TODAY IN HISTORY

1792

The French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy.

1912

Magician Harry Houdini first publicly performed his “Water Torture Cell” trick at the Circus Busch in Berlin.

1938

A hurricane struck parts of New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming some 700lives.

1948

Milton Berle made his debut as permanent host of “The Texaco Star Theater” on NBC-TV.

1961

The first Boeing Ch-47chinook military helicopter made its first hovering flight.

1981

The Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of Sandra Day O’connor to become the first female justice on the Supreme Court.

1982

Amin Gemayel, brother of Lebanon’s assassinated president-elect, Bashir Gemayel, was himself elected president.