SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

Today is Saturday, September 8, the 252nd day of 2012. There are 114 days left in the year.

1380 ― Russians defeat Tatars at Kulikovo, beginning decline of Tatars

1664 ― Dutch surrender New Amsterdam (N.Y.) to 300 English soldiers

1900 ― 6,000 killed when a hurricane and tidal wave destroys Galveston, Texas, most deadly in U.S. history

1924 ― Alexandra Kollontai of Russia becomes first woman ambassador

1930 ― First appearance of the comic strip “Blondie”

1943 ― Italy surrenders to the allies in WW II

1945 ― U.S. invades Japanese-held Korea

1951 ― Japan signs treaty of peace with 48 countries (S.F.)

1952 ― Ernest Hemingway’s “Old Man & the Sea” published

1974 ― President Gerald Ford pardons former President Richard Nixon of all federal crimes