On this Day... March 26
■ In 1916, the Bird Man of Alcatraz committed his second murder.
Robert Franklin Stroud was in prison for killing his mistress’s ex-lover, but today, for no apparent reason, he killed a prison guard in
Leavenworth jail – in front of 1,200 witnesses. He was sentenced to death, but after three trials and four years. His punishment was commuted to life imprisonment. He was to spend the rest of his existence – 42 years – in solitary confinement. His birds helped him come to terms with it. He began by nurturing two adopted sparrows, and eventually was given an extra cell and equipment and became an expert. He had an authoritative work published on bird diseases and ran a successful little business selling patent medicines and, aptly enough,
caged birds. One customer was J. Edgar Hoover.
■ In 1827, Vienna shook as Beethoven died. The city was in the grip of a fearsome storm of snow and lightning, and in the eerie light, the composer “looked more like a skeleton than a living man.” He was now suffering not only from his cruel deafness, but cirrhosis, jaundice, dropsy, and pneumonia. Well aware that he was soon going to die, he said, “I shall hear in heaven.”
— from Today’s the Day! By Jeremy Beadle
In Christian history
■ In 1775, American-born evangelist, mystic, and hymn writer Henry Alline undergone a profound spiritual conversion. He later became a leader of the “New Light” movement in the Presbyterian Church and evangelized the people of Nova Scotia.
— from This Day in Christian History By William D. Blake
In the Philippines
■ In 1867, Braulio Rivera, one of the “Thirteen Martyrs of Bagumbayan,” was born in Tondo, Manila. He joined the Katipunan during its early stage, rapidly gaining the confidence of its founder Andres Bonifacio, who preferred tight-lipped men for his trusted companions. He took the nom de guerre of “Guitna” after his place of birth. Not long after, he formed and led a chapter of the secret organization in his birthplace, calling it Balangay Gitna. It was in the printing shop of the Diario de Manila that Spanish authorities, during the nighttime raid on its premises, found the list of Katipunan members whose names were in codes. The raid came about with the disclosure to the authorities of the existence of the Katipunan by Teodoro Patiño. Evidence was found proving the existence of a subversive organization in their midst. This led to a crackdown on suspected rebels who was arrested on August 24. He was thrown into Fort Santiago where he suffered various forms of torture including being suspended upside down and suddenly released; caning, and drowning. He was put to death by firing squad in1897 on Bagumbayan field, along with 12 others. The 13 men shot to death on that fateful day became known as the “Trece Martires de Bagumbayan.”
— (www.kahimyang.info)
In Cebu
■ In1945, after an hour-long bombardment, American Division units landed in Talisay at 8:30 a.m. They landed unopposed but heavy damage was inflicted by the land mines. Thus began the American “liberation” of Cebu.
■ In1970, Sulpicio Osorio (1898-1970), Cebu’s most popular writer and better known as “Sulposor,” died.
— from Cebuano Studies Center, University of San Carlos
A hobby is an activity that one does for relief and relaxation from the tedium of everyday life; it is not an excuse for indolence.
— Have a Hobby
The Freeman Lifestyle, February 22, 2014