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Today in History: March 27

1350 While besieging Gibraltar, Alfonso XI of Castile dies of the black death.

1836 The Mexican army massacres Texan rebels at Goliad.

1912 The first cherry blossom trees, a gift from Japan, are planted in Washington, D.C.

1933 Some 55,000 people stage a protest against Hitler in New York.

1944 One thousand Jews leave Drancy, France for the Auschwitz concentration camp.

1952 Elements of the U.S. Eighth Army reach the 38th parallel in Korea, the original dividing line between the two Koreas.

1958 The United States announces a plan to explore space near the moon.

1976 Washington, D.C. opens its subway system.

1977 In aviation's worst disaster yet, 582 die when a KLM Pan Am 747 crashes.

Born on March 27

1785 Louis XVII, pretender to the throne during the French Revolution.

1845 Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, German physicist, accidentally discovered X-rays.

1863 Sir Henry Royce, cofounder of the Rolls-Royce automotive company.

1924 Sarah Vaughan, jazz singer.

Joke of the Day
A cowboy appears before St. Peter.

A cowboy appeared before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. "Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asked. "Well, I can think of one thing," the cowboy offered. "On a trip to the Big Horn Mountains out in Wyoming, I came upon a gang of bikers who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen. So, I approached the largest and most tattooed biker and smacked him in the face, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground." I yelled, "Now, back off or I'll kick the shite out of all of you" Saint Peter was impressed, "When did this happen?" "Couple of minutes ago."