April 14 » James Cash Penney opens his first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
April 18 » The 7.5 Mw Guatemala earthquake shakes Guatemala with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), killing between 800–2,000.
May 8 » In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and killing over 30,000 people. Only a handful of residents survive the blast.
May 31 » Second Boer War: The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war and ensures British control of South Africa.
July 17 » Willis Carrier creates the first air conditioner in Buffalo, New York.
December 10 » The opening of the reservoir of the Aswan Dam in Egypt.
Day of death July 17, 1903
The temperature on July 17, 1903 was between 11.8 °C and 19.7 °C and averaged 16.0 °C. There was 0.1 hours of sunshine (1%). Source: KNMI
January 4 » Topsy, an elephant, is electrocuted by the owners of Luna Park, Coney Island. The Edison film company records the film Electrocuting an Elephant of Topsy's death.
March 2 » In New York City the Martha Washington Hotel opens, becoming the first hotel exclusively for women.
August 29 » The Slava, the last of the five Borodino-class battleships, is launched.
October 13 » The Boston Red Sox win the first modern World Series, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth game.
November 3 » With the encouragement of the United States, Panama separates from Colombia.
December 16 » Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel in Bombay first opens its doors to guests.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Eva Drenth, "Family tree Diverse", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-drenth/I34740.php : accessed January 29, 2026), "Gerrit Otten (1902-1903)".
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