2015 Event The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency turns polluter by accidentally releasing a million gallons of heavy-metal-laden mining wastewater into Colorado's Animas River while investigating a Superfund site 2015 Event Search and rescue efforts continue for missing passengers of a cruise ship that capsized on Monday in the Yangtze River during a tornado; there are 14 survivors to date, with most of the 456 passengers still missing 2015 Event TransAsia Airways suspends flights and begins retraining all its pilots in compliance with orders from Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration after the crash of Flight 235 into the Keelung River three days ago 2014 Event In West Virginia, 10 people were hospitalized and 300,000 people have been unable to use tap water for four days since 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, an industrial chemical, leaked into the Elk river 2013 Event In Greenland. a canyon over 800km long is discovered up to 800m deep in different places below the ice sheet covering the country; the canyon is longer than Arizona's Grand Canyon; it was carved out by a river over four million years ago 2013 Event The oldest European remains of a white man are discovered in Australia; the Manning River Skull may belong to a man born in 1650, predating the country's history that Captain James Cook was the first to land on Australia's east coast in 1770 2013 Event Nik Wallenda completes a high wire walk across a Little Colorado River Gorge near the Grand Canyon 2013 Event German authorities are forced to evacuate 10 villages as heavy rains swell the Elbe River, breaching its banks 2013 Event Petr Necas, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, declares a state of emergency as the swollen Vltava River threaten the center of Prague 2013 Event The Skagit River bridge over Interstate 5 collapses in the U.S. town of Mount Vernon, Washington; several vehicles plunge into the river, but there are no fatalities 2013 Event In southwest China, environmental and health concerns among residents are raised when 1,000 dead ducks pulled from the Sichuan River 2013 Event In China, more than 9,000 pigs were found rotting in the Huangpu river, threatening to contaminate Shanghai's drinking supply; the government said the water quality in the city tested as normal 2012 Event A pageant on London's River Thames marks the highpoint of a series of events celebrating The Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II 2012 Event Australia's Nepean-Hawkesbury River system floods after the Warragamba Dam overflows, causing evacuations in the Sydney suburbs Richmond, Pitt Town and Grono Point 2012 Event Europe's cold wave continues, with over 400 dead; the Danube River freezes over for 170 km 2011 Event In Koblenz, Germany, 45,000 citizens wait to return home after bomb squads diffuse World War II bombs that were hidden under the Rhine River for nearly 65 years 2011 Event In the Volga River near Bolgar, Russia, cruise ship Bulgaria sinks; 110 people drown and 80 are rescued alive 2011 Event In efforts to save Baton Rouge and New Orleans from floods, the Morganza Spillway is opened on the Mississippi River, deliberately flooding 3,000 square miles of rural Louisiana 2011 Event Thousands of homes are ordered evacuated as the Spring 2011 Mississippi River Floods continue 2011 Event The U.S. Coast Guard responds to heavy flooding by closing a section of the Mississippi River near Caruthersville, Missouri 2011 Event Researchers in Fairbanks, Alaska, discover remains of a 3-year old child from the Ice Age and named it Xaasaa Cheege Ts'eniin, 'Upper Sun River Mouth Child' 2011 Event River levels in Queensland, Australia continue to rise, 200,000 people are affected and one fatality are reported 2010 Event In Sichuan, China, massive flooding sweeps two passenger train carriages into the river 2010 Event More than 5,000 people lose their homes and crops when the Niger River bursts its banks 2010 Event Flash floods on the Little Missouri River kill at least 20 people near a campground in the Ouachita Mountains, west of Little Rock, Arkansas 2009 Event U.S. Airways plane ditches in the Hudson River - all 155 passengers survive 2002 Death William Warfield, singer/teacher, Old Man River, dies at 82 2000 Death Sir Alec Guinness, actor, Bridge on the River Kwai, dies at 86 1994 Death Henry Mancini, composer (Pink Panther, Moon River), dies at 70 1993 Death River Phoenix, actor (Stand By Me), dies of drug overdose at 23 1992 Death Hank Worden, actor (Red River), dies of natural causes at 91 1992 Death Malcolm Atterbury, actor (7 Days in May, Wild River), dies at 85 1989 Event Lawrence Delisle drives his 4 kids into river 1988 Event Skip Storch swims 246 km of Hudson River from Albany to New York City 1987 Event "Big River" closes at Eugene O'Neill Theater New York City after 1005 performances 1987 Event 10 teens die in Guadalupe River flood, Comfort, Texas 1986 Event Ferry boat Shamia sinks on Maghna River Bangladesh, 600 killed 1986 Death William Collier, actor (Up the River, She's My Weakness), dies 1985 Event 39th Tony Awards: Biloxi Blues and Big River win 1985 Event "Big River" opens at Eugene O'Neill Theater New York City for 1005 performances 1985 Event Roger Miller's musical "Big River," premieres in New York City 1985 Event War veterans returned to the "Bridge over the River Kwai" 1984 Event Mobil oil tanker spills 200,000 gallons into Columbia River 1982 Event Air Florida 737 took off in a snowstorm, crashes into 14th St. Bridge in Washington, D.C., and falls into Potomac River, killing 78 1980 Birthday Stacey Storey, Eagle River Alaska, Miss America-Alaska 1996 1980 Event River of No Return Wilderness Area designated by Jimmy Carter 1979 Event "Lonesome Loser" by Little River Band peaks at #6 1975 Event 500 drown when 2 river boats collide and sink in China's West River 1975 Death Jerry Verno, actor (River of Unrest, Ourselves Alone), dies at 79 1975 Birthday Christine Buschur, Eagle River, Alaska, Miss America-Alaska 1997 1974 Event 28th Tony Awards: River Niger and Raisin win 1974 Death Betty Compson, actress (Barker, Weary River, Drag Net), dies at 77 1973 Death William CF Plomer, South Africa libretto writer (Curlew River), dies at 69 1973 Event 78 drown as flash flood sweeps a bus into a river, India 1972 Event Joseph A Walkers "River Niger," premieres in New York City 1972 Event Bus plunges into Nile River killing 50 pilgrims. (Minia Egypt) 1972 Birthday Geoff Sanderson, Hay River, NHL left wing, Hartford Whalers 1971 Event Cleveland Metroparks' Rocky River Nature Center opens 1971 Birthday Michael Chack, Toms River, New Jersey, figure skater, 1997 Pac Coast Sr champ 1970 Event Bridge over Yarra River in Melbourne crashes; killing 35 1970 Birthday River Phoenix, Madras Ore, actor, Little Nikta, Stand By Me 1969 Event Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA River Plantation Women's Golf Open 1969 Event 25,000 attend 2nd Annual Sky River Rock Festival, Tenino Wash 1969 Event Cleveland's Cuyahgo River catches fire 1968 Event Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA River Plantation Golf Invitational 1968 Event Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Kings River Golf Open 1968 Death Howard Petrie, actor (Border River, Bounty Hunter), dies at 61 1968 Event Israeli forces cross Jordan River to attack PLO bases 1968 Event Jeffrey Kramer survives 76-m jump, Washington Bridge, Hudson River New York 1967 Birthday Matt Howard, Fall River, Massachusetts, infielder, New York Yankees 1967 Death Oscar Shaw, actor (Rhythm on the River, Marianne), dies at 76 1966 Event Flooding of Arno River (Italy) destroys countless art works, kills 113 1966 Event Mao Tse Tung swims Yangtse River 1965 Event 3rd cyclone of year kills another 15,000 at mouths of Ganges River 1965 Event Trackless trolley plunged into Nile River drowning 74 (Cairo Egypt) 1965 Birthday Al Leiter, Toms River, New Jersey, pitcher, Florida Marlins, New York Mets 1965 Event Pontoon ferry overturned on Shire River Malawi, kills 150 1964 Birthday Laura Linney, born in New York City, New York, actress, film, theater, appeared in 'The Truman Show', 'Mystic River', 'The Nanny Diaries', 'Love Actually' 1964 Event Suriname River dammed 1964 Birthday William Thomas Andrade, Fall River, Massachusetts, PGA golfer, 1991 Kemper Open 1961 Birthday Greg Gagne, Fall River, Massachusetts, infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers 1961 Birthday Joel Otto, Elk River, Minnesota, NHL center, Philadelphia Flyers, Team USA Olympics-1998 1961 Birthday Susan Boyle, born in Blackburn, Scotland, Scottish singer, gained international attention, audience ovation, on television contest, Britain's Got Talent with Les Miserables song, 'I Dreamed a Dream', and 'Cry Me a River', plain appearance contrasts with her powerful voice 1960 Birthday Dawn Coe-Jones, Campbell River BC, LPGA golfer, 1992 Kemper Open 1960 Event 60 people die when bus plunges off bridge into Turvo River, Brazil 1959 Event River Canyon extending man-made Lake Hebgen by 5 miles. (Montana) 1959 Event American Airlines Electra crashes in New York's East River, killing 65 1959 Event Dam across Tera River collapses after heavy winter rains, 135 die 1958 Event 30th Academy Awards-"Bridge over River Kwai," Woodward and Guinness win 1957 Death Sholem Asch, Polish/Israeli writer (East River), dies at 77 1955 Event Hurricane Diane, following hurricane Connie floods Connecticut River killing 190 and doing $1.8 billion damage 1954 Birthday George McArdle, rock bassist, Little River Band Melbourne 1953 Birthday Derek Pellicci, rock drummer, Little River Band-Help Is On It's Way 1951 Event 100,000 acres flooded from Mississippi River in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois 1951 Event Air raid on Chinese positions at Yalu River 1951 Birthday David Briggs, rock guitarist, Little River Band-Help is on it's Way 1950 Event China enters Korean conflict, sends troops across Yalu River 1950 Event Chinese offensive halts at Chongchon River, North Korea 1949 Birthday Terry Reid, rock guitarist, River, Bang Bang You're Terry Reid 1949 Event British warship HMS Amethyst escape down Yangtze River, having been refused a safe passage by Chinese Communists after 3-month standoff 1948 Event SS Kiangya hits mine in Whangpoo River China, sinks killing 2,750 die 1948 Birthday Beeb Birtles, Gerard Birtlekamp, rock guitarist, Little River Band 1948 Event Arab legion attacks Gesher bridge on Jordan River 1947 Birthday Lee Meredith, Judith Lee Sauls, River Edge, New Jersey, actress, Producers 1947 Death Harry Carey Sr, actor and director (Red River, Sundown), dies at 69 1947 Event 200 die when train derails and fell into a river in Canton, China 1947 Birthday Graham Goble, Adelaide, Australia, rock guitarist, Little River Band 1947 Birthday Felicity Lott, English soprano, We come to the river 1947 Event John D Rockefeller, Jr. donates New York City East River site to the U.N. 1947 Event Small river steamer sank on Yangtze River, kills 400 1945 Event U.S. and Soviet forces meet at Torgau, Germany on Elbe River 1945 Event U.S. troops in Italy cross river Po 1945 Event Russian Red Army crosses the river Oder 1944 Event U.S. 12nd Army Corps crosses river Seine East of Paris 1944 Event Russian troops cross river Bug/march into Poland 1944 Birthday Glenn Shorrock, born in Sydney, Australia, rock vocalist, Little River Band 1944 Event Bus falls off bridge into Passaic River New Jersey, killing 16 1942 Birthday John Linder, born in Deer, River, Minnesota, Representative-R-Georgia 1993 - 1942 Event German troops cross Kuban River 1942 Event 8 die as coal waste heap slides in river valley near Oakwood, Virginia 1942 Event Japanese submarine in mouth of Columbia River, Oregon 1942 Event Nazi U-boat sinks American cargo ship at mouth of Mississippi River 1941 Death James Stephenson, actor (Sea Hawk, River's End), dies at 52 1941 Event SS drowns 40 Jews in Dvina River, Belorussia 1940 Event John Sigmund begins swimming for 89 hours 46 minutes in the Mississippi River 1940 Event Nazi blitz conquest of France began by crossing Muese River 1938 Birthday Robert "Evel" Knievel, motorcycle daredevil, Snake River Canyon 1937 Event Japanese aircraft shell and sink U.S. gunboat Panay on Yangtze River in China. (Japan apologized and eventually paid U.S. $2.2M in reparations) 1937 Event Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates Bonneville Dam on Columbia River (Oregon) 1937 Event Bonneville Dam on Columbia River begins producing power 1935 Birthday Morton Dean, Fall River Massachusetts, TV newscaster, CBS, ABC 1933 Birthday Adrienne Corri, born in Glasgow, Scotland, actress, River, Dr. Zhivago 1932 Event Steamboat SS Observation explodes in New York City East River (71 killed) 1931 Event Yangtzee River floods after heavy rain crumbles dikes in China 1930 Event Fred P Newton completes longest swim ever (1826 miles), when he swam in the Mississippi River from Ford Dam, Minn, to New Orleans 1930 Birthday Andy Williams, Wall Lake Iowa, singer, Moon River, Andy Williams Show 1928 Birthday Patrick Tilley, UK, sci-fi author, 1st Family, Blood River 1928 Event Paul Whiteman and orchestra record "Ol' Man River" for Victor Records 1927 Event Tropical storm flooding kills 84 in Winooski River Valley (Vt) 1926 Event Troop ship sinks in Yangtze River, killing 1,200 1923 Birthday Helena Carter, Helen Rickerts, U.S. model/actress, River Lady 1923 Birthday Ad[rianus C] de Besten, Dutch literary, River Basin 1921 Birthday Malcolm Arnold, Northampton England, composer, Bridge over River Kwai 1921 Event Oldest radio station west of Mississippi River licensed in Greeley Co 1920 Event Hudson River frozen at Albany 1919 Birthday Curt Gowdy, Green River, Wyoming, sportscaster, ABC 1918 Event German armies retreat across Marne River in France (WW I) 1918 Birthday William Holden, born in Illinois, actor, Stalag 17, Bridge Over River Kwai, SOB 1918 Event Alick Wickham dives 200' into Australia's Yarra River 1917 Birthday James Donald, Aberdeen Scotland, actor, Bridge on River Kwai, Vikings 1917 Birthday A Marja, ATE Mooy, Dutch literary, Shreds on the River 1915 Birthday Una Mae Carlisle, U.S. pianist/vocalist, Walkin' at the River 1914 Birthday Alec Guinness, born in London, England, British actor, Bridge on River Kwai 1913 Event Dayton, Ohio almost destroyed when Scioto, Miami, and Muskingum River reach flood stage simultaneously 1910 Event 1st Movie stunt: man jumps into Hudson river from a burning balloon 1910 Birthday Phil Hanna, River Forest, Illinois, singer, Once Upon a Tune 1910 Birthday Sammy Kaye, born in Rocky River Ohio, orchestra leader, Sammy Kaye Show 1910 Birthday Douglas Spencer, actor, Thing, This Island Earth, River of No Return 1909 Birthday Nigel Tranter, author/historian, River Realm, Robert the Bruce 1909 Birthday Johnny Mercer, Savannah, Georgia, lyricist, Moon River, Old Black Magic 1908 Event 1st tunnel under Hudson River (railway tunnel) opens 1906 Birthday Howard Petrie, Beverly, Massachusetts, actor, Border River, Bounty Hunter 1904 Event Side-wheeler "General Slocum" burns in New York's East River (1,031 die) 1904 Event -34 degrees F (-36.7 degrees C), River Vale, New Jersey (state record) 1902 Birthday Nora Swinburne, born in England, actress, Quo Vardis, Dinner at Ritz, River 1901 Birthday Sam Spiegel, producer, On the Waterfront, Bridge over River Kwai 1901 Event Battle at Blood River Port: Boer General Botha beats Major Goughs cavalry 1901 Event Battle at Elands River Port: Boer General Smuts destroys unit 17th Lancers 1901 Event Boer general John Smuts and De la Rey conqueror Mud river Transvaal 1900 Birthday Howard Thurman, theologian/author, Deep River, Deep in the Hunger 1900 Event Britain annexes Orange Free State (as Orange River Colony) 1899 Event Battle of Mud river (Boer General. Cronje beats British General Methuen) 1899 Birthday Byron Foulger, Ogden, Utah, actor, River's Edge, Up in Smoke 1899 Event Brazo River in Texas floods 12 miles wide causing $10 mil damage 1898 Birthday Paul Robeson, born in Philadelphia, singer, Old Man River 1898 Event Battle of Atbara River, Anglo-Egyptian forces crush 6,000 Sudanese 1897 Birthday Antonius F "Anton" Coolen, Dutch author, Village by the River 1896 Event Gold discovered at Klondike River at Dawson 1896 Birthday Arthur Shields, Dublin Ireland, actor, River, Enchanted Island 1895 Birthday Jerry Verno, born in London, England, actor, River of Unrest, Sweeney Todd 1892 Event Sunday school teacher Lizzie Borden arrested in Fall River, Mass 1890 Birthday Sessue Hayakawa, born in Japan, actor, Bridge on River Kwai, Hell to Eternity 1888 Event Pennsylvania's Monongehela River rises 32' after 24 hour rainfall 1887 Event British SS Wah Yeung catches fire on Canton River off Hong Kong 1887 Event Gele River (Huang Ho) in China floods, kills about 1.5 million 1883 Event SS Daphne sinks on Clyde River Scotland; 195 die 1881 Event River ferry "Princess Victoria" sinks in Thames River Ont, 180 die 1880 Event Compressed air accident kills 20 workers on Hudson River tunnel, New York 1878 Death George Backing, English sea officer/explorer (B's River), dies at 81 1877 Event Big Hole River: Col John Gibbon murders Nez-Perce indians 1876 Event Henry Morton Stanley's reaches Lualaba River 1869 Event 1st international boat race (Thames River, Oxford beats Harvard) 1869 Event 1st voyage down Colorado River 1865 Event Steamboat "Sultana" explodes in Mississippi River, kills up to 1,547. 1450 of 2000 paroled Union POWs on their way home are killed when river steamer "Sultana" blows up 1864 Event Battle of Honey Hill South Carolina (Broad River) 96 dead/665 wounded 1864 Event Battle of Marais Des Cygnes River, Kansas (Mine Creek) 1864 Event Battle at Chattahoochee River, Georgia 1864 Event 640m long ponton bridge over James River Virginia finished 1864 Event Captain Mendell begins building 640m long ponton bridge over James River, Virginia 1864 Event Battle of Kellar's Bridge Kentucky, Licking River 1864 Event Battle of N Anna River, Virginia (Totopotamy River, Haw's Shop, Hanovertown) 1864 Event Skirmish at Marksville (Avoyelles) (Red River Campaign) 1864 Event Butler attacks Drewry's Bluff on James River 1864 Event Skirmish at Ny River Virginia 1864 Event Battle at Alexandria, Louisiana (Red River Campaign) 1864 Event Battle of Cane River, Louisiana (Red River Expedition, Monett's Ferry) 1864 Event Skirmish at Elkin's Ford Little Missouri River, Arkansas 1864 Event Dale Dike on Humber River crumbles drowning some 240 1864 Event Red River Campaign-Union forces reach Alexandria, Louisiana 1864 Event Red River campaign LA 1864 Event Skirmish at Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi 1863 Event CSS Chattahoochie explodes on Chattahoochie River GA, 18 die 1863 Event Battle of Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi 1863 Event Battle at Bear River, Washington: U.S. Army vs indians 1863 Event Battle of Murfreesboro (Stone's River) ends 1862 Event Battle of Stone's River, Tennessee (Stone River, Monfreesboro) 1862 Event Naval Engagement at Yazoo River, MS (USS CAIRO torpedoed) 1862 Event Battle of Big Hatchie River, MS 1862 Event Battle of Nueces River, Texas 1862 Event Naval Engagement at Pascagoula River MS: USS Potomac Expedition 1862 Event Battle at Green River Kentucky (Morgan's Ohio Raid) 1862 Event Civil War action at Island #10 on Mississippi River 1862 Event Naval Engagement at Tennessee River - USS Conestago vs CSS Appleton Belle 1862 Event Battle of Big Sandy River, Kentucky (Middle Creek) 1859 Event 1st steamboat sails, Red River 1858 Event Treaty of Algun, China cedes north bank of Amur River to Russia 1855 Event 1st train crosses Mississippi River's 1st bridge, Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport Iowa 1853 Event Gadsden Purchase 45,000 mi (120,000 km) by Gila River from Mexico for $10 million, area is now southern Arizona and New Mexico 1850 Event Gold discovered in Oregon, Rogue River 1837 Event Collision of river boat Monmouth and Trement on Miss; 300 die 1837 Event "Sherrod" burns in Mississippi River below Natchez Miss; 175 dies 1834 Event HMS Beagle anchors at river mouth of Rio Santa Cruz, Patagonia 1833 Event Charles Darwin reaches river mouth of Parana 1833 Event HMS Beagle reaches river mouth of Rio Negro 1832 Event Whites decimate Indians in Battle of Bad Axe River, Wisconsin 1832 Event Source of Mississippi River discovered, Henry R. Schoolcraft 1829 Event Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay Canal formally opens 1826 Birthday Stephen Foster, Lawrencevil, Pennsylvania, composer, Oh! Susanna, Swanee River 1826 Birthday Frederick Church, U.S. romantic landscape painter, Hudson River Sch 1825 Event Erie Canal between Hudson River and Lake Erie opened 1823 Event 1st steamboat to navigate the Mississippi River arrives at Ft. Snelling 1817 Event Mississippi River steamboat service begins 1815 Event George Evans discovers Lachlan River, Australia 1812 Event Napoleon's Grand Army crosses Berezina River in retreat from Russia 1812 Event 1st Russian settlement in California, Russian River 1811 Event Earthquake in Missouri caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards 1811 Event 1st Ohio River steamboat leaves Pittsburgh for New Orleans 1807 Event Robert Fulton's steamboat Clermont begins 1st trip up Hudson River 1804 Event 31 English ship sail Suriname river demand transition colony 1804 Event Mungo Park leaves England seeking source of Niger River 1801 Birthday Thomas Cole, U.S., romantic landscape painter, Hudson River School 1792 Event Columbia River discovered and named by U.S. Captain Robert Gray 1790 Event Territory South of River Ohio created by Congress 1789 Event Alex Mackenzie explores Mackenzie River (Canada) 1776 Event George Washington's retreating army crosses Delaware River from New Jersey 1776 Event Washington and his troops cross Delaware River 1774 Event Chestertown tea party occurs (tea dumped into Chester River) 1771 Event Samuel Hearne explores Copper Mine River of Canada 1770 Birthday David Thompson, English/Canadian explorer, Columbia River 1745 Event English fleet occupies Cap Breton on St. Lawrence River 1715 Event Thames River freezes 1696 Event Czar Peter I's fleet occupies Azov at mouth of Don River 1682 Event William Penn accepts area around Delaware River from Duke of York 1669 Event LaSalle leaves Montreal to explore Ohio River 1667 Event Abraham Crijnssens fleet reach Fort Willoughby on Suriname River 1607 Event English colonists (John Smith) lands near James River in VA 1575 Birthday Henry Hudson, England, navigator/explorer, Hudson River 1541 Event Hernando de Soto discovers Mississippi River 1540 Event Explorer Hernando de Alarcon travels up Colorado River 1534 Event Jacques Cartier 1st sails into mouth of St. Lawrence River 1498 Event Columbus landed at the mouth of the Orinoco River in Venezuela 1434 Event Thames River freezes 1415 Event King Henry V of England army lands on mouth of Seine River
