TODAY IN HISTORYTODAY is Friday, October 27, the 300th day of 2006. There are 65 days left in the year.

ON THIS DATE<$>

In 1795, the United States and Spain signed the Treaty of San Lorenzo (also known as “Pinckney’s Treaty”), which provided for free navigation of the Mississippi River.

In 1901, the first known use of a “getaway car” occurred in Paris when thieves drove off after holding up a shop.

In 1938, Du Pont announced a name for its new synthetic yarn: “nylon.”

In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin were named winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their progress toward achieving a Middle East accord.

In 1979, St Vincent and the Grenadines became independent of Britain.

In 1980, the first total Internet crash took place in its earliest days when the US Defense Department’s prototype Internet — ARPANET — caught a virus.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“The man who does not learn is dark, like one walking in the night.” — Chinese proverb.