1810 – Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison met with Shawnee Chief Tecumseh at Grouseland, the Governor’s home in Vincennes. Tecumseh was accompanied by 75 tribe warriors. He expressed disapproval of a recent treaty which gave the United States a large tract of Native American land. Their meeting ended with no resolution. Harrison reportedly wrote to the Secretary of War, calling Tecumseh “one of those uncommon geniuses which spring up occasionally to produce revolutions and overturn the established order of things.”
1859 – Professor John Wise, a balloonist, was authorized to carry mail by air from Lafayette to the East Coast. An estimated 30,000 people gathered to see the ascent of the balloon Jupiter, which was carrying 123 letters and circulars. Blown off course by a heavy wind, it landed in Crawfordsville and its cargo was sent eastward by train.
1888 – Mary F. Thomas died in Richmond, Ind. A prominent leader for women’s rights, she was the first person to address the Indiana Legislature when she advocated female suffrage and women’s property rights. She was also a medical doctor who helped nurse soldiers during the Civil War.
1909 – The first automobile race was held at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Over 15,000 people came to cheer for drivers competing in short races of five or 10 miles. The track, made of crushed rock and tar, quickly disintegrated, causing numerous serious accidents. Two drivers, two mechanics, and two spectators were killed. Track officials soon decided to pave the entire track with bricks.
1933 – Bobby Helms was born in Helmsburg in Brown County. His singing talent took him to Nashville, Tenn., where he signed a contract with Decca Records. An appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 helped solidify his success. His hit records include “Fraulein,” “My Special Angel,” and “Jingle Bell Rock.”
2017 – Wreckage of the USS Indianapolis was discovered 72 years after the ship had been sunk by a Japanese torpedo. Using high-tech sonar, a civilian research team found the remains of the ship 18,000 feet beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who led the research team, said, “I hope everyone connected to this historic ship will feel some measure of closure at this discovery so long in coming.”