100 years ago,1911

Chin Mow, a Boston Chinaman, who was visiting  in Auburn at the Sam Sing laundry on Main Street, died some time Friday night, because, his companions say, he sat up too late and talked too much. So far as known, Chin Mow was the first of his nationality to die in Auburn.

When they could not arouse Mow Saturday morning, they summoned a physician. It was said that Mow had not smoked any opium for two years. Death was due to heart trouble.

50 years ago, 1961

Aliens in Maine have only two more days within which to comply with the federal law requiring that aliens report their address to the government during January of each year, according to C. C. Doughty, district director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

The Immigration official urged all aliens who have not yet complied to go as soon as possible to the nearest post office or immigration service office to file the report.

25 years ago, 1986

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL. — A catastrophic explosion blew apart the space shuttle Challenger just after liftoff Tuesday, sending schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe and six NASA astronauts to a fiery death in the sky eight miles out from Kennedy Space Center.

“We mourn seven heroes,” said President Reagan.

The accident defied quick explanation, though a slow-motion replay seemed to show an initial problem with one of two peel-away rocket boosters followed by the detonation of the shuttle’s huge external fuel tank.