December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean An underwater earthquake causes a massive tsunami killing an estimated 230,000 people in 14 countries including Indonesia, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka The tsunami created a 30 meter (98.5 feet) high wave which sent a deadly wall of water and various debris hurtling inland. WARNING: the following images are graphic…
Three violent tales (1890)
December 27, 1890 Albuquerque, NM Washington, IN Cleveland, OH The Chicago Daily Tribune (December 27, 1890) runs a series of misfortunate events that happened the day before, including the death of an inmate by a prison cook, a man who blew up a hotel where his wife worked after he was not permitted to see…
FLW: electric chair is a good enough Christmas present
Famous Last Words Harry Singer Indiana December 26, 1936 "The chair will be a good enough present for me." (To a guard regarding Christmas presents.) Singer was executed for the July 21, 1936 murders of John Wesley Caufman (56), Viola Caufman (36), and their daughter Marjorie (12). Mr. and Mrs. Caufman were shot to death…
Man kills coworkers, claims God sent him back in time to hunt Nazis
December 26, 2000 Wakefield, Massachusetts Michael Morgan McDermott, who later claimed he had "travelled back in time and killed Hitler and the last 6 Nazis" in order to be given a soul by God, shoots 7 coworkers McDermott entered his workplace, Edgewater Technology, and shot 7 of his coworkers within 5-10 minutes, firing a total…
Theater fire kills 72
December 26, 1811 Richmond, Virginia A fire quickly spreads in the Richmond Theatre, killing 72 including the Governor of Virginia and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia The fire started when a curtain became entangled in a lit chandelier, igniting the curtain and the set pieces and backgrounds. The audience of 598…
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