On the night of July 14, 1881, the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. He was just 21 years old but already a legend — having escaped jail, killed at least eight men, and become one of the most wanted fugitives in the American West.

Garrett had been tracking Billy for months after capturing him earlier that year. Billy had broken out of jail, killing two deputies on his way out, and gone back into hiding. Garrett followed leads that led him to the house of Pete Maxwell, a friend of Billy’s. Late that night, Billy walked into Maxwell’s dark bedroom — not knowing Garrett was already inside waiting.

There are different versions of what happened next. But most agree that when Billy walked in and asked, “¿Quién es?” — “Who’s there?” — and Garrett fired. One bullet hit Billy the Kid in the chest, killing him instantly. Just like that, the short but wild life of one of the West’s most famous outlaws was over.

So on July 14, 1881, Billy the Kid’s legend ended with a gunshot, but his myth only grew. Some would later claim Garrett didn’t really kill him, fueling rumors and copycats for decades. But most historians agree: that night in Fort Sumner was the end of the Kid.

On July 14, 1969, a war broke out between El Salvador and Honduras — and while the deeper causes were political and economic, it became known as the Fútbol War because it followed a heated World Cup qualifier between the two nations. Tensions had already been rising, but the matches lit the fuse.

In the weeks leading up, the two countries had clashed in a three-game qualifying series for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The games were fierce, with national pride and bitter insults flying back and forth. Riots broke out after each match, and things turned deadly. Then, just days after El Salvador won the final game, they cut off diplomatic ties with Honduras — and on July 14, launched a military invasion.

The conflict only lasted about 100 hours, but it was intense. Thousands were killed or displaced, and major cities were bombed. It finally ended with a ceasefire brokered by the Organization of American States, but the war left scars — especially for the thousands of Salvadoran immigrants living in Honduras, many of whom were expelled or attacked during the chaos.

So on July 14, 1969, a soccer match became the spark for a real war — proving that sports and politics are never as separate as they seem, especially when tensions are already at the boiling point.

Brooklyn Bridge Stampede🏃‍➡️
When the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, it was hailed as an engineering marvel — until a false rumor spread days later that it was collapsing. The panic sparked a stampede that killed 12 people. To restore public confidence, showman P.T. Barnum marched 21 elephants across the bridge, turning fear into amazment. It was structural reassurance — circus-style. 🌉🐘📣

The First Tank🛞
In 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai, the British Army rolled out its latest invention: the tank. It was the first time armored vehicles were used en masse in warfare. Most broke down or got stuck in mud, but their shock value was undeniable — it marked the gritty birth of modern armored combat, where machines would soon rule the battlefield. 🛡️🛞💥

Hot Air Battle🎈
In 1808, Frenchmen Monsieur de Grandpré and Monsieur de Pique fought a duel in hot air balloons over Paris. The dispute was over Mademoiselle Tirevit, a dancer at the Paris Opera. Each man ascended in a balloon with a blunderbuss and a pilot. At approximately 2,000 feet, De Grandpré fired, rupturing De Pique’s balloon. De Pique and his pilot fell to their deaths, while De Grandpré and his pilot landed safely. 🎈🔫

German Cruelty🐕
In 1933, just two months after opening their first concentration camp, the Nazi regime passed a sweeping animal protection law, banning cruelty and promoting animal welfare. It became one of Europe’s earliest formal animal rights laws — a surreal contradiction considering the human atrocities that followed. In Nazi Germany, pets had rights. People didn’t. 🐾⚖️🕳️

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past.