# Today in History **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 10, 2016, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530 "2016-07-10T04:53:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 51
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1003 "2018-01-04T05:10:01Z")
**January 4, 1999** : [The Finger Poke of Doom](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://wwfoldschool.com/why-the-fingerpoke-of-doom-was-the-death-of-wcw/&ved=0ahUKEwjcqNDQxL3YAhViUd8KHYrfD2gQFghTMA4&usg=AOvVaw1ghTEeQawz5V2a3sFdleBb) ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1004 "2018-01-06T06:10:57Z")
\*\*January 6, 1786 \*\*: The East Indiaman [\*Halsewell](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2010/12/the-loss-of-the-halsewell/&ved=0ahUKEwj27fuU1sLYAhXBKiYKHb8KCnsQFgiDATAW&usg=AOvVaw2LJaFqj7dJM_LjAU0JUgTL) \* is destroyed on the cliffs of the south coast of England at Dorsetshire during a blizzard. Approximately 170 are killed. The wreck of the \*Halsewell \* inspired Charles Dickens to write “The Long Voyage.” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1005 "2018-01-06T11:12:44Z")
**January 6, 1839:** The Night of the Big Wind, the most damaging storm in 300 years, sweeps across Ireland, damaging or destroying more than 20% of the houses in Dublin. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1006 "2018-01-07T06:43:38Z")
**January 7, 1892** : An explosion at the [Osage Coal and Coke Mine #11](http://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/mine11.htm) in Krebs, Oklahoma kills approximately 100. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1007 "2018-01-07T10:20:27Z")
**January 7, 1955:** Contralto Marian Anderson becomes the first person of color to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in Giuseppe Verdi’s _Un ballo in maschera._ Thanks to the senseless prejudice of Rudolf Bing, white women born in the United States, such as Beverly Sills, would have to wait until 1975. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1009 "2018-01-08T07:43:35Z")
**January 8, 1962** : [The Harmelen train disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmelen_train_disaster) occurs when two speeding trains collide head-on. 93 die in this, the deadliest rail accident ever in the Netherlands. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1010 "2018-01-08T08:46:28Z")
**January 8, 1297:** François Grimaldi, disguised as a monk, leads his men to capture the fortress protecting the Rock of Monaco, establishing his family as the rulers of Monaco. Today, 721 years later, the House of Grimaldi still reigns in Monaco. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1011 "2018-01-09T06:22:44Z")
**January 9, 1857** : The strongest earthquake in California’s recorded history, [The Fort Tejon earthquake,](http://scedc.caltech.edu/significant/forttejon1857.html) occurs in southern California on the San Andreas fault. The quake is estimated as a 7.9 on the Richter Scale. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1012 "2018-01-09T08:45:33Z")
**January 9, 1349:** The entire Jewish population of Basel, believed by the residents to be the cause of the ongoing Black Death, is rounded up and incinerated. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1013 "2018-01-10T02:52:13Z")
**Jan 9, 1793:** Jean Pierre Blanchard makes the first (balloon) flight in North America, flying from Philadelphia, PA to Deptford, NJ. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1014 "2018-01-10T06:39:21Z")
**January 10, 1883** : [The Newhall House Hotel fire](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://cardboardamerica.org/2017/01/10/the-newhall-house-fire-milwaukee-wisconsin/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwjjourm4szYAhXMkeAKHdpcDfcQFjAEegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw0BxR1qygFBfYT8yMWXoxIS&cf=1) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin kills at least 74. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1015 "2018-01-11T05:04:10Z")
**January 11, 1866** : [The SS _London_](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://dawlishchronicles.com/1866-horror-at-sea-the-loss-of-the-london/&ved=2ahUKEwjx1urPj8_YAhVO21MKHX38DqgQFjAHegQIEhAB&usg=AOvVaw0627_VjjxBsw7nhjT6A06S) sinks during a violent storm in the Bay of Biscay. 220 are lost. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1016 "2018-01-12T05:02:29Z")
**January 12, 2010** : [A 7.0 earthquake in Haiti](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/haiti-earthquake-anniversary_us_5875108de4b02b5f858b3f9c) kills over 100,000 and injures 300,000 more. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2018, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1017 "2018-01-13T07:05:20Z")
**January 13, 1917** : [The Ciurea Train Disaster](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciurea_rail_disaster&ved=0ahUKEwiH3pzhrtTYAhXEg-AKHd9RDj4QmhMIRDAC&usg=AOvVaw3ek16mc918_pzLRSbtLnym) in Romania kills between 800 and 1000 people. It is the third deadliest rail accident in history. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1018 "2018-01-14T06:22:25Z")
**January 14, 1878** : [The Tariffville Train Accident:](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://norwichbulletin.com/article/20150120/BLOGS/301209997&ved=2ahUKEwjA2tOP5dbYAhXkkeAKHQgWAzc4ChAWMAF6BAgTEAE&usg=AOvVaw2qQ8WROx96DqTa03p6VAi5) The Tariffville Bridge in Connecticut collapses sending three passenger rail cars into the frigid waters of the Farmington River. 13 die and more than 70 are injured. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1019 "2018-01-16T05:03:40Z")
**January 16, 1862** : [The Hartley Colliery Disaster](http://www.seenewcastle.com/information-panels/hartley-pit-disaster/) in Northumberland, England kills 204. The accident leads to laws requiring a second exit for coal mines. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1020 "2018-01-17T07:11:28Z")
**January 17, 1718** The entire town of Leukerbad, Switzerland [is destroyed in an avalanche.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.lykensfire.com/incidents.php%3Fo.833&ved=2ahUKEwjg8fOCt97YAhUOMqwKHdOdBiY4ChAWMAJ6BAgQEAE&usg=AOvVaw0FO0hNvtJclDGG6rIUa_Kc) At least 55 are killed. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1021 "2018-01-17T13:54:04Z")
**January 17, 1929:** Popeye the Sailor Man, a cartoon character created by E. C. Segar, first appears in the Thimble Theatre comic strip. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1022 "2018-01-18T14:15:48Z")
**January 18, 1988** - Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera starts previews at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre, with an advertising budget of zero. Thirty years later, it’s still up and running. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1023 "2018-01-19T05:59:46Z")
**January 19, 1917** [The Sivertown Explosion](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/19/100-years-since-london-biggest-explosion-rocked-the-capital-and-killed-73-6389073/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwinkr6aquPYAhVJhq0KHSvIAGMQFjAeegQIDRAB&usg=AOvVaw1mbZ95UES1i0iMd1fboiRK&cf=1) in London. A munitions factory catches fire and 50 tons of TNT explode. 73 are killed and hundreds more injured. At least 900 nearby homes and other structures are destroyed and thousands more are damaged. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530.md?page=50) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530.md?page=52)