WEDNESDAY, July 31, 2024

1498-Christopher Columbus discovers island of Trinidad

1790-First U.S. patent granted, to Samuel Hopkins for a potash process

1809-First practical U.S. railroad track (wooden, for horse-drawn cars), Philadelphia

1922-18-year-old Ralph Samuelson rides world's first water skis (Minn)

1925-Unemployment Insurance Act passed in England

1930-Lou Gehrig grand slams as Yanks beat Red Sox 14-13

1953-Dept of Health, Education & Welfare created

1962-Federation of Malaysia formed

1969-National Guard mobilizes in racial disturbances in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

1973-Delta Airlines DC-9 crashes in fog at Logan Airport, Boston,

killing all but one of 89 aboard. Lone survivor dies 6 months later

1978-Gunman shoots his way into the Iraqi Embassy in Paris

1990-Nolan Ryan becomes the 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games