Today in History: July 24

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history – In 1930, Patrick Henry Burns died in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 60. 

Burns was an electrical engineer and became the first superintendent of the telegraph in The Bahamas. 

With his help, The Bahamas embarked on an ambitious journey to lay a 230-mile-long telegraph cable that linked us to the United States for several years.   

Then in 1969 – Ulrich Alexander Fox was born in Toronto, Canada. 

Known professionally as Rick Fox, he is a former professional basketball player, actor, producer, businessman, and e-sports franchise owner. 

Born to Bahamian businessman Ulrich Fox Sr. and Canadian track and field athlete Dianne Roberta Gerace, Fox moved to The Bahamas as a young child.  

He entered the 1991 National Basketball Association draft and played for the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers winning three championships.  

He also acted in Hollywood films and series such as Blue Chips, The Game, and Oz. 

Then in 2016 – American Sculptor James Richard Mastin died in Miami, Florida. 

Mastin was a world-renowned artist and sculptor who helped design and build the Loyalist Memorial Sculpture Garden on Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, a national treasure since 1987. 

He also sculpted a bronze statue of Saint Francis Xavier in front of the cathedral in 1988. 

And finally in 2022, a tragedy at sea claimed the lives of 17 suspected illegal migrants.  

Police reported the bodies were victims of an alleged failed smuggling attempt from New Providence. The 30-foot speed boat reportedly capsized some seven miles off of New Providence. 

25 persons were rescued and were turned over to health officials for monitoring, however some were still missing.  

In an arraignment last month, the four men charged with manslaughter pleaded not guilty.