1850. The steam boat Anglo Norman, while on a pleasure trip for the day, at New Orleans, exploded both boilers, and nearly a hundred persons were either killed or wounded.
1854. A Russian decree ordered an additional levy of ten men in every thousand, in the eastern half of the Russian empire, Jews not excepted.
DECEMBER 14.
402. Anastasius I, pope, died. He reconciled the eastern and western churches, and was much respected for his sanctity and virtue.
628. Pilgrimage of the emperor Heraclius at Jerusalem.
1417. John Oldcastle, "the good lord Cobham," the first author and an early martyr of the reformation, hung alive in chains and burnt to death.
1622. Valentine Smalcius, a celebrated Socinian writer, died at Cracow.
1624. Charles Howard, an intrepid English admiral, died. He commanded the English fleet at the defeat of the Spanish armada.
1681. Francis Vavasseur, a French Jesuit, died; distinguished as a teacher of rhetoric and belles lettres at Paris, and as a lecturer on the scriptures.
1704. Joseph Duche de Vancy died; a French poet, author of several scripture tragedies.