January 1 Cuba liberated from Spain by U.S., known as National Day, U.S. occupies until 1902 January 5 Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure-Charles Augustus Milverton January 7 Walter Camp publishes his 1st All-American football team in Collier's January 17 U.S. takes possession of Wake Island in Pacific January 19 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan forms January 24 Belgium government of Vandenpeereboom forms Rubber heel patented by Humphrey O'Sullivan January 28 American Social Science Association incorporated by Congress February 4 Revolt against U.S. occupation of Philippines February 6 Spanish-American War ends, peace treaty ratified by Senate February 10 -39 degrees F (-39 degrees C), Milligan, Ohio (state lowest record temperature) U.S.-Spain peace treaty signed by President McKinley. U.S. gets Puerto Rico and Guam February 11 -15 degrees F (-26 degrees C), Washington, D.C. (district record) -61 degrees F, Montana (record low temperature) February 12 1st 2-man team 6-day bicycle race in U.S. begins, MSG, New York City -47 degrees F (-44 degrees C), Camp Clarke, Nebraska (state record) February 13 -1 degrees F (-18 degrees C) New Orleans, Louisiana -16 degrees F (-27 degrees C), Minden Louisiana (state record) -2 degrees F (-19 degrees C) Tallahassee, Florida (state record) February 14 U.S. Congress begins using voting machines February 16 Pelham Warner scores 132 on Test Cricket debut (England vs. South Africa Johannesburg) February 18 80 degrees F in San Francisco San Francisco named as a port of dispatch for Army transports Stanley Cup: Mont Shamrocks sweep Queens U (Kingston Ont) in 2 games February 20 Ill Tel and Tel granted franchise for Chicago freight tunnel system March 2 President McKinley signs bill creating Mount Rainier National Park (5th in U.S.) March 3 Congress authorizes Lafayette silver dollar George Dewey becomes 1st in U.S. with rank of Admiral of the Navy March 5 1st performance of Edward MacDowell's 2nd Concerto in D March 6 "Asprin" patented by Felix Hoffmann March 14 Stanley Cup: Montreal Shamrocks beat Winnipeg Victorias, 6-2 March 17 Windsor luxury hotel in New York City catches fire, 92 die March 18 Phoebe, a moon of Saturn is discovered by Pickering March 21 British and French accord about West-Africa April 1 North Carolina Mutual opens doors for business April 4 South Africa all out 35 vs England (Trott 4-19, Haigh 6-11) April 11 Treaty of Paris ratifies ends war; Spain cedes Puerto Rico to US April 18 John McGraw, at 36, managerial debut as Oriole manager April 19 3rd Boston Marathon won by Lawrence Brignolia of Mass in 2:54:38 April 24 Transvaal British Uitlanders ask Queen Victoria for aid May 4 25th Kentucky Derby: Fred Taral aboard Manuel wins in 2:12 May 9 Lawn mower patented May 17 Victoria and Albert Museum foundation laid England May 18 World Goodwill Day-26 nations meet in 1st Hague Peace Conference May 24 1st auto repair shop opens (Boston) May 25 33rd Belmont: R. Clawson aboard Jean Beraud wins in 2:23 May 30 24th Preakness: R Clawson aboard Half Time wins in 1:47 May 31 Bronx acquires Keltch Memorial Park June 1 Cricket test debut of Wilfred Rhodes and Victor Trumper in Grace's last June 2 Black Americans observed day of fasting to protest lynchings June 3 W G Grace's last day of Test cricket aged 50 years 320 days June 5 Alfred Dreyfus' acquitted June 9 James J Jeffries KOs Bob Fitzsimmons in 11 for heavywgt boxing title June 10 Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks forms in Cincinnati June 16 Victor Trumper's 1st Test Cricket century 135* vs. England, Lord's June 29 Brazo River in Texas floods 12 miles wide causing $10 mil damage June 30 Jack Hearne takes a hat-trick England vs. Australia at Headingley July 1 Gideon Society established to place bibles in hotels San Francisco City Hall turned over to city, after 29 years of building July 19 National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, forms July 29 1st motorcycle race, Manhattan Beach, New York Southern California Golf Association forms July 31 Albert Trott hits Monty Noble over the Pavilion at Lord's August 15 Louisville's Henry Dowling struck out 5 times in a game September 4 8.3 earthquake shakes Yakutat Bay, Alaska September 6 Carnation processes its 1st can of evaporated milk U.S. Minister of Foreign affairs John Hay publishes his "Open Through Note" September 8 British government sends an additional 10,000 troops to Natal South Africa September 9 French Captain Alfred Dreyfus sentenced on unjust grounds September 10 2nd quake in 7 days (8.6) hits Yakutat Bay Alaska September 14 Henry Bliss becomes 1st automobile fatality (NY) September 15 5th U.S. Golf Open: Willie Smith shoots a 315 at Baltimore CC MD September 17 1st British troops leave Bombay for South Africa October 2 Orange Free state mobilizes October 3 J. S. Thurman patents motor-driven vacuum cleaner October 9 1st British troops reaches Durban South Africa South Africa President Kruger routes British authorities ultimatum October 10 IR Johnson patents bicycle frame October 11 South African Boers declare war on Great Britain October 12 South Africa Boer Republic declares war on England October 13 7000 lay-offs black mine workers of South Africa reach Natal October 14 Morning Post reporter Winston Churchill departs to South Africa October 15 Cincinnati closes season with 16-1 and 19-3 victories over Cleveland Spiders October 17 Sutro railroad sold to Robert F Morrow for $215,000 October 20 Battle at Talana Hill Natal: British army vs Boers Columbia (U.S.) beats Shamrock (England) in 11th America's Cup October 21 Battle at Elandslaagte Natal: (Boers vs British army) October 22 British troops flee Dundee, Natal South Africa October 24 Battle at Rietfontein, South Africa: Boers vs British army October 30 Battle at Ladysmith Natal: Boers beat Lieutenant-General Whites army British Morning Post reporter Winston Churchill reaches Capetown November 2 Boers begin siege of Ladysmith Natal November 3 James J. Jeffries beats Tom Sharkey in 25 for heavyweight boxing title November 9 Boerenaanval up Ladysmith, Natal, attack November 11 Stuart/Rubens/Boyd-Jones' "Floradora," premieres in London November 12 British troops reach Durban Natal November 15 Morning Post reporter Winston Churchill and wife captured in Natal November 18 Trumper scores 208 in 185 minutes (1 five 25 fours) NSW vs. Qld November 22 Battle at Willow Grange, Natal (British vs Boer army) November 23 1st jukebox (Palais Royal Hotel, SF) Battle at Belmont, Cape colony: general Methuen beats Farmers November 25 Battle at Graspan, Cape colony: general Methuen beats Farmers November 28 Battle of Mud river (Boer General. Cronje beats British General Methuen) December 2 U.S. and Germany agree to divide Samoa between them December 4 56th Congress (1899-1901) convenes Webb Hayes son of President Rutherford Hayes receives medal of honor December 8 Natal: British fall/burst out belegerd Ladysmith December 10 Battle at Storm Berge South Africa - Boers vs British army British "Black Week" due to nederlagen in South Africa Frank Wedekind's "Der Kammersang," premieres in Berlin December 11 Battle of Magers' fountain - Boer leader Cronje vs. General Methuen December 12 1st case of plague on Oahu, Hawaii George F Bryant of Boston patents the wooden golf tee December 15 Battle at Colenso, South Africa (Boers-British army) December 18 Field Marshal Lord Roberts appointed British supreme commander in South Africa December 23 Field Marshal Lord Roberts departs Southampton to South Africa Southampton: field marshal lord Roberts departures to South Africa Tentative Turkish and German treaty on construction of Baghdad railway December 25 Farmers send/guide belegerd Ladysmith Kerstpudding/desire in grenade December 26 Mafeking: Bathe-Powells failed assault up fort Game Tree: 24 killed December 29 English fleet brings German postschip Bundesrath up