MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1997
What really happened the night the Titanic sank? How, exactly, did the ship come apart? Was there anything that could have saved it and the hundreds of passengers who died with it? Those questions — and plenty of others — are likely to occur to visitors to “Titanic,” the Wonders series exhibition that opens Thursday at The Pyramid. They’ve already occurred to John Eaton. Eaton, of Cold Springs, N.Y., is an official historian of the ship, co-author of the massive 1986 book Titanic: Triumph and Tragedy and a man who has made the 21⁄2-mile dive in a submersible to inspect the ship’s broken remains. You could say he’s obsessed with the wreck and everything that surrounds it. Eaton is not alone. As the lore, legend and history of the Titanic have grown through the years, a core of serious Titanic enthusiasts has developed. They’re nicknamed “rivet counters” — those with knowledge of the disaster bordering on the obsessive. Eighty-five years since the Titanic smacked into an iceberg and sank, Eaton is among thousands around the globe still hungry for the most minute details.
50 years ago — 1972
Jack Kauffman was bound for Washington yesterday with the body of his father in an effort to gratify the old soldier’s last wish and bury him in Arlington National Cemetery “where my buddies are.” A. Henry Kauffman, World War I veteran, died March16 at the age of 73, but his wish has gone unfulfilled because Arlington is now open to only a select few. Gravesites have been offered by living veterans and families offering to have their relatives exhumed, but cemetery officials still refuse.
75 years ago — 1947
The first suggestion of a site for a public housing project to be made here since the end of World War II was made yesterday by E.H. Crump, Shelby County political leader, in discussing the Memphis approaches to the new Mississippi River Bridge. Mr. Crump suggested a development in Suzette Bottoms, through which an extension of Iowa will be made to connect the bridge approach with Lamar at East.
100 years ago — 1922
SHEFFIELD, Ala. – The question of placing a rider on the army appropriation bill carrying between $7,000,000 and $8,000,000 annually for three years for immediate resumption of work on the Wilson Dam was discussed tonight by members of the Senate agricultural and House military committees, according to Representative Hull, who said that House members had been consulted in the matter.
125 years ago — 1897
Those who took part last night in the production of the “Debutante’s Reception” were Stella Harpmann, Hattie Skaller, Jessie Seessel, Stella Hirsch, Natalie Danheiser, Rosa Cohn, Sarah Henochsberg, Abe L. Jehl, Herman Scharff, Carl Roescher, Bert Simon, Sydney Brooks and William Sonfield. The fancy dances were by little Misses Halle, Brooks, Gabay and Mendel. Mark Davis was stage manager.