On this day: March 14
Cat Survives 200-Mile Journey Hidden in Car Engine
A domestic cat was discovered alive after traveling roughly 200 miles while trapped in a vehicle’s engine compartment; mechanics and veterinarians later examined the animal and reported it had survived the trip with treatable injuries.
Cat Found Alive After 200-Mile Ride in Car Engine
A domestic cat survived a roughly 200-mile journey hidden inside a vehicle's engine compartment and was discovered and rescued after the car arrived at a maintenance shop. The incident highlights risks to outdoor cats and the importance of checking vehicles in cold weather.
Early Recorded Claim of Divine Status by a Cult Leader — 1951
On March 14, 1951, reported accounts identify a cult leader publicly declaring himself divine, a notable instance in postwar religious movements. The event reflects patterns of charismatic authority and emergent new religious claims in the mid-20th century.
Execution of Franz Muller, Europe’s earliest documented serial poisoner
On March 14, 1896, Franz Müller—convicted of multiple poisonings in late 19th-century Germany and widely described in contemporary accounts as a serial poisoner—was executed, concluding a case that shaped forensic toxicology and public fears about domestic poisoning.
Aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire: Early Insurance Fraud Allegations Surface
In the weeks after the Great Chicago Fire, reporters and investigators pursued claims that some property owners and insurers manipulated losses and policies—allegations that complicated recovery efforts and shaped early reforms.
Aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire: Early Insurance Fraud Allegations Surface
In the year after the Great Chicago Fire, March 14, 1872, investigators and newspapers began reporting suspicious claims and alleged fraud involving fire insurance policies—sparking debates over underwriting practices, municipal oversight, and the limits of 19th-century loss verification.
Demonstration of a Successful Artificial Limb, 14 March 1863
On 14 March 1863 a mechanically articulated prosthetic limb was publicly demonstrated, marking a milestone in 19th-century efforts to restore mobility to amputees through engineered artificial limbs.