What Happened?

On this Day:

• 1989-Chernobyl Nuclear Accident-was the worst accident in the history of nuclear power generation. 32 people were killed in the actual accident, more died later from radiation sickness and cancer. Wind-borne radioactive particles contaminated millions of acres of forest and farmland.
• 1886-Ma Rainey was born. Recording more than 90 songs with country blues musician and black jazz players, the "mother of the blues" is considered the first great black professional.
  
• 1865-John Wilkes Booth diedmerely twelve days after assasinating Abraham Lincoln.
• 1607-The first permanent settlers landed at Cape Henry and Chesapeake Bay. Those settlers later formed Jamestown, led by John Smith.

*courtesy of Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.