Leon Theremin, Russian inventor, dies 

The North Sea pipeline, the first to be built underwater, was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II 

The Russian dog, Laika, became the first in space aboard Sputnik II 

Turkey adopted the Roman alphabet, abolishing the use of Arabic 

William Howard Taft (R) elected 27th pres over William Jennings Bryan 

Colombia grants Panama independence 

First US automobile show opens at Madison Square Garden (New York City) 

A violent earthquake occurred in the Abruzzi, Italy, killing some 15,000 inhabitants 

Christopher Columbus, on his second voyage of discovery, sighted Dominica, in the West Indies