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