On this day, July 15

1834 The Spanish Inquisition was abolished more than 3 ½ centuries after its creation.

1909 Rioting workers of the Pressed Steel Car Co., near McKees Rocks, clashed with guards. Coal and Iron Police and State Constabulary were called out. Many strikers were wounded by volleys of buckshot fired to halt their charges. State police were ordered to “shoot to kill” if attacked by strikers.

1959 John J. Kane announced his withdrawal from the race for re- election as Allegheny County commissioner.

1976 A 36- hour kidnap ordeal began for 26 schoolchildren and their bus driver as they were abducted near Chowchilla, Calif., by three gunmen and imprisoned in an underground cell. The captives escaped unharmed, and the kidnappers were caught.

1986 The merger of Buhl Science Center and the Carnegie was approved by Buhl’s board of trustees.

2008 In an All- Star Game that began at dusk and ended at 1: 37 a. m. the next morning, the American League defeated the National League, 4- 3, in 15 innings at Yankee Stadium. Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” ( digital. library. pitt. edu/ chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Actor Patrick Wayne, 80. Singer Millie Jackson, 75. Singer Linda Ronstadt, 73. Actor- director Forest Whitaker, 58. Actress Brigitte Nielsen, 56. Actor- comedian Eddie Griffin, 51. Actor Brian Austin Green, 46. Actor Iain Armitage ( TV: “Big Little Lies” ‘’ Young Sheldon”), 11.

Thought for today: “A sure way to lose happiness, I found, is to want it at the expense of everything else.” — Bette Davis, American actress ( 1908- 1989)