Day in history for March 1, 2002

1852 -- 150 years ago

People were pleasantly awakened last midnight by the sound of a steamboat whistle, marking the end of winter. The steamer Wyoming broke through the ice pack here but could not get to the levee. It landed below the city.

1877 -- 125 years ago

The Rev. E. Nisbet, pastor of First Baptist Church, Rock Island, is author of a book published in New York. The title is ``Resurrection of the Body: Does the Bible Teach It?''

1902 -- 100 years ago

Captain J.W. Sant, 92, fell dead at supper. He came to Rock Island in 1837 and became a steamboat builder. His son, Sam R. VanSant, is the present governor of Minnesota.

1927 -- 75 years ago

A man crazed by liquor shot Police Officers William J. McCarthy and Thomas F. Raisbeck and then turned the gun on himself.

1952 -- 50 years ago

An American, Howard Shuman, 28, of Morrison, Ill., was elected president of the famed Oxford union debating society. Shuman is the third American to hold the post in the society's 130-year history.

1977 -- 25 years ago

Forty-four Rock Island Arsenal traffic control officers received special service awards for avoiding traffic tieups on the island despite closure of normal entrance and exit bridges. Because of the increased workload and the complicated circumstances that arose from the bridge work, Col. L.F. Skibbie, Arsenal Commander, presented each man with a certificate and $55 cash award.

Back: Available days in March 2002