News Journal archives, Feb. 19


“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News, The Morning News and the Evening Journal.

Feb. 19, 2001, The News Journal

Tragedy at Daytona: Earnhardt killed in last-lap crash

Dale Earnhardt Sr., one of the greatest stars in auto racing history, died Sunday of injuries from a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500.

The seven-time Winston Cup champion known as “The Intimidator” for his aggressive driving had to be cut out of his car after slamming into the wall while fighting for position on the final turn of the race….

“This is undoubtedly one of the toughest announcements I have ever personally had to make. We’ve lost Dale Earnhardt,” NASCAR president Mike Helton said.

Earnhardt, 49, died instantly of head injuries, said Steve Bohannon, a doctor at Halifax Medical Center….

Feb. 20, 1962, Evening Journal

Glenn lands after 3 orbits

Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. was plucked safely from the Atlantic Ocean at 3:01 p.m. today by a destroyer, USS Noa, after he flew three times around the world in his space ship….

Front page of the Evening Journal from Feb. 20, 1962.

The 40-year-old Marine rose into space atop a flame-spewing Atlas rocket at 9:47 a.m.

At 2:28 p.m., 4 hours and 41 minutes later, he had completed the three orbits of his mission. Ten minutes later his spacecraft’s 63-foot main parachute opened at 21,000 feet and dropped the craft and its pilot into the sea….



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