13 September

10 weird and wonderful things which happened on 13 September:

1. Born on this date in 1916 was Roald Dahl, writer, whose works include The Gremlins, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Tales of the Unexpected, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Matilda and James and The Giant Peach. He wrote, "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."
2. In 122, building began on Hadrian's Wall.
3. In 1848, Phineas Gage, a foreman on the construction of the Rutland and Burlington Railway in Vermont was tamping an explosive charge when the powder was accidentally sparked. A bar ran through his Brain and out the side of his head. He never lost consciousness, and within two months, was well enough to go home and resume an active life. The case has baffled doctors for years. The steel rod, with a cast of Gage's head, and his Skull, are on display at Harvard Medical Schools's Warren Anatomical Museum.
4. In 1960, a campaign was started to ban the record Tell Laura I Love Her by Ray Peterson, on the grounds it might inspire a teen-age "glorious death cult." The song was about a lovesick teenager who drives in a stock car race to impress his sweetheart, Laura, and dies in a crash.
5. Henry M. Bliss became the first known person to die in a car accident on this date in 1899. As Mr. Bliss stepped off a streetcar at Central Park West and 74th Street, he was hit by a car driven by Arthur Smith. Bliss was rushed to the hospital but died a short time later.
6. In 1957 Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap reached 1998 performances, making it Britain’s longest running play.
7. In 1970, during the World Cup tournament in Mexico, Bobby Moore, England’s captain, was placed under house arrest on charges of shoplifting a diamond bracelet. The charges were soon dropped, and he was released.
8. In 1862, Union troops in Frederick, Maryland, found General Robert E. Lee's attack plans for the invasion of Maryland wrapped around a pack of cigars.
9. In 1971, Wayne Rollings, 30, a Marine captain stationed at Kaneohe, HI, did 17,000 sit-ups in 7 hours and 27 minutes.
10. A similar feat in 1987, when Paul Lynch of Great Britain did 32,573 push-ups in 24 hours.

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