Wikipedia:Main Page history/2014 September 27

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From today's featured article

Only 88 people survived the sinking of the SS Arctic on September 27, 1854, out of more than 400 on board. The paddle steamer SS Arctic (pictured), bound for New York, sank off the coast of Newfoundland. When Captain Luce ordered the lifeboats launched, a breakdown in discipline saw the boats swamped by members of the crew and the more able-bodied male passengers; most of the rest went down with the ship, four hours after the collision. All the women and children on board perished. Two of the six lifeboats launched from Arctic reached Newfoundland, and another was picked up by a passing steamer, which also rescued a few survivors from improvised rafts. Among these was Luce, who had regained the surface after initially going down with the ship. The other three lifeboats disappeared without trace. News of Arctic's loss did not reach New York until two weeks after the sinking, when public sorrow quickly turned to anger at the perceived cowardice of the crew. There was no investigation into the disaster, and no one was held legally responsible. Luce, who was generally exonerated from blame, retired from the sea; some of the surviving crew chose not to return to the US. (Full article...)

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... that the yellow band on the flag of Gabon (pictured) represents the Equator, which cuts across the republic?
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... that in Sicily, maccu may be prepared on Saint Joseph's Day to clear out the pantry and make room for new spring vegetables?
... that one can see all of the London Borough of Sutton's European twin towns without needing a passport?

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In the news

The NASA probe MAVEN and the ISRO probe Mars Orbiter Mission, India's first interplanetary craft, both enter orbit around Mars.
The National Party, led by John Key (pictured), wins a majority in the New Zealand general election.
Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group raises US$25 billion on the New York Stock Exchange, in the largest ever initial public offering.
Scotland votes against independence from the United Kingdom.
In cycling, Jens Voigt sets a new hour record, riding more than 51 kilometres (31.7 mi) in an hour.
The FijiFirst Party, led by Frank Bainimarama, wins a majority in the Fijian general election.

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On this day...

September 27: World Tourism Day; Meskel in Eritrea and Ethiopia

1605 – Polish–Swedish War: The Battle of Kircholm ended in the decisive victory of Polish–Lithuanian forces, and is remembered as one of the greatest triumphs of Commonwealth cavalry.
1825 – Locomotion No. 1 hauled the train on the opening day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first public railway to use steam locomotives.
1916 – Lij Iyasu, the emperor-designate of Ethiopia, was deposed in favor of his aunt, Zewditu.
1964 – The British Aircraft Corporation TSR-2, an advanced Cold War strike and reconnaissance aircraft that was later cancelled, made its first flight.
2007 – NASA launched the Dawn probe (mission patch pictured), its first purely exploratory mission to use ion propulsion, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

More anniversaries: September 26 – September 27 – September 28

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It is now September 27, 2014 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

The yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) is a saltwater fish species of the family Acanthuridae. This popular aquarium fish feeds on turf algae and other marine plant material in the wild, but is often fed meat-derived food in captivity.

Photo: Luc Viatour

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