1178: “Suddenly the upper horn split in two. From the midpoint of this division a flaming torch sprang up, spewing out, over a considerable distance, fire, hot coals, and sparks … the body of the moon which was below throbbed like a wounded snake.”
1870: Robert Erskine Childers is born [riddle]
1876: George Armstrong Custer and the 265 men under his command die in the Battle of Little Big Horn (“Custer’s Last Stand”)
1903: George Orwell is born [works] [SOS]
1973: John Dean testifies before the Senate Watergate committee, revealing that Nixon was involved in the cover-up [quiz]
2002: The European Court of Justice rules that if cheese doesn’t come from Parma, it’s not Parmesan cheese
Oh yeah, I’ve seen those things that throb like wounded snakes.