Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Nov. 13, according to the Tribune’s archives.
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Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
- High temperature: 73 degrees (1989)
- Low temperature: 6 degrees (1986)
- Precipitation: 1.09 inches (1951)
- Snowfall: 2 inches (1974)
The Cherry Mine Fire, which killed 259 men and boys on Nov. 13, 1909, in the small town of Cherry, Illinois, resulted in stricter safety regulations. (Chicago Tribune)
1909: The third-deadliest coal mine disaster in United States history — the Cherry Mine Fire in Cherry, Illinois, a town of 500 about 90 miles southwest of Chicago — killed 259 men and boys. According to the University of Illinois, the fire started when a cart carrying hay (to feed mules, which pulled coal carts) ignited and spread to the mine’s wood infrastructure.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Disasters!!!!! Crashes, fires, riots and more from Illinois history.
It was the first time in this country that the concept of worker’s compensation was applied, and it led to the creation of the U.S. Bureau of Mines. The fire prompted stricter child labor laws and more mine rescue stations.
Cardinal George Mundelein celebrates the Pontifical Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Nov. 13, 1938, in connection with the beatification of Mother Frances Cabrini. It was the first time an American cardinal celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s. (AP)
1938: Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini became the first U.S. citizen beatified by the Roman Catholic Church as part of a Mass presided over by Pope Pius XI and celebrated by Chicago’s first cardinal, George Mundelein, who also officiated at Cabrini’s funeral.
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The radio broadcast of the ceremony marked the first one delivered by an American prelate from St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The occasion marked special veneration for Cabrini on her path to sainthood in 1946.
Teammates greet Ryne Sandberg after he tripled and scored in the third inning on June 24, 1984. (José Moré/Chicago Tribune)
1984: Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg was named the National League’s MVP.
Sandberg — who hit .314 in 156 games for the fourth-best mark in the league, and got 22 of the 24 first-place votes — was the first Cub since “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks in 1959 to receive the honor.
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But Sandberg wasn’t present at Wrigley Field to receive the award — he was at sea as part of a team cruise. He disembarked at Guadalupe to speak to the press via a ship-to-shore phone hookup that cost the Cubs $104 for 20 minutes.
Two weeks later, Sandberg also received his second of nine consecutive Golden Glove awards at second base.
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