British cricketer and Governor-General of New Zealand, 1957–1962; in Kensington, London (d. 1977) August 9, 1909 (Monday) Alabama became the first state to ratify the proposed Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, when the state senate unanimously approved the resolution for a federal income tax. The state house had unanimously approved the proposal on August 2. Governor Comer signed the resolution on August 17, making the process complete. One week after the Lincoln cent had been released to the public, the U.S. Mint halted production of the so-called "V.D.B. pennies", which had the initials of designer Victor David Brenner. An estimated 22,350,000 of the pennies had been put into circulation. The San Francisco Mint made 500,000 such pennies and the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Head Cent can sell for more than $2,000. Born: Yūji Koseki, Japanese composer active term from 1930 to 1989, known for the 1937 military march "Roei no Uta ("Song of the Camp"), the 1964 Tokyo Olympic March, and Nagasaki no Kane ("The Bells of Nagasaki"), said to have written 5,000 songs; in Fukushima City, Honshu (d. 1989) Adam von Trott zu Solz, German lawyer, diplomat and opponent of Adolf Hitler; in Potsdam (executed 1944). V. K. Gokak, author of the epic Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi and recipient of India's Jnanpith Award; in Savanur State, British India (now in Karnataka state) (d. 1992) August 10, 1909 (Tuesday) Howard R. Hughes, Sr. was granted two patents (No. 930,758 and No. 930,759) for the Sharp-Hughes Rock Bit, a dual-cone rotary drill bit that revolutionized well-drilling and created the fortune that would be inherited by his billionaire son, Howard Hughes. The town of Clay Center, Kansas, was panicked by eleven elephants owned by the Hagenbach-Wallace Circus. For two hours, the beasts moved through the streets and alleys of the town before being recaptured. Born: Mohammed V, Sultan of Morocco 1927–1953 and King of Morocco 1957–1961; in Rabat (d. 1961) Leo Fender, electric guitar inventor and amp manufacturer; in Anaheim, California (d. 1991) Died: Bob Womack, 65, who discovered the richest vein of gold in Colorado, but died penniless August 11, 1909 (Wednesday) SOS, the international Morse code signal for distress, was first used to call for rescue. The S.S. Arapahoe lost power off of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and was rescued 36 hours later. Wireless operator R.J. Vosburgh alternated the new signal with the former distress call, CQD. August 12, 1909