August 17th

Today's Highlight in History:
One year ago, on August 17th, 1999, more than 17,000 people were killed when a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Turkey.

On this date:
In 1807, Robert Fulton's "North River Steam Boat" began heading up New York's Hudson River on its successful round-trip to Albany.

In 1863, Federal batteries and ships bombarded Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor during the Civil War.

In 1896, a prospecting party discovered gold in Alaska, a finding that touched off the Klondike gold rush.

In 1940, President Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister William Mackenzie King met in Ogdensburg, New York, where they agreed to set up a joint defense commission.

In 1943, the Allied conquest of Sicily was completed as US and British forces entered Messina.

In 1945, Indonesian nationalists declared their independence from the Netherlands.

In 1962, East German border guards shot and mortally wounded 18-year-old Peter Fechter, who had attempted to cross the Berlin Wall into the western sector.

In 1969, 248 people were killed as Hurricane "Camille" slammed into the Gulf Coast.

In 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair concluded near Bethel, New York.

In 1978, the first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight ended as Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman landed their "Double Eagle Two" outside Paris.

Ten years ago: Iraq said it would "play host" to all foreign citizens in the country who were from "aggressive nations," and place them in military and civilian targets until the threat of war was over. Actress-singer Pearl Bailey died in Philadelphia at age 72.

Five years ago: James B. McDougal, McDougal's ex-wife, Susan H. McDougal, and Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker were indicted by the Whitewater grand jury. (James McDougal was convicted on 18 of 19 counts of fraud and conspiracy; Tucker was found guilty on one count of fraud and one count of conspiracy; Susan McDougal was convicted on four fraud-related charges.)

"Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story."

-- John Barth, American author.