100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

23rd January 1921

Heinrich Wilhelm Gottfried von Waldeyer-Hartz, German anatomist known for coining the terms "chromosome" and "neuron," has passed away.


Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych is assassinated by a Soviet Cheka agent, likely for his support for Ukrainian independence.

[Jimbuna]

24th January 1921

A “Neptune Ceremony” aboard the USS New York battleship, which was underway from San Francisco, California, to Valparaiso, Chile.


Ship Losses:

Carioca (United States) The barquentine was set afire and abandoned in the Mediterranean Sea (34°20′N 23°40′E). Her crew were rescued.

[Jimbuna]

25th January 1921

A British truck in Ireland covered by nets to block grenades.


The Italian battleship Leonardo da Vinci, sunk in Taranto harbour by an internal explosion in 1916, after being raised and righted, on 25 January 1921


Ship Losses:

Adamantios Lemos (Greece) The cargo ship en route from Portman, Spain to Middlesbrough foundered near Guernsey Channel Islands. She had previously been salvaged in April 1919 by HM Tug St Issey.
Hewitt (United States) The cargo ship last reported from the Atlantic Ocean 250 nautical miles (460 km) north of Jupiter Inlet, Florida. No further trace, presumed foundered with the loss of all hands. She made her regular radio calls on 24 January and 25 January, and reported nothing unusual. She was last seen 250 nautical miles (460 km) north of Jupiter Inlet, Florida. From that time to this, she remains missing. No further radio signals from her were received. After the Hewitt failed to arrive in Boston on its expected due date of 29 January, Union Sulphur sent the ship's wireless call (K I L) through Atlantic coastal stations, and notified the United States Navy. A huge search along her route found nothing. US Coast Guard officials in Atlantic City reported hearing an explosion and seeing a flash approximately 20 miles offshore on the night of 3 February 1921, and connected this event with the Hewitt.
Zannis (Greece) The cargo ship sank in the Aegean Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of Sapientza. Her crew were rescued.

[Jimbuna]

26th January 1921

Ship Losses:

Tay (United Kingdom) The coaster sailed from Saint Sampson, Guernsey, Channel Islands for Portsmouth, Hampshire. No further trace, presumed foundered in the English Channel with the loss of all hands.

[Jimbuna]

27th January 1921

The royal family of Greece after the return of King Constantine from exile.


Interallies Conference: General Nollet, full length.


Arc de Triomphe - Slab to be placed on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Paris (8th arrondissement), France.

[Jimbuna]

28th January 1921

American protestors demonstrating against the British control of Ireland.


The body of Unknown Soldier is buried under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.


Royal Navy airship R.34 crashes into a hill due to bad weather and low visibility. The airship is able to return to base, but the craft is written off.


Ship Losses:

Donald T (United Kingdom) The schooner was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued.

[Jimbuna]

29th January 1921

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, inspecting British troops at Port Said, Egypt.


Ship Losses:

España (Spanish Navy) The España-class battleship ran aground off Puerto Montt, Chile. She was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.
Pommern (Germany) The cargo ship ran aground at Rørvik, Norway. She was still ashore on 5 February.

[Jimbuna]

30th January 1921

Armed police forces in Berlin being deployed.


Funeral of Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine, who was murdered by Soviet Cheka agents. Her remains were recovered and buried at the Church of Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem.

[Jimbuna]

31st January 1921

The schooner Carroll A. Deering is discovered off the coast of North Carolina with its crew of 10 missing. The disappearance remains a mystery, although mutiny or piracy is suspected (paranormal explanations, including ties to the Bermuda Triangle, also become popular).


Japanese cruiser Isuzu being constructed (it is sunk by an American submarine in 1945)


The R.34 Airship is damaged after striking a hill in fog. It was then returned to Howden when it was caught by gusting winds and finally completely destroyed.


Ship Losses:

Carroll A. Deering (United States) The five-masted schooner ran aground on the Diamond Shoals and was abandoned. The wreck was dispersed by dynamite on 4 March.

[Jimbuna]

1st February 1921

French Prime Minister Millerand with Polish Marshal and Chief of State Józef Piłsudski at Satory, France.


Soldiers round up a crowd of women and children during a crisis in Dublin.


Ship Losses:

Timios Stavros (Greece) The cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean between Cape Roca and the Berlengas, Portugal. Her crew were rescued by a Spanish merchant ship.

[Jimbuna]

2nd February 1921

The Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The city is currently under Allied occupation.


Ceremony for the Soviet secret police Cheka forces in Moscow.


IRA forces led by Seán Mac Eoin ambush lorries carrying British auxiliaries at Clonfin, killing four and wounding 8. Site of the ambush.


Ship Losses:

Esperanza de Larrinaga (United Kingdom) The cargo ship departed from Norfolk, Virginia for Reggio Calabria, Italy. No further trace, presumed foundered with the loss of all hands.
Lake Elmwood (United States) The Design 1074 cargo ship ran aground in the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal, Germany. She was refloated on 7 February.
Léon Bonnat (France) The schooner ran aground on the Crym Rocks off the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom and was wrecked.

[Jimbuna]

3rd February 1921

Polish Marshal and Chief of State Józef Piłsudski paying his respects at the French Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.


Marshal Pilsudski at the Elysée


Ship Losses:

Mertainen (Sweden) The cargo ship ran aground at the entrance of the Trondheimsfjord, Norway. She was refloated but consequently beached.
Oak (United Kingdom) The cargo ship ran aground east of The Skerries, Anglesey and was abandoned by her crew. She was later refloated and towed into Holyhead.

[Jimbuna]

4th February 1921

Pilsudski at the Polish library, 6 quai d'Orléans in Paris, 4th arrondissement.


Lonnie Eaton was convicted of murder and was to executed on this day, however the Sheriff forgot to carry out the hanging. It was then decided that the punishment would be changed to a life sentence as a pardon.

[Jimbuna]

5th February 1921

Soldiers using the library at Fort Lewis, Washington.

[Jimbuna]

6th February 1921

French nationalists commemorating the nationalist politician Paul Déroulède.


Thomas Lynn Bradford, an American professor from Detroit, Michigan, killed himself to test his theory that a spirit world exists. He did not report back results.


Ship Losses:

Ottawa (United Kingdom) The cargo ship, on a voyage from Norfolk, Virginia, United States to Manchester, Lancashire was in communication with Dorrington Court ( United Kingdom). No further trace, presumed foundered with the loss of all hands.