What Happened on October 28

Presidential Ceremonies

1886 — Cleveland Dedicates Liberty's Colossus; Harbor Throngs Witness

France's gift to the Republic finds its place at last — the President speaks beneath the torch that will greet the world's exiles — steam ferries crowd the harbor in holiday array

NEW YORK, Oct. 28 — The harbor of New York has become the gateway of a new symbol, one that will outlast the men who raised it and the ships that pass beneath. This morning President Grover Cleveland, standing upon Bedloe's Island, declared the Statue of Liberty formally dedicated, a gift from the French nation commemorating the Declaration of Independence and the alliance that won American freedom.

The ceremony drew multitudes. Steam ferries crowded the harbor, their decks packed with spectators who had come to see the colossus unveiled. The President spoke words of welcome to the statue and to what it represents, though the morning fog lingered long enough to obscure the full view of the figure.

Cleveland has presided at such ceremonies before. On July 4, 1884, he dedicated the Soldiers and Sailors monument in Lafayette Square while serving as Governor of New York, an occasion attended by Pennsylvania Governor John Hartranft and Brigadier General William Findlay Rogers. He had laid that monument's cornerstone on July 4, 1882, during his tenure as Mayor of Buffalo, when columns of Union Army veterans marched down Main Street in celebration.

• President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Soldiers and Sailors monument in Lafayette Square on July 4, 1884.
• Cleveland had earlier laid the monument's cornerstone on July 4, 1882, while serving as Mayor of Buffalo.
• The monument's dedication ceremony was attended by Pennsylvania Governor John Hartranft and Brigadier General William Findlay Rogers.
• Columns of Union Army veterans marched down Main Street to celebrate the monument's dedication on July 4, 1884.

Source: Wikipedia — New York Harbor

Archaeological Discoveries

1925 — Carter Unveils Tutankhamun's Gold Mask After 3,250 Years in Darkness

The innermost coffin yields its treasure — 54 centimetres of solid gold, 10 kilograms in weight — the boy king's visage seen for the first time since the tomb was sealed

LUXOR, Oct. 28 — In the Valley of the Kings, where the dead of ancient Egypt have lain undisturbed through the rise and fall of empires, the twentieth century has at last intruded upon one of the last great secrets. Today Howard Carter and his team opened the innermost of three nested coffins within the tomb of Tutankhamun, revealing the gold funerary mask that has awaited this moment for approximately 3,250 years.

The mask, standing 54 centimetres tall and weighing over 10 kilograms, or 321.5 troy ounces, depicts the young pharaoh with the striped nemes headdress and ceremonial beard. When the coffin was opened, the 2.5-kilogram plaited gold beard had separated from the chin, requiring careful documentation before conservation.

Scholars now speculate that the mask may originally have been fashioned for Queen Neferneferuaten, whose brief reign preceded Tutankhamun's restoration of traditional religion. The workmanship suggests royal workshop production of the highest order.

Carter has arranged for the mask's removal from the tomb in December, with transport 635 kilometres to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo already planned.

• On 28 October 1925, Howard Carter's team opened the innermost of three coffins to reveal the gold mask for the first time in 3,250 years.
• The mask is 54 centimetres tall and weighs over 10 kilograms (22 lb) or 321.5 troy ounces.
• When discovered in 1925, the mask's 2.5-kilogram plaited gold beard had become separated from the chin.
• In December 1925, the mask was removed from the tomb and transported 635 kilometres to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Source: Wikipedia — Mask of Tutankhamun

Caribbean Storm Desk

2025 — Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamaica; Over 30 Dead in Most Intense North Atlantic Landfall on Record

The storm ties the 1935 Labor Day hurricane for intensity — Black River bears the brunt as residents navigate debris-filled streets

BLACK RIVER, Jamaica, Oct. 28 — Hurricane Melissa has killed over 30 people after making landfall near this southwestern Jamaican town, tying the 1935 Labor Day hurricane as the most intense landfall ever recorded in the North Atlantic.

The storm's extreme intensity became apparent as sustained winds and storm surge overwhelmed coastal defenses. Emergency services have confirmed the death toll exceeds 30, with search and rescue operations continuing in affected communities. Residents walk through debris-filled streets in the aftermath, navigating fallen trees, damaged structures, and scattered belongings.

Meteorologists had tracked Melissa's rapid intensification in the warm Caribbean waters, though the final landfall pressure matched that of the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, the previous record holder. The comparison underscores the exceptional nature of this event.

Infrastructure damage along the southern coast is extensive, with power outages affecting multiple parishes. International aid organizations have begun coordinating response efforts as damage assessments proceed.

• Hurricane Melissa makes landfall near Black River, Jamaica, killing over 30 people, as well as tying the 1935 Labor Day hurricane as the most intense landfall in the North Atlantic.

Source: Wikipedia — Hurricane Melissa

Mediterranean War Bulletin

1940 — Italy Attacks Greece After Metaxas Rejects Mussolini Ultimatum

Italian troops invaded Greece on Oct. 28 after Metaxas rejected Mussolini's ultimatum, and Greek forces have already repelled the attack with heavy casualties inflicted on the invading columns.

ATHENS, Oct. 28 — Italian forces invaded Greece today after Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas rejected Benito Mussolini's ultimatum demanding Greek territorial concessions. Greek troops have already repelled the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the invading columns. The campaign is expected to end within months with only minor territorial changes.

• The Italian attack on Greece was repulsed with heavy Italian casualties.
• The campaign ended within months with only minor territorial changes.
• Germany prepared to invade the Balkans to assist Italy.

Source: Wikipedia — World War II

Imperial Affairs

312 — Constantine Victor at Milvian Bridge; Maxentius Slain, Praetorian Guard Disbanded

On October 28, Constantine secured mastery of the western empire at the Milvian Bridge, ending the civil wars of the Tetrarchy with Maxentius slain and Rome's ancient military order dissolved.

ROME, October 28 — Constantine the Great has defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, securing his mastery of the western empire amid the civil wars of the Tetrarchy. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber as his troops fled the broken bridge. The Praetorian Guard, long the emperor's mailed fist in Rome, was dissolved by Constantine's order. Eusebius, bishop in Caesarea, has recorded that Constantine fought under a Christian sign he saw in a dream.

• Maxentius perished by drowning in the Tiber river after his army fled the battle.
• Constantine's favouring of Christianity began in 312, the same year as the battle.
• Maxentius was the last emperor permanently to reside in Rome.
• Constantine disbanded the Praetorian Guard, which had supported Maxentius.
• Maxentius was the son of former Emperor Maximian and son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.

Source: Wikipedia — Civil wars of the Tetrarchy

London Letters

1726 — Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' Now in Booksellers' Hands

The Dean of St Patrick's has delivered a volume of voyages to remote nations — wit and satire bound together.

LONDON, October 28 — A volume of strange voyages to distant shores has appeared in the shops, and men of wit already speak of it in coffee-houses.

The work, titled "Gulliver's Travels," comes from the pen of Jonathan Swift, Dean of St Patrick's in Dublin.

• The novel Gulliver's Travels written by Jonathan Swift is published.

Source: Wikipedia — Gulliver's Travels

Buenos Aires Bureau

2007 — Fernández de Kirchner Elected Argentina's First Woman President by First-Round Victory

Argentina's first directly elected female president won office with 45.28% of the vote amid 76.2% turnout, while her nearest rival topped 20%.

BUENOS AIRES, October 28 — Argentina will seat its first woman elected president, as Cristina Fernández de Kirchner captured victory without need of a runoff, breaking a threshold no contender had cleared in the first round.

Fernández de Kirchner, wife of the outgoing president, took 45.28 percent of ballots cast in Sunday's general election. The 76.2 percent turnout reflected intense public engagement with the contest.

She becomes the second female to hold the office — the first, Isabel Perón, assumed the post upon her husband's death — but Fernández de Kirchner is the first to win the presidency directly at the polls.

Opposition deputy Elisa Carrió finished second with more than 20 percent of the vote, running strongest in the capital. Former economy minister Roberto Lavagna placed third, his support concentrated in Córdoba province.

• Voter turnout was 76.2%.
• Cristina Fernández de Kirchner won with 45.28% of the vote.
• She became the second female president of Argentina and the first directly elected.
• She broke the 40 percent barrier and won in the first round.
• Elisa Carrió came second with more than 20 percent of the vote, winning in Buenos Aires.

Source: Wikipedia — 2007 Argentine general election

Discoveries Westward

1492 — Columbus Reaches Cuba, Judges It to Be Japan

Christopher Columbus, commanding three ships, reached the island on the 28th of October and believes it to be Japan.

CUBA, October 28 — In this autumn of expanding horizons, when Iberian sails probe the unknown Atlantic, the Genoese admiral Christopher Columbus has brought his three ships to a great island he believes to be Japan.

The landfall comes on his first voyage to the New World.

• Christopher Columbus lands in Cuba on his first voyage to the New World, surmising that it is Japan.

Source: Wikipedia — Christopher Columbus