National

Today In History: February 4

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 1834 the slave ship Encomium ran aground on Fish Cay, freeing 45 enslaved people in New Providence.

Published

1 year ago

February 4, 2025

Kendeno Knowles

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 1834 the slave ship Encomium ran aground on Fish Cay, freeing 45 enslaved people in New Providence.

The historical society notes how the incident later prompted British indemnity to the U.S.

In 1889 in Hope Town, Abaco, future educator Thomas Alvin Thompson was born.

From school monitor to headmaster and Yale representative, his legacy lives on at T. A. Thompson Junior High.

Thompson passed away on April 20th 1966., he was 77.

Then February 4th, 1895 the American steamship Cienfuegos sank off Harbour Island after hitting the Devil’s Backbone.

All aboard were rescued, and the wreck now attracts divers.

In 1957 Randol Fawkes pushed for jury reform with a bill to allow women to serve on juries.

Though it ultimately failed in 1965. The united Bahamian party government issued its boundaries commission report, sparking protests as the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) disapproved.

The protests eventually culminated in what is now known as “Black Tuesday” on April 27th that year.

And on February 4th, 1995 the Nassau Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council became the first international council outside the U.S., uniting nine major Greek letter organizations.