October 25th

Today's Highlight in History:
On October 25th, 1994, Susan Smith of Union, South Carolina, claimed that a black carjacker had driven off with her two sons (Smith later confessed to drowning the children in John D. Long Lake, and was convicted of murder).

On this date:
In 1400, author Geoffrey Chaucer died in London.

In 1760, Britain's King George the Third succeeded his late grandfather, George the Second.

In 1812, the US frigate "United States" captured the British vessel "Macedonian" during the War of 1812.

In 1854, the "Charge of the Light Brigade" took place during the Crimean War.

In 1918, the Canadian steamship "Princess Sophia" foundered off the coast of Alaska; nearly 400 people perished.

In 1929, former Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall was convicted of accepting a $100,000 bribe in connection with the Elk Hills Naval Oil Reserve in California.

In 1951, peace talks aimed at ending the Korean Conflict resumed in Panmunjom after 63 days.

In 1962, US ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson presented photographic evidence of Soviet missile bases in Cuba to the UN Security Council.

In 1971, the UN General Assembly voted to admit mainland China and expel Taiwan.

In 1983, a US-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect US citizens there.

Ten years ago: Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said the Pentagon was laying plans to send as many as 100-thousand more troops to Saudi Arabia. Evander Holyfield knocked out Buster Douglas in the third round of their fight in Las Vegas to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

Five years ago: A commuter train slammed into a school bus in Fox River Grove, Illinois, killing seven students. John J. Sweeney was elected AFL-CIO president. The Atlanta Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians 5-to-2, taking a three-games-to-one lead in the World Series. Tennis hustler Bobby Riggs died in Leucadia, California, at age 77.

One year ago: Golfer Payne Stewart and five others were killed when their Learjet flew uncontrolled for four hours before crashing in South Dakota; Stewart was 42. Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan bolted the GOP to mount a bid for the Reform Party nomination.

"It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in."

-- Lord Chesterfield, English author and statesman (1694-1773).