FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014

Today is Friday, January 17, the 17th day of 2014. There are 348 days left in the year.

1773 ― Captain James Cook becomes first to cross Antarctic Circle

1775 ― Nine old women burnt as witches for causing bad harvests, Kalisk, Poland

1861 ― Flush toilet (with separate water tank and a pull chain) patented by Thomas Crapper (Honest!)

1871 ― First cable car patented, by Andrew S. Hallidie (begins service in 1873)

1929 ― Popeye makes first appearance, in comic strip “Thimble Theatre”

1945 ― Auschwitz concentration camp begins evacuation

1951 ― China refuses ceasefire in Korea

1969 ― Debut album of Led Zeppelin released in U.S.

1990 ― Who, Simon & Garfunkel, Four Seasons, Four Tops, Hank Ballard, Platters & Kinks inducted into Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

1995 ― 7.2 earthquake destroys Kobe Japan (5,372 die)