Almanac for May 4th

Erin O'Riordan's Almanac for May 4th: https://ko-fi.com/post/May-4-K3K71EMSH0

Today's Observance: Star Wars Day ("May the Fourth Be With You")
Author Julie S. Howlin post of the day: Audrey Hepburn

Bummer May 4th

May 4, 1897: On the second day of a charity bazaar set up by Catholic charitable organizations in Paris, aristocratic women shop in a wooden warehouse set up to look like a Medieval market. Decorations of cardboard, cloth, papier-mache, and wood help achieve this effect. As an extra attraction, an early movie projector called a cinematograph is set up with ether lamps as a light source.

The projection equipment catches fire. With flammable materials all around and little to no signage marking the exits, the largely female crowd is trapped inside. 126 people die; 200 more are injured. Many of the dead were so badly burned that they could only be identified by their clothing, jewelry, or expensive dental work.

May 4, 1970: Members of the National Guard open fire at students at Kent State University who are peacefully protesting against the Vietnam War. They wound nine students and kill four other students.

Mother's Day is coming May 10th! This is an affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4mNgBpK