A 6.25 magnitude earthquake destroyed central Managua, Nicaragua, killing about 10,000 people.
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Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme, who was serving a life sentence for the attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford, escaped from Alderson Prison.
Yohl Ik'nal ascended to the throne of Palenque, making her the first queen regnant in Maya history.
The Rutan Voyager became the first plane to fly around the world without stopping for fuel.
Cinderella, the first full-length ballet by Frederick Ashton with music by Sergei Prokofiev, was first presented at Covent Garden, London, by Sadler's Wells Ballet.
Vincent van Gogh cut his left ear off with a razor after an argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin.