November 21st, 2008

Today in History

1980:
1980 -Lake Peigneur drained into an underlying salt deposit. A misplaced Texaco oil probe drilled into the Diamond crystal salt mine; water flowing down into the mine eroded the edges of the hole. The whirlpool created sucked the drilling platform, several barges, houses and trees thousands of feet, to the bottom of the dissolving salt deposit.

1789:
North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution and is admitted as the 12th U.S. state.

235:
Anterus is elected Pope.

1967:
Vietnam War: American General William Westmoreland tells news reporters: "I am absolutely certain that whereas in 1965 the enemy was winning, today he is certainly losing."

1964:
Second Vatican Council: The third period of the Catholic Church's ecumenical council closes.