100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

4th April 1924

A crowd gathers to watch the departure of the four Douglas DWC World Cruisers of the US Air Service from the company airfield at Santa Monica in California. Leaving Lake Washington, the two survivors returned on 28 September after the first successful aerial circumnavigation of the world.


Ship Losses:

Admiral Rodman (United States) The cargo ship ran aground at Point Calvert, British Columbia, Canada. She was refloated on 18 April.
Dover Maru (Japan) The cargo ship ran aground at Otomari, Sakhalin. She was refloated on 7 April.

[Jimbuna]

5th April 1924

Ship Losses:

Sierra Grande (Belgium) The cargo ship collided with West Inskip ( United States) in the Scheldt at Bath, Netherlands and sank. The wreck was broken up in situ in June 1924.

[Jimbuna]

6th April 1924

Eight American pilots depart Seattle’s Sand Point Naval Air Station in four modified Navy torpedo bombers, in hopes of becoming the first people to travel around the entire globe by air—something attempted unsuccessfully by several European flyers in previous years.


Ship Losses:

Jacques Coeur (France) The cargo ship caught fire in the Atlantic Ocean and was abandoned (46°30′N 31°40′W). Her crew were rescued by N.F.C. ( France).
Turlaid (Estonia) The schooner came ashore at Meshedyn, Spanish Morocco. She broke up the next day and was a total loss. Her crew were rescued by breeches buoy.

[Jimbuna]

7th April 1924

Ship Losses:

Anahuac (United States) The cargo ship came ashore at Bellport, New York and was a total loss. Her crew were rescued.
Fladen Lightship (Sweden) The lightship was destroyed by fire. Her crew were rescued.
HMS L25 (Royal Navy) The L-class submarine ran aground off The Needles, Isle of Wight. She was refloated later that day.
Sainte Anne (France) The cargo ship collided with Blois ( France) the English Channel (50°40′N 0°10′W). Her crew were rescued by Blois.

[Jimbuna]

8th April 1924

Ship Losses:

Bee (United States) The cargo ship was a total loss off Maui, Hawaii.
Maple Branch (United Kingdom) The cargo ship ran aground on the Mala Bank, Ecuador. She was refloated on 17 May.

[Jimbuna]

9th April 1924

Ship Losses:

Monte Pasubio (Italy) The cargo ship was driven ashore on the Argentine coast and was a total loss.
Wyrallah (United Kingdom) The coaster collided with Dilkera ( United Kingdom) off Port Phillip Heads, Victoria, Australia and sank with the loss of eight crew.

[Jimbuna]

10th April 1924

King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania arrived in Paris on a royal visit. Though officially only a friendly visit, it was widely believed that Romania was seeking an alliance with France due to unfriendly relations with Russia, Spain and Italy.


Political Cartoon by De Mar


Hugo Stinnes, 54, German industrialist and politician who was the wealthiest man in Germany after World War One until his death, died a month after gall bladder surgery.


Ship Losses:

Sirius (France) The schooner collided with the fishing vessel Suzanne et Marie ( France) in the English Channel off Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais and sank. Her crew were rescued.

[Jimbuna]

11th April 1924

Ship Losses:

Nunnington (United Kingdom) The cargo ship departed Swansea, Glamorgan for Sables. No further trace, presumed foundered with the loss of all hands.

[Jimbuna]

12th April 1924

The first international soccer football game at Wembley Stadium was played between England and Scotland, ending in 1 to 1 draw, with Billy Walker of England scoring the first goal.


Ship Losses:

HMAS Australia (Royal Australian Navy) Washington Naval Treaty: The decommissioned Indefatigable-class battlecruiser was scuttled in the Tasman Sea off the coast of Australia 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi) northeast of the Sydney Heads.
Princess Louise (United Kingdom) The schooner was driven ashore at Cardiff, Glamorgan and was a total loss. Her crew survived.

[Jimbuna]

13th April 1924

Ship Losses:

Buchanness (United Kingdom) The cargo liner suffered a failure of her propeller shaft off Start Point in the English Channel and consequently drifted ashore at Burhou, Alderney Channel Islands. All on board were rescued by Baron Cawdor ( United Kingdom) and RFA Slavol ( Royal Navy).

[Jimbuna]

14th April 1924

"Journalists and lawyers congratulate Harry K. Thaw on his release from a mental hospital. In 1906 Thaw shot and killed world-famous architect Stanford White in the roof theater at Madison Square Garden. White had had an affair with Thaw's young wife Evelyn Nesbit."

[Jimbuna]

15th April 1924

Coolidge and Bucky Harris.


Ship Losses:

Tokwa Maru (Japan) The cargo ship ran aground near Marotsu, Yamaguchi. She was refloated on 17 April.