Today in News History

On July 8, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1730, An estimated magnitude 8.7 earthquake causes a tsunami that damages more than 1,000 km (620 mi) of Chile's coastline. In 1851, John Murray, Australian politician, 23rd Premier of Victoria (died 1916) was born. In 1882, Percy Grainger, Australian-American pianist and composer (died 1961) was born. In 1898, The death of crime boss Soapy Smith, killed in the Shootout on Juneau Wharf, releases Skagway, Alaska from his iron grip. In 1918, Edward B. Giller, American Major General (died 2017) was born. In 1925, Marco Cé, Italian cardinal (died 2014) was born. In 1928, Balakh Sher Mazari, former prime minister of Pakistan (died 2022) was born. In 1965, Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21 is destroyed by a bomb near 100 Mile House, Canada, killing 52. In 1988, The Island Express train travelling from Bangalore to Kanyakumari derails on the Peruman bridge and falls into Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala in India killing 105 passengers and injuring over 200 more. In 1992, Ariel Camacho, Mexican singer-songwriter (died 2015) was born. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.