Moments in Time: Flying Ants Tennis Match
The History Channel
On Aug. 7, 1935, a tennis match in London was interrupted by, of all things, flying ants. The obnoxious critters didn't just annoy athletes, but encroached on people's kitchen pantries and piled up on their doorsteps. Authorities called it the worst pestilential attack in 25 years.
On Aug. 8, 1921, the ship Alaska, which was headed for San Francisco, hit a rocky ledge twice off the coast of Alaska during a fog, causing the ship's boilers to explode. A number of passengers were thrown into the ocean. While 166 people were rescued by the ship Anyox, 31 remained missing and 28 lost their lives.
On Aug. 9, 1979, the seaside town of Brighton became the first major resort in Britain to set aside a 200-yard stretch of its beach for nudists. When it officially opened the following year, Councillor Eileen Jakes told the attendant media: "There are 2,000 naturists in Sussex and millions of other people fly to the South of France each year to strip off. I would like to see them come here instead."
On Aug. 10, 2008, singer-songwriter/actor/composer Isaac Hayes died of a stroke at the age of 65. Hayes cofounded the Southern soul-music label Stax Records and was best known for his work on the soundtrack of the movie "Shaft," including singing its theme song. He was also the first Black musician to win an Oscar (for that film).
On Aug. 11, 2021, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised all pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as hospitals in hot spots around America noted a disturbing number of unvaccinated mothers-to-be coming down with serious cases of the virus.
On Aug. 12, 1990, three huge bones jutting out of a cliff near Faith, South Dakota, turned out to be part of the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered. Astonishingly, the 65-million-year-old specimen, which was dubbed Sue after its discoverer, fossil hunter Susan Hendrickson, was more than 90% complete.
On Aug. 13, 1781, Patriot forces led by Col. William Harden and Brig. Gen. Francis Marion (aka the "Swamp Fox") lured British commander Maj. Thomas Fraser and his 450 soldiers into an ambush at Parker's Ferry, 30 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina.
(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.