MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1998

WASHINGTON – The Senate voted, 52-46, for a Republican amendment to use some of the money that would be raised from higher cigarette prices on drug abuse programs. The vote was the first on the legislation in three weeks, and plans were made to vote today on proposals to use other money from the tobacco legislation for income-tax cuts. 50 years ago — 1973

YOUR ZOO: The once-mighty Dinga is a lonesome gorilla today and his ego sadly deflated: His beloved mate, Tammy, has left him for another, at least temporarily. Tammy, escorted by senior keeper Andy Vernon and keeper James Russell, left Memphis Tuesday on a bridal tour to the Toledo, Ohio Zoo, arriving Wednesday, and is now in the process of becoming acquainted with

her new mate.

75 years ago — 1948

WASHINGTON – The Senate, laboring to reach a vote on a bill drafting men 19 through 25, Wednesday night approved an amendment liberalizing the court-martial system of Army and Air Force. After hours of fiery battles over amendments, the Senate agreed at midnight to vote finally on the bill at 1 p.m. Thursday (Memphis time).

100 years ago — 1923

Shriners returning from the national conclave in Washington, reaching Memphis yesterday morning, reported a thrilling experience at noon Friday, when the engineer of their special train came to a halt near Asheville, N.C., several feet in front of a tree stump or log that had either blown across the track or been placed there. Members of Al

Chymia Temple who were on board the train were inclined to the belief that the tree had been blown down, and the engineer of the train also was inclined to this theory. The engineer of the second section of the special, however, favored the attempted wreck theory. Any way, nobody was hurt and the close call merely was an exciting incident of the return trip.

125 years ago — 1898

ATLANTA – An attempt was made on the night of May 29 to enter the magazine at Fort St. Phillip, on the Mississippi, 65 miles below New Orleans. In endeavoring to apprehend the miscreants, the sentinel who challenged them was struck on the head with a bar of iron in the hands of a hidden ally and seriously injured. The news of the affair did not become known until today.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES June 10, 1999: Memphis Redbirds President and General Manager Allie Prescott adds his signature to the first steel beam to be raised at Autozone Stadium prior to the beam being lifted into place. The beam is 46 feet long and weighs about 4,000 pounds, according to David Wages of Diamond Steel, the company that will erect the 7,000 to 8,000 pieces to be used in the stadium.