June 28, 2010

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Sunday, June 26, 1910. The ballots that would lead to bullets. Election in Mexico.

Liberal Mexican general and long time President Porfirio Diaz was re-elected President of Mexico for the eighth time, defeating the jailed liberal politician Francisco I. Madero.


The election had been sparked by Diaz's interview in the journal Pearson's, as he'd had little opposition prior to that.  In the article, he commented:
It is true there is no opposition party. I have so many friends in the republic that my enemies seem unwilling to identify themselves with so small a minority. I appreciate the kindness of my friends and the confidence of my country; but such absolute confidence imposes responsibilities and duties that tire me more and more. No matter what my friends and supporters say, I retire when my present term of office ends, and I shall not serve again. I shall be eighty years old then. My country has relied on me and it has been kind to me. My friends have praised my merits and overlooked my faults. But they may not be willing to deal so generously with my successor and he may need my advice and support; therefore I desire to be alive when he assumes office so that I may help him. I welcome an opposition party in the Mexican Republic. If it appears, I will regard it as a blessing, not as an evil. And if it can develop power, not to exploit but to govern, I will stand by it, support it, advise it and forget myself in the successful inauguration of complete democratic government in the country. It is enough for me that I have seen Mexico rise among the peaceful and useful nations. I have no desire to continue in the Presidency. This nation is ready for her ultimate life of freedom. At the age of seventy-seven years, I am satisfied with robust health. That is one thing which neither law nor force can create. I would not exchange it for all the millions of your American oil king.

Last edition:

Saturday, June 25, 1910. The Mann Act.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Saturday, June 25, 1910. The Mann Act.

The Mann Act, sometimes called the White Slave Traffic Act, was passed banning the transportation of a woman across state lines for "immoral purposes".

The Pickett Act became law, giving the President authority to withdraw land from public use, as necessary, for government projects.

It was Saturday, so the weeklys were out.

Last edition:

Monday, June 20, 1910. Enabling Act of 1910

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Monday, June 20, 1910. Enabling Act of 1910

President Taft signed the Enabling Act of 1910, granting the conditions for the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona to be admitted as states.

Last edition:

Sunday, June 19, 1910. The first Father's Day.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Saturday, June 18, 1910. Welcoming home TR.

Theodore Roosevelt was given a tape parade as a welcome back from his post Presidential trip to Africa and Europe.

Last edition:

Friday, June 17, 1910. Creation of the U.S. Lighthouse Service.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Sunday, June 5, 1910. Death of O. Henry.

William Sidney Porter, known to the public as  "O. Henry", one of the greatest American short story authors, died at the age of 47 from cirrhosis of the liver and diabetes.


Last edition:

Saturday, June 4, 1910. An attack during the Caste War of Yucatán.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Wednesday, June 1, 1910. The first European American settlements on the banks of the Iditarod.

The British Antarctic Expedition departed from London with a goal of reaching the South Pole in December..

The first European American settlements on the banks of the Iditarod were made when a steamer brought gold prospectors to within eight miles of a gold strike.

Last edition:

Tuesday, May 31, 1910. Union of South Africa created.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Thursday, May 5, 1910. T.R. takes the prize.

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, for 1909.  He pledged to donate the money "as a nucleus for a foundation to forward the cause of industrial peace".

Cartago, Costa Rica, was destroyed by an earthquake which killed more than 1,500 people.

Seventy coal miners were killed in an explosion at the Palos Coal and Coke Company at Walker County, Alabama.

The town of Hillsborough, California, was incorporated.

The U.S. Weather Bureau, predecessor to the National Weather Service, set a standing record for the highest altitude achieved by a kite 23,826 feet.

Last edition:

Wednesday, May 4, 1910. The Royal Canadian Navy came into being.