January 1 Building of Panama Canal, begins January 6 Record snow cover in Seattle-120 cm January 9 6' (1.8 meters) of snow falls in Seattle in 5 days January 21 1st U.S. sewage disposal system separate from storm drains, Memphis January 27 Thomas Edison patents electric incandescent lamp February 2 SS Strathleven arrives in London with 1st Australian frozen mutton February 4 Steele MacKay's "Hazel Kirke," premieres in New York City February 10 Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Arcanum about Christian marriage February 12 National Croquet League organizes in Philadelphia February 16 American Society of Mechanical Engineers forms (New York City) February 17 Tsar Alexander II of Russia survives an assassination attempt February 29 Gotthard railway tunnel between Switzerland and Italy completed March 4 New York Daily Graphic publishes 1st half-tone engraving, by S. H. Horgan March 10 General Wolseley opens new legislative council in Pretoria March 10 Salvation Army of England sets up U.S. welfare and religious activity March 23 Flour rolling mill patented (John Stevens of Wisconsin) March 24 Tobacco Growers' Mutual Insurance Company incorporates in Connecticut March 31 1st town completely illuminated by electric lighting (Wabash, Indiana) April 24 Amateur Athletic Association, governing body for men's athletics in England and Wales, is founded in Oxford, England May 10 General Wolseley opens new legislative council in Pretoria May 18 6th Kentucky Derby: George Lewis aboard Fonso wins in 2:37 May 28 8th Preakness: L Hughes aboard Grenada wins in 2:40 May 31 League of American Wheelmen (1st U.S. bicycle association), forms in Newport, Rhode Island June 1 1st pay telephone installed June 1 U.S. census at 50,155,783 June 10 Charlie Jones becomes 1st to hit 2 home runs in 1 inning June 12 1st baseball perfect game, John Richmond of Worcester beats Cleveland June 12 John Lee Richmond pitches 1st major league perfect game, Worcester 1, Cleveland's Forest City 0 June 14 14th Belmont: L Hughes aboard Grenada wins in 2:47 June 16 Salvation Army forms in Londo June 17 John Ward, Providence, pitches perfect game vs Buffalo June 29 France annexes Otaheite (Tahiti) July 19 SF Public Library starts lending books July 21 Compressed air accident kills 20 workers on Hudson River tunnel, New York July 23 1st commercial hydroelectric power planet begins, Grand Rapids, Michigan July 27 A P Abourne patents a process for refining coconut oil July 27 Battle of Maiwand, at which Dr. Watson is wounded, breaks out August 3 American Canoe Association founded at Lake George, New York August 14 Construction of Cologne Cathedral completed (began in 1248) September 6 Commencement of 1st Test Cricket in England, vs. Australia at The Oval September 6 W G Grace scores 152 in debut Test Cricket innings, vs. Australia The Oval September 7 Geo Ligowsky patents device to throw clay pigeons for trapshooters September 10 Pierre de Brazza signs treaty with King Makoko of Congo September 23 Jules Ferry forms French government September 30 Henry Draper takes that 1st photograph of Orion Nebula October 1 John Philip Sousa becomes new director of U.S. Marine Corps Band October 4 University of California founded in Los Angeles October 15 Koln cathedral completed, 633 years after it begun October 20 Amsterdam Free University opens October 27 Theodore Roosevelt marries Alice Hathaway Lee, on his 22nd birthday November 2 James A. Garfield (R) elected president November 4 1st cash register patented by James and John Ritty of Dayton Ohio November 8 Sarah Bernhardt, French actress, made U.S. debut at New York's Booth Theater November 21 Henry Stanley and Pierre de Brazza quarrel about possession of Congo November 24 Southern University forms December 8 5,000 armed Boers gather in Paardekraal South Africa December 16 Republic of South Africa forms December 20 Battle at Bronker's Spruit, Transvaal: Farmers beat Britten December 20 NY's Broadway lit by electricity, becomes known as "Great White Way"
