February 15th The death penalty--then and now, 1933

THIS DAY IN HISTORY, FEB. 15TH

LEAD STORY

The Maine explodes,1898

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Nova Scotia governor sends word of potential American invasion, 1776

AUTOMOTIVE

Victory at last for Earnhardt at Daytona,1998

CIVIL WAR

Union General Alexander Stewart Webb born, 1835

COLD WAR

USSR and PRC sign mutual defense treaty,1950

CRIME

The death penalty--then and now, 1933

DISASTER

Oil tanker runs aground near Wales, 1996

GENERAL INTEREST

Japan celebrates major victory in the Pacific, 1942

Canada adopts maple leaf flag, 1965

HOLLYWOOD

Disney’s Cinderella opens, 1950

LITERARY

Lillian Hellman sues Mary McCarthy, 1980

MUSIC

Broadway legend Ethel Merman dies, 1984

OLD WEST

Wilson Hunt arrives at Astoria, Oregon, 1812

PRESIDENTIAL

First Teddy bear goes on sale, 1903

FDR escapes assassination in Miami,1933

SPORTS

U.S. figure skating team killed in plane crash, 1961

Dale Earnhardt wins first Daytona 500, 1998

VIETNAM WAR

DeGaulle offers to help end Vietnam War, 1966

Chicago Eight defense attorneys sentenced,1970

WORLD WAR I

Mutiny breaks out among Indian soldiers in Singapore, 1915

WORLD WAR II

Singapore falls to Japan,1942