Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 October 24

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From today's featured article

The Battle of Goliad was the second skirmish of the Texas Revolution. Early on October 9, 1835, rebellious Texas settlers attacked the Mexican Army soldiers garrisoned at Presidio La Bahía (pictured), a fort near the Mexican Texas settlement of Goliad. It was halfway between the Mexican garrison at San Antonio de Béxar and the major port of Copano. Texians were plotting to kidnap Mexican General Martín Perfecto de Cos, who was en route to Goliad, although they knew before their arrival that he had departed for San Antonio de Béxar. The garrison at La Bahía was understaffed and could not mount an effective defense of the perimeter. Using axes borrowed from townspeople, the Texians chopped through a door and entered the complex before the bulk of the soldiers were aware of their presence. After a 30-minute battle, the Mexican garrison surrendered. The majority of the Mexican soldiers were instructed to leave Texas, and the Texians confiscated $10,000 worth of provisions and several cannons, later used in the Siege of Béxar. The victory isolated Cos's men in Béxar from the coast, forcing them to rely on a long overland march to request or receive reinforcements or supplies. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that after being voted as the German Wine Queen in 1995, Julia Klöckner (pictured) went on to lead the Christian Democratic Union party in her native state of Rhineland-Palatinate?
... that in October 2010, Angela Hartnett acquired sole ownership of the Michelin Guide starred restaurant Murano, having co-established it with Gordon Ramsay?
... that The X-Files: Revelations was compiled as an introduction to The X-Files by series writers Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz?
... that Charles Manby was an engineer on the first steamship to cross the English Channel, and served on the international scientific commission on the Suez Canal, the International Commission for the piercing of the isthmus of Suez?
... that shortly before the First World War, Neo-Slavism advocated the creation of a federation of Slavic states?
... that Argentine drummer Claudio Strunz owned Hermética's rehearsal room, before joining the band?

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In the news

Record smog closes schools, highways and the airport in Harbin, China (pictured).
Chad, Nigeria, Chile, Lithuania, and Saudi Arabia are elected to the United Nations Security Council, but Saudi Arabia declines its seat.
Lao Airlines Flight 301 crashes on approach to Pakse Airport, Laos, killing all 49 people on board.
U.S. President Barack Obama signs a bill passed by Congress to reopen the federal government and raise the debt limit.
New Zealand author Eleanor Catton becomes the youngest winner of the Man Booker Prize.

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On this day...

October 24: United Nations Day (1945)

1260 – Qutuz, Mamluk sultan of Egypt, was assassinated by a fellow Mamluk leader, Baibars, who then seized power for himself.
1795 – As a result of the Third Partition of Poland, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth ceased to exist as an independent state as its territory was divided between Austria, Prussia, and Russia.
1931 – The George Washington Bridge (pictured), today the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge, connecting New York City to Fort Lee, New Jersey, was dedicated.
1945 – The UN Charter, the constitution of the United Nations, entered into force after being ratified by the Republic of China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and a majority of the other signatories.
2007 – Chang'e 1, the first satellite in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

More anniversaries: October 23 – October 24 – October 25

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Today's featured picture

A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains (千里江山) is the only extant work by 12th-century Chinese painter Wang Ximeng. Measuring 11.9 meters (39 ft) in length, it has been described as one of the greatest works of Chinese art.

Painting: Wang Ximeng

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