# 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:** 75
**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:** [December 9, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1484 "2018-12-09T05:18:51Z")
**December 9, 1911** : [The Cross Mountain Mine Explosion](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Mountain_Mine_disaster&ved=2ahUKEwiY4PSS_pHfAhXD1FkKHUv3AS4QFjANegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw0OIgD7nrxrpjhTPGMYbwn1) in Briceville, Tennessee kills 84. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1485 "2018-12-09T05:27:18Z")
A trilogy of evil: December 6 1989 - The École Polytechnique massacre. December 7 1941 - The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. December 8 1980 - John Lennon is murdered by ---
**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:** [December 9, 2018, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1486 "2018-12-09T11:47:46Z")
**December 9, 1946:** The “Subsequent Nuremberg trials” begin with the “Doctors’ trial”, prosecuting physicians and officers alleged to be involved in Nazi human experimentation and mass murder under the guise of euthanasia. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2018, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1487 "2018-12-10T05:21:24Z")
\*\*December 10, 1968 \*\*: [The 300 Million Yen Robbery](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://amp.news.com.au/world/japan-heist-remains-unsolved-44-years-on/news-story/4155fd5e0206d8a299a2948cdb1e68c7&ved=2ahUKEwiZuKi6spTfAhXIzlkKHemKD9wQFjAVegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw1bt3K0aHitT9AXifFYgNNP&cf=1&cshid=1544415189858), Japan’s largest ever single heist, occurs when a lone robber posing as a policeman convinces guards with a truckload of money that their vehicle has a bomb attached that is going to explode. The guards high tail it from the truck and the fake policeman simply drives off with the loot. The brazen thief is never caught and the cash is never recovered. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2018, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1488 "2018-12-10T10:35:59Z")
**December 10, 1868:** The first traffic lights are installed, outside the Palace of Westminster in London. Resembling railway signals, they use semaphore arms and are illuminated at night by red and green gas lamps. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1489 "2018-12-10T21:35:43Z")
**December 10, 1936** : Edward VIII signs the _Instrument of Abdication_. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1490 "2018-12-12T16:37:08Z")
**December 12, 1866** : [The Oaks Colliery Explosion](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-41187124&ved=2ahUKEwi0_Zqg2ZrfAhVIwlkKHbxsD6wQFjAPegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw11Xakmpng_YzQHL-ZFq_42) kills 383. This is England’s deadliest mine disaster. Most of the dead were miners killed in the initial explosion, however 27 were rescuers who died there the next day when another explosion occurred. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1491 "2018-12-12T22:40:14Z")
**December 12, 2000:** The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in _Bush v. Gore._ ---
**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:** [December 13, 2018, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1492 "2018-12-13T05:16:40Z")
**December 13, 1977** : [Air Indiana Flight 216](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2017/12/13/16770632/university-of-evansville-aces-plane-crash&ved=2ahUKEwjPnKS6gpzfAhXj01kKHb7RBz4QFjAQegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw2OHgtj7D4r22L1bdmVGMiT) crashes during takeoff from Evansville Regional Airport. All 29 aboard are killed, including almost the entire University of Evansville Aces basketball team and their coaches. Only one player, David Furr, survived because he missed the flight due to a sprained ankle. Furr would be killed just two weeks later in a car accident after being hit by a drunk driver. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2018, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1493 "2018-12-14T06:57:49Z")
**December 14, 2008:** Muntadhar al-Zaidi throws his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1494 "2018-12-16T14:54:13Z")
**December 16, 1811** : [The first New Madrid Earthquake](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-great-midwest-earthquake-of-1811-46342/&ved=2ahUKEwixsLv7xqTfAhUtnOAKHefyDS0QFjAgegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw3vpCWlxtfiOMsvlnazCLAJ) strikes Missouri. The quake is estimated between a 7.5 and 8 on the Richter Scale and is strong enough to be felt in Washington DC. [Here](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/06/the-great-middle-american-earthquake/486623/&ved=2ahUKEwixsLv7xqTfAhUtnOAKHefyDS0QFjAuegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw0ZC7-yKw6CCGs7DBFWwjoh) is a scary article from _The Atlantic_ about what might happen when the next earthquake occurs here. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2018, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1495 "2018-12-16T23:52:58Z")
**December 16, 1770:** Ludwig van Beethoven is born in Bonn, Germany. ---
**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:** [December 17, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1496 "2018-12-17T16:50:03Z")
**December 17, 2009:** The ship _MV Danny F II_ sinks off the coast of Lebanon, carrying 83 people, 10,224 sheep, and 17,932 cattle. Thirty-nine people were rescued and nine human bodies recovered. The other passengers and animals are presumed to have died. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1497 "2018-12-18T15:13:00Z")
**December 18, 1865** : US Secretary of State William Seward proclaims the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment, prohibiting slavery throughout the USA. ---
**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:** [December 19, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1498 "2018-12-19T23:41:27Z")
**December 19, 1843** : _A Christmas Carol_ is published. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2018, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1499 "2018-12-20T07:04:44Z")
**December 20, 1951:** The EBR-1 in Arco, Idaho becomes the first nuclear power plant to generate electricity. The electricity powered four light bulbs. ---
**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:** [December 21, 2018, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1500 "2018-12-21T06:53:24Z")
**December 21, 1937:** _Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,_ the world’s first full-length animated feature, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Hollywood. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2018, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1501 "2018-12-22T07:48:19Z")
**December 22, 1944:** The Battle of the Bulge: German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by General Anthony McAuliffe: _ **"Nuts!"** _ ---
**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:** [December 23, 2018, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1502 "2018-12-23T10:59:22Z")
**December 23, 1972:** The 16 survivors of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 are rescued after 73 days, having reportedly survived by cannibalism. Faced with starvation and death, those still alive agreed that should they die, the others might consume their bodies in order to live. With no choice, the survivors ate the bodies of their dead friends. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2018, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1503 "2018-12-24T06:10:56Z")
**December 24, 1953** : [The Tangiwai Rail Disaster](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-tangiwai-railway-disaster&ved=2ahUKEwjZjNyc5rffAhUCtlkKHbPNCEUQFjAgegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw2ZkGz3p92jPBcdiWT59FLo) kills 151 in New Zealand when a railroad bridge collapses sending a locomotive and six cars into the Whangaehu River. This is New Zealand’s deadliest rail accident. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530.md?page=74) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530.md?page=76)