LOOKING BACK

1870: Mississippi was readmitted to the Union.

1965: film comedian Stan Laurel, 74, died in Santa Monica, California.

1981: an attempted coup began in Spain as 200 members of the Civil Guard invaded Parliament, taking lawmakers hostage. (However, the attempt collapsed 18 hours later.)

1998: 42 people were killed, some 2,600 homes and businesses damaged or destroyed, by tornadoes in central Florida.