Iéna was a pre-dreadnought battleship built for the French Navy (Marine
Nationale). Laid down at Brest in January 1898, the vessel was launched
on 1 September and completed on 14 April 1902. The ship was assigned
to the Mediterranean Squadron and remained there for the duration of her
career. Iéna frequently served as a flagship, participated in the
annual fleet manoeuvres and made many visits to French ports in the
Mediterranean. On 4 March 1907, while docked for repairs in Toulon,
the battleship was badly damaged and 120 people were killed by a
magazine explosion that was probably caused by the decomposition of old
propellant, known as Poudre B. Multiple investigations were launched
and the ensuing scandal forced the naval minister to resign. While
repairs were possible, Iéna was not considered worth the expense. The
salvaged hulk was used as a gunnery target in 1909 before it was sold
for scrap in 1912.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_battleship_I%C3%A9na>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1876:
William "Boss" Tweed, a New York City politician who had been
arrested for embezzlement, was handed over to US authorities after
having escaped from prison and fled to Spain.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._Tweed>
1963:
The first episode of Doctor Who, the world's longest-running
science fiction television show, was broadcast on BBC One, starring
William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the title role.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Unearthly_Child>
1980:
An earthquake struck the Irpinia region of Italy, killing at
least 2,483 people, injuring more than 7,700 and leaving 250,000
homeless.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Irpinia_earthquake>
2007:
MS Explorer became the first cruise ship to sink in the
Southern Ocean.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Explorer_%281969%29>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
intraordinary:
(rare, nonstandard) Falling within normal parameters; normal, ordinary.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/intraordinary>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
You have summoned me in my weakness. You must sustain me by your
strength.
--Franklin Pierce
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Franklin_Pierce>