NEWS

Today in History: Balloon Boy and Hurricane Hazel

On October 15, 2009, a report of a 6-year-old boy trapped inside a runaway helium balloon engrossed the nation before the boy, Falcon Heene, was found safe at home in what turned out to be a hoax.
On October 15, 2009, a report of a 6-year-old boy trapped inside a runaway helium balloon engrossed the nation before the boy, Falcon Heene, was found safe at home in what turned out to be a hoax.
David Zalubowski, AP
A hot-air balloon is seen over Colorado, near Fort Collins. This is the balloon that was thought to have contained Falcon Heene.
A hot-air balloon is seen over Colorado, near Fort Collins. This is the balloon that was thought to have contained Falcon Heene.
KMGH-TV AP
Falcon Heene is shown with his father, Richard, outside the family's home in Fort Collins, Colo., after Falcon Heene was found hiding in a box in a space above the garage.
Falcon Heene is shown with his father, Richard, outside the family's home in Fort Collins, Colo., after Falcon Heene was found hiding in a box in a space above the garage.
David Zalubowski, AP
In 1860, 11-year-old Grace Bedell wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, suggesting he could improve his appearance by growing a beard. Shown is Lincoln's response.
In 1860, 11-year-old Grace Bedell wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, suggesting he could improve his appearance by growing a beard. Shown is Lincoln's response.
Library Of Congress
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Alexander Gardner, Associated Press
In 1917, Dutch dancer Mata Hari, convicted of spying for the Germans, was executed by a French firing squad.
In 1917, Dutch dancer Mata Hari, convicted of spying for the Germans, was executed by a French firing squad.
AP
In 1928, the German dirigible Graf Zeppelin landed in Lakehurst, New Jersey, completing its first commercial flight across the Atlantic.
In 1928, the German dirigible Graf Zeppelin landed in Lakehurst, New Jersey, completing its first commercial flight across the Atlantic.
AP
In 1946, Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering fatally poisoned himself hours before he was to have been executed.
In 1946, Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering fatally poisoned himself hours before he was to have been executed.
AP
In 1954, Hurricane Hazel made landfall on the Carolina coast as a Category 4 storm; Hazel was blamed for some 1,000 deaths in Caribbean, 95 in the U.S. and 81 in Canada.
In 1954, Hurricane Hazel made landfall on the Carolina coast as a Category 4 storm; Hazel was blamed for some 1,000 deaths in Caribbean, 95 in the U.S. and 81 in Canada.
Clifton Guthrie, Associated Press
A police officer stands guard beside uprooted tree blown down in the White House drive by the hurricane in Washington,Oct. 15, 1954.
A police officer stands guard beside uprooted tree blown down in the White House drive by the hurricane in Washington,Oct. 15, 1954.
Henry Griffin, Associated Press
Workmen are busy in Washington, disposing of trees felled on the U.S. Capitol grounds last night by Hurricane Hazel, Oct. 16, 1954.
Workmen are busy in Washington, disposing of trees felled on the U.S. Capitol grounds last night by Hurricane Hazel, Oct. 16, 1954.
Associated Press
High tides, whipped in by Hurricane Hazel, shatter boats and buildings in Swansboro, North Carolina, Oct. 15, 1954.
High tides, whipped in by Hurricane Hazel, shatter boats and buildings in Swansboro, North Carolina, Oct. 15, 1954.
Anonymous, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Lawrence Ave. bridge, connecting two west Toronto suburbs, caught the full brunt of the hurricane Hazel-Swollen Humber River on Oct. 17, 1954.
The Lawrence Ave. bridge, connecting two west Toronto suburbs, caught the full brunt of the hurricane Hazel-Swollen Humber River on Oct. 17, 1954.
PT Associated Press
The damaged Lawrence Avenue Bridge, connecting two west Toronto suburbs, is shown in an Oct 17, 1954, photo following Hurricane Hazel. Several communities were isolated by similar washouts. A Category 4 hurricane with peak winds estimated at 140 mph, Hazel smashed shore in 1954, pushing an 18-foot storm surge, one of the highest to ever pound the Carolinas.
The damaged Lawrence Avenue Bridge, connecting two west Toronto suburbs, is shown in an Oct 17, 1954, photo following Hurricane Hazel. Several communities were isolated by similar washouts. A Category 4 hurricane with peak winds estimated at 140 mph, Hazel smashed shore in 1954, pushing an 18-foot storm surge, one of the highest to ever pound the Carolinas.
Associated Press
In 1991, despite sexual harassment allegations by Anita Hill, the Senate narrowly confirmed the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court, 52-48.
In 1991, despite sexual harassment allegations by Anita Hill, the Senate narrowly confirmed the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court, 52-48.
JOHN L. FOCHT, Associated Press