On this date in

1886 An earthquake killed 110 persons in Charleston, S.C.

1886 Mary Ann Nichols, generally believed to be the first victim of Jack the Ripper, was found murdered in London's West End.

1897 Actor Fredric March was born.

1903 Radio and television personality Arthur Godfrey was born.

1908 Author William Saroyan was born.

1918 Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner was born.

1954 Hurricane Carol struck the northeastern United States.

1962 Trinidad and Tobago became independent.

1969 Boxer Rocky Marciano was killed in a plane crash.

1980 Poland's Solidarity came into being.

1985 Serial killer, Richard Ramirez, dubbed "The Night Stalker," was captured.

1986 The Soviet passenger ship SS Admiral Nakhimov sunk.

1992 White separatist Randy Weaver surrendered, ending the siege at Ruby Ridge.

1997 Princess Diana died after an automobile accident in Paris.

2002 Jazz muscian Lionel Hampton died.

2005 1,000 people died in a stampede on a Baghdad bridge.