TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1912, the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg. In 1924, Rand McNally published its first road atlas. In 1959, the new Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, visited the United States. In 1999, astronomers announced the discovery of another solar system--the first aside from our own--in the constellation Andromeda.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), artist/scientist; Henry James (1843-1916), novelist; A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979), activist; Bessie Smith (1894-1937), blues singer; Emma Thompson (1959- ), actress, is 49; Emma Watson (1990- ), actress, is 18.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1942, Hiram Bithorn became the first Puerto Rican to play Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action." - Fidel Castro

TODAY'S FACT: Titanic is the highest-grossing American movie of all time, having made more than $600 million at the box office.

TODAY'S NUMBER: 24 - number of hours after Germany's 1939 invasion of Poland that U.S. stores were completely sold out of Rand McNally maps of Europe.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter (April 12) and full moon (April 20).