Today in News History

On June 24, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1374, A sudden outbreak of St. John's Dance causes people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion. In 1922, John Postgate, English microbiologist, author, and academic (died 2014) was born. In 1942, Colin Groves, Australian academician and educator (died 2017) was born. In 1952, Dianna Melrose, English diplomat, British High Commissioner to Tanzania was born. In 1963, The United Kingdom grants Zanzibar internal self-government. In 1973, The UpStairs Lounge arson attack takes place at a gay bar located on the second floor of the three-story building at 141 Chartres Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, US. Thirty-two people die as a result of fire or smoke inhalation. In 1982, "The Jakarta Incident": British Airways Flight 009 flies into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, resulting in the failure of all four engines. In 2002, The Igandu train disaster in Tanzania kills 281, the worst train accident in African history. In 2013, Mick Aston, English archaeologist and academic (born 1946) passed away. In 2021, The Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida suffers a sudden partial collapse, killing 98 people inside. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.