Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

The University of Georgia

October 11

1779 Polish patriot and American Revolution hero Casimir Pulaski died after being wounded in the American and French attempts to re-take Savannah from British control.

1853 The cornerstone of the 55-foot-high Pulaski Monument was laid in Monterey Square in Savannah.

1865 President Andrew Johnson paroled Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens of Georgia.

1918 Spanish influenza cases remained relatively low in Atlanta, while the University of Georgia announced classes would resume October 21. Classes had been suspended October 7 as a precaution against the Spanish flu epidemic. [For more information on the pandemic, see PBS's The American Experience: Influenza 1918 web site.]

1927 "Lindbergh Day" was held in Atlanta. Events began at 1 p.m. at Candler Field. Charles Lindbergh flew the "Spirit of St. Louis" over the city and landed at Candler Field at 2 p.m. The entourage left for downtown Atlanta, where a parade was held. Shortly before 4 p.m., Lindbergh arrived at Georgia Tech Stadium, where he gave an address to 20,000 spirited onlookers. From there, he traveled to the Biltmore Hotel for ceremonies with the governor of Georgia and Atlanta's mayor. The next morning, Lindbergh was off to Spartanburg, South Carolina--the next stop on his scheduled tour.

1979 The U.S. Postal Service released a Casimir Pulaski postal card to mark the 200th anniversary of his death following a mortal injury during the siege of Savannah, in which American and French forces tried to retake Savannah from the British. First-day-of-issue ceremonies were held in Savannah.

1980 The University of Georgia football team continued its national championship run with a 28-21 win over the University of Mississippi. With Herschel Walker injured for most of the game, reserve running back Carnie Norris and quarterback Buck Belue took up the slack, accounting for over 250 yards and two touchdowns between them.

1992 On this day, Deion Sanders accomplished a sports feat never before done - actually two feats. He played in two separate professional sports games in one day. He played for the Atlanta Falcons in the afternoon, then caught a plane to Pittsburg to play for the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs that night.

2001 Former Georgia state school superintendent Linda Schrenko was indicted for allegedly using education money to help finance her re-election campaign.

2002 Former president and native Georgian Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for decades of work in promoting human rights and international peace. The former governor of Georgia announced that the $1,000,000 associated with the award would be used by the Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter became the second Georgia native to receive the Nobel Peace Prize--which is a record for any American state. In 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr. was the first native-born Georgian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Though not born in Georgia, Pres. Woodrow Wilson (who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919) spent part of his youth in Augusta and practiced law in Atlanta.

2007 Long time Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz resigned his general manager position to become the team's president. Assistant GM Frank Wren was named the new genral manager.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1735 From Ebenezer, John Martin Boltzius wrote in his journal of a pest that still plagues south Georgia:

"The very cool nights have let up again and now it is once again lovely and pleasant during the night, but the days are very hot and the fields in which the people have planted turnips and other autumn plants need rain very badly. People and animals, particularly those who have to work in the forest, are now badly tormented by gnats; but we in our homes are spared this. Last year, when we lived nearer the river where there are many deciduous trees, we have to suffer much discomfort, especially at nights. in addition to these large and small gnats there is an untold number of other vermin in this hot, still uncultivated and wild land, most of which are similar to those in Germany. . . ."

Source: George Fenwick Jones (ed.), Detailed Reports on the Salzburger Emigrants Who Settled in America . . . Edited by Samuel Urlsperger (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1969), Vol. 2, pp. 172-173.

1738 In an unattributed day-by-day report from Savannah dated Oct. 22 that subsequently was reprinted in London's Gentleman's Magazine, the entry for Oct. 11 noted:

"On the 11th Tomo Chichi, Mico, came to wait upon the General. He had been very ill, but the good old Man was so rejoiced at the General's Arrival, that he said it recovered him. He acquainted the General that the Chiefs of several Towns of the Creek Indian Nation were at his House to congratulate him on his Arrival, and to assure him of their Fidelity to the King of Great Britain."

Source: John T. Juricek (ed.), Georgia Treaties, 1733-1763, Vol. XI in Alden T. Vaughan (ed.), Early American Indian Documents: Treaties and Laws, 1607-1789 (Frederick, Md.: University Publications of America, 1989), p. 87.