100 Years Ago Today

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20th January 1924

Casper Sunday Tribune: US ships ordered to Vera Cruz.

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21st January 1924

Vladimir Lenin, the semi-retired founder and leader of the Soviet Union and the "de facto" leader of the USSR as First Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, died at his estate in Gorki at 18:50 hrs Moscow time following a stroke.


English comedian, Benny Hill, is born in Southampton, Hampshire, England.


Ship Losses:

Hadnot (United States) The tanker ran aground at Nyborg, Denmark. She was refloated on 25 January.

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22nd January 1924

Moscow: A council was appointed to succeed Lenin: Grigory Zinoviev, Lev Kamenev and Joseph Stalin. This was the same "troika" that had ruled since Lenin's second stroke in March 1923.


A complete autopsy was conducted on Vladimir Lenin's body. A cerebral hemorrhage was given as the cause of death. The brain was subsequently removed for study, as part of a directive that had been issued by Lenin.


Ship Losses:

Thor Minor (Norway) The cargo ship came ashore at Kastrup, Denmark. She was refloated on 25 January.

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23rd January 1924

Ship Losses:

Clumberhall (United Kingdom) The cargo ship ran aground at Mykolaiv, Soviet Union. She was refloated on 29 January.
Port Lyttleton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship ran aground at Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. She was refloated on 26 January.
Prospect (United Kingdom) The cargo ship suffered a fractured propeller shaft, which punctured her hull. She foundered in the Irish Sea off Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland.

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24th January 1924

Ship Losses:

Ithakos (Greece) The cargo ship ran aground in the River Plate off Martín García Island, Uruguay. She was refloated on 31 January.
Salford (United Kingdom) The cargo ship collided with Oroya ( United Kingdom) in the River Mersey at New Brighton, Cheshire and was beached.
Talisman (Norway) The cargo ship ran aground at Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although refloated on 30 January, she grounded again.

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25th January 1924

Warrant Officer Mandrillon (centre) of France holding the French flag whilst swearing the Olympic Oath surrounded by the flag bearers of the other participating nations during the 1924 Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix, France.


Ship Losses:

Sigrid (United States) During a voyage from Seattle, Washington, to Katalla, Territory of Alaska, the 11-gross register ton, 36.2-foot (11.0 m) fishing vessel was wrecked on a reef off the east coast of Vancouver Island 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) south of Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada. All three people aboard survived.

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26th January 1924

"Soviets, carrying Lenin's effigy, pay their last respects to him on January 26, 1924 in Moscow, Russia."


Ship Losses:

Maid of Spetsai (United Kingdom) The cargo ship collided with Maiella ( Italy) in the English Channel 43 nautical miles (80 km) off the Casquets, Channel Islands and sank. Her crew were rescued.
S. B. Hirtle (United Kingdom) The schooner ran aground at Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon. She was refloated on 23 February.

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27th January 1924

Ship Losses:

El Monte (United States) The cargo ship came ashore 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of Le Havre, Seine-Inférieure, France. She was refloated on 2 February.
Halstead (United Kingdom) The cargo ship sank in the Niger River at Atani, Nigeria.
Mary Horlock (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was abandoned in the Pacific Ocean (approximately 32°N 153°E). Her crew were rescued by President Taft ( United States).
Vladimir (Yugoslavia) The cargo ship ran aground at Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, Bouches du Rhône, France. She was refloated on 2 February.

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28th January 1924

Moscow: Announced that Lenin's body would be embalmed for permanent public display.


Ship Losses:

Midland (United States) The cargo ship was destroyed by fire at Washington, D.C.

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29th January 1924

"Hanover, Germany: Fritz Haarmann, the murderer who craved publicity, well handcuffed as the International Newsreel cameraman grinds out his sensational film."


Ship Losses:

Tigris (Belgium) The cargo ship collided with Begonia ( Sweden) in the North Sea off Vlissingen, Netherlands and was beached.

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30th January 1924

The American hockey team at the Winter Olympics, today they played against France, winning 22-0.


"Ready To Kill Or Die, Ballot Cry Of Mussolini."

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31st January 1924

"Wilson Ill; Not Serious, Doctor Says."


Ship Losses:

Tom C. Powell (United States) The steamer struck an obstruction and sank off Wilson Light between Paducah, Kentucky and Nashville, a total loss. Five crew killed.

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1st February 1924

Casper Daily Tribune: Woodrow Wilson Near Death: Crisis Near.


Left to right: British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, the Prince of Wales, Frank B. Kellogg (United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom), and Sir Esme Howard (British ambassador to the United States), reception of the Pilgrims Society, Victoria Hotel, London.


Ship Losses:

Erato (Netherlands) The cargo ship ran aground off Falsterbo, Sweden. She was refloated on 4 February.

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2nd February 1924

Casper Daily Tribune: Life Lingers With Wilson But End Is Near.


Alexei Rykov became Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union, equivalent to Prime Minister of the Soviet Union, filling the vacancy left by the death of Lenin.


Ship Losses:

Maid of Scotland (United Kingdom) The schooner collided with Perene ( Peru) in the Atlantic Ocean 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) south of Partridge Island, Nova Scotia, Canada and sank with the loss of four crew. Perene also lost four crew.

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3rd February 1924

"Death Takes Wilson" (Chicago Tribune)


Woodrow Wilson, who had served as President of the United States from 1913 to 1921, died at the age of 67 in his home at 2340 S Street NW in Washington, D.C., at 11:15 in the morning. (Mourners gather to pay respect to Woodrow Wilson outside his home).


Ship Losses:

Aimée Maria (France) The cargo ship was driven ashore at La Seyne-sur-Mer, Var. She was refloated on 29 February.