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This Day in History

 
Sat, 4 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The "Flying Tailor" Dies after Failed Parachute Jump from Eiffel Tower (1912)

Parachutes at the dawn of the aviation age were bulky and, inconveniently, had to be pre-opened. Among those trying to improve upon their design was French tailor Franz Reichelt. He had some success testing his designs on dummies, but he had no evidence that his parachute would work with a real person when he jumped from the Eiffel Tower before a crowd of spectators and reporters. The chute failed to open, and he plummeted to his death. How had he convinced the authorities to allow the jump? Discuss

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Cavalese Cable Car Disaster (1998)

Relations between Italy and the US were strained in 1998 when a US military plane, flying too low and too fast through a valley near the Italian town of Cavalese, clipped an aerial tramway cable. The cable car fell, killing all 20 people on board. The pilot and navigator were acquitted of homicide in a US military court, sparking outrage in Italy, but were later convicted of obstruction of justice for destroying a video of the incident. How did the US attempt to repair relations with Italy?

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Sled Dogs Reach Nome, Alaska, with Diphtheria Serum (1925)

In 1925, a diphtheria outbreak threatened the small city of Nome. The town's supply of antitoxin had run out, and a mail shipment would have taken weeks to arrive. After learning of the crisis, 20 mushers and some 150 sled dogs, including the famous Balto, relayed fresh antitoxin 674 miles (1,085 km) in a record five and a half days, preventing an epidemic. Today, the heroic journey is commemorated by the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. How long does it take modern competitors to complete?



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