MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1994 Washington – Special counsel Robert Fiske declined Tuesday, for the second time, to agree to testify when the House Banking Committee launches its Whitewater inquiry July 26. The counsel has tried to keep Congress from investigating any aspect of Whitewater that remains part of his criminal probe. The Senate will begin hearings by July 29. The hearings in both houses will focus on three topics: contacts between the White House officials and federal regulators investigating aspects of the Whitewater case; the death of deputy White House counsel Vincent Foster; and the removal of documents from Foster’s office, which included Whitewater files. Fiske already has released his findings on the contacts — finding no criminality — and on Foster, concurring with the suicide findings. He now is investigating President Clinton’s Arkansas Whitewater real estate investment and related matters. 50 years ago — 1969 Cape Kennedy, Fla. – With millions around the world astir with the spirit of high adventure, the Apollo 11 astronauts Saturday tuned their flying skills to a fine pitch in a final full day of training for man’s boldest expedition, culminating in the July 20 landing on the moon. Neil A. Armstrong, 38, and Edwin E. Aldrin, 39, were taking advantage of every opportunity to get ready for their longawaited odyssey. 75 years ago — 1944 Memphis for the third consecutive year has been awarded first place among cities in its population group for having showed the “greatest civic improvement in abatement of needless noises” during the contest year ending May 31. 100 years ago — 1919 Nashville – Promotion of Lt. Col. Ewing Caruthers of Memphis to colonel commanding the Fourth Tennessee Regiment, National Guard of Tennessee, was announced yesterday. 125 years ago — 1894 Chicago – The sensational Pullman-american Railway Union strike, which has crippled the nation’s railway industry, is rapidly attaining riotous proportions. Monday 200 deputy U.S. marshals were surrounded on Blue Island near here by 2,000 strikers who openly defied federal authority. Weapons were drawn on both sides and the lawmen finally withdrew to their barrack cars to await reinforcements.