May 11, 2008

460 years ago
1548

Disasters
The Great Fire in Brielle, South Holland occurred.

230 years ago
1778

Died on this date
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, 69. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1766-1768. Mr. Pitt, later called William Pitt the Elder, was known for his honesty and his patriotism. Mr. Pitt, a Whig, served as Secretary of State from 1757-1761, directing British military and foreign policy. During this time the English took Louisbourg, Fort Duquesne, Quebec, Minden, Guadeloupe, and Goree, changing the map of the world. Mr. Pitt resigned in 1761 after the cabinet refused to authorize a pre-emptive strike against Spain, but returned to office, this time as Prime Minister, from 1766-1768. As Prime Minister, he sat in the House of Lords as Earl of Chatham. He resigned because of poor health (he had been crippled by gout for years, and was increasingly overcome by madness, which ran in his family). His son, William Pitt the Younger, served as British Prime Minister from 1783-1801 and 1804-1806.

180 years ago
1833

Disasters
The immigrant ship Lady of the Lake, bound from Belfast to Quebec, struck an iceberg about 500 miles from Newfoundland and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean, killing 215.

150 years ago
1858

Americana
Minnesota was admitted to the Union as the 32nd state.

100 years ago
1908

Died on this date
Charles Kingston, 57. Australian politician. Mr. Kingston, a radical Liberal, was Premier of South Australia from 1893-1899 and then entered federal politics as a member of the Protectionist Party, representing South Australia from 1901-1903 and Adelaide from 1903-1908. He was Australia's Minister for Trade and Customs from 1901-1903. Mr. Kingston died of a stroke.

90 years ago
1918

Died on this date
George Elmslie, 57. Australian politician. Mr. Elmslie, leader of the Victorian Labour Party, was Premier of Victoria from December 9-22, 1913, taking office when acting Governor Sir John Madden asked him to form a government following the resignation of Liberal Premier William Watt. Under the law in place at the time, members of the Legislative Assembly who became ministers had to resign and run in by-elections. Before this could happen, Liberal factions rallied around Mr. Watt and passed a non-confidence motion, and Mr. Watt returned as Premier, ending Victoria's first Labour government. Mr. Elmslie's health broke in 1916, and he resigned as party leader shortly before his death.

Europeana
The Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus was officially established.

Horse racing
Exterminator, with William Knapp up, won the 44th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:10 4/5, 8 lengths ahead of Escoba, with Viva America finishing third in the 8-horse field.



80 years ago
1928

Politics and government
Former U.S. Congressman J.W. Good of Iowa, now managing the presidential campaign of Republican candidate Herbert Hoover, told the U.S. Senate campaign probe committee that about $250,000 had been spent so far for Mr. Hoover’s cause, and that the entire campaign might cost $300,000. The New York contest cost $35,000; Ohio, $40,000; Indiana, $40,000; California, $27,000. Edsel Ford had contributed $5,000.

Aviation
Colonel Charles Lindbergh’s plane Spirit of St. Louis was placed in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington.

Golf
Walter Hagen shot 72 in the final round to finish with a total score of 292 to win the British Open at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England, 2 strokes ahead of Gene Sarazen. First prize money was £75. Mr. Hagen had previously won the Open Championship in 1922 and 1924.

70 years ago
1938

Died on this date
George S. Lyon, 79. Canadian golfer. Mr. Lyon, a native of Richmond, Ontario, won the gold medal in golf at the 1904 Summer Olympic games in St. Louis, won the Canadian amateur championship eight times between 1898 and 1914, and finished in second place in the U.S. Amateur championship in 1906. He was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.

Buzz Murphy, 43. U.S. baseball player. Robert R. Murphy, an outfielder, played 9 games with the Boston Red Sox in 1918 and 79 games with the Washington Nationals in 1919, batting .275 with 1 home run and 37 runs batted in in 88 major league games.

60 years ago
1948

On the radio
The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis, on MBS

At the movies
The Iron Curtain, based on Igor Gouzenko's account of his experiences as a Soviet spy who defected to Canada, and starring Dana Andrews as Mr. Gouzenko, received its premiere screening at the Roxy Theater in New York City. The film was picketed by members of the New York Committee Against War Propaganda.

War
Haganah, the Jewish defense force in Palestine, took control of Safed and the port of Haifa from the Egyptians.

Defense
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee passed a bill reviving military conscription for men aged 19-25. A Southern-sponsored amendment authorizing racial segregation in the armed forces was defeated before approval. Both Houses of Congress approved and sent to President Harry Truman a bill appropriating $3.2 billion for expansion of the Air Force and naval aviation.

Politics and government
The Italian National Assembly elected Senator Luigi Einaudi (Liberal) to a seven-year term as President of the Italian Republic. Since January 5, 1945, Mr. Einaudi had been governor of the Bank of Italy.

Business
Howard Hughes bought 929,000 shares of RKO Studios stock, enough to give him control of the movie studio.

Hockey
NHL
At a ceremony in Montreal, New York Rangers' centre Buddy O'Connor was named the winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy as the National Hockey League's Most Valuable Player for 1947-48. Mr. O'Connor also won the Lady Byng Trophy as the league's most gentlemanly player. Elmer Lach of the Montreal Canadiens won the Art Ross Trophy as the leadung scorer; Turk Broda of the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the goaltenders with the team allowing the fewest goals during the season; and Jim McFadden of the Detroit Red Wings won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's outstanding rookie.

50 years ago
1958

On the radio
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 6, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Light Programme

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents on CBS
Tonight's episode: Listen, Listen...!, starring Edgar Stehli, Adam Williams, and Dayton Lummis

War
Pakistani and Indian troops exchanged gunfire in the Suram River sector of the India-East Pakistan frontier.

Diplomacy
U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon was generally well-received during a brief visit to Colombia, but mounted police in Bogota broke up several anti-American demonstrations.

Defense
The United States performed atmospheric nuclear tests at Eniwetok and Bikini Island.

Politics and government
The National Radical Union party of former Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis retained its majority in the Chamber of Deputies in the Greek general election, taking 171 of 300 seats. The United Democratic Left, led by Ioannis Passalidis, was next with 79 seats, followed by the Liberal Party, led by former Prime Minister Sofoklis Venizelos, with 36 seats.

Saudi Arabia issued a royal edict aimed at regularizing cabinet practices as a first step toward a constitution.

Horse racing
Round Table, with Bill Shoemaker up, won the $50,000 Caliente Handicap, with the first prize money of $31,800 making Round Table the third horse in history to win more than $1 million.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Honey--Bobby Goldsboro (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Delilah--Tom Jones (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La bambola--Patty Pravo (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Delilah--Tom Jones

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Simon Says--Dickie Rock

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): What a Wonderful World--Louis Armstrong (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Honey--Bobby Goldsboro (5th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Congratulations--Cliff Richard(3rd week at #1)
2 Delilah--Tom Jones
3 Jumbo/The Singer Sang His Song--The Bee Gees
4 Cinderella Rockefella--Esther and Abi Ofarim
5 Hush--Billy Joe Royal
6 Wonder Boy--The Kinks
7 If I were a Carpenter--The Four Tops
8 Il Est Cinq Heures, Paris S'éveille--Jacques Dutronc
9 Lazy Sunday--Small Faces
10 Storybook Children--Nancy & Lee

Singles entering the chart were If I Only Had Time by John Rowles (#25); A Man Without Love (Quando M’Innamoro) by Engelbert Humperdinck (#29); This Wheel's on Fire by Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity (#36); Snowflakes on Amsterdam by After Tea (#37); I See Your Face Again by Sandy Coast (#38); and Bloemen Voor De Vrouw Waar Ik Van Hou by Duo De Koning met Orkest o.l.v. Gaby Dirne (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro (4th week at #1)
2 Tighten Up--Archie Bell & the Drells
3 Cry Like a Baby--The Box Tops
4 A Beautiful Morning--The Rascals
5 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly--Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus
6 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers
7 Cowboys to Girls--The Intruders
8 Mrs. Robinson--Simon and Garfunkel
9 Young Girl--The Union Gap
10 Lady Madonna--The Beatles

Singles entering the chart were A Man Without Love (Quando M’Innamoro) by Engelbert Humperdinck (#66); Time for Livin' by the Association (#77); Love in Every Room (Meme Si Tu Revenais) by Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra (#78); Jelly Jungle (Of Orange Marmalade) by the Lemon Pipers (#80); This Guy's in Love with You by Herb Alpert (#84); Never Give You Up by Jerry Butler (#95); My Shy Violet by the Mills Brothers (#97); Pictures of Matchstick Men by the Status Quo (#98); The Doctor by Mary Wells (#99); and Ready, Willing and Able by the American Breed (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 A Beautiful Morning--The Rascals
2 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro
3 Cry Like a Baby--The Box Tops
4 Summertime Blues--Blue Cheer
5 Take Time to Know Her--Percy Sledge
6 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
7 Love is All Around--The Troggs
8 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly--Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus
9 Tighten Up--Archie Bell & the Drells
10 Mrs. Robinson--Simon and Garfunkel

Singles entering the chart were I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) by the Temptations (#85); MacArthur Park by Richard Harris (#87); Brooklyn Roads by Neil Diamond (#90); Apologize by Ed Ames (#95); I'm Sorry by the Delfonics (#96); Foggy Mountain Breakdown by Flatt and Scruggs (#99); and She's a Heartbreaker by Gene Pitney (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Young Girl--The Union Gap (2nd week at #1)
2 Delilah--Tom Jones
3 Love is All Around--The Troggs
4 Summertime Blues--Blue Cheer
5 The Unknown Soldier--The Doors
6 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro
7 Do You Know the Way to San Jose--Dionne Warwick
8 Does Your Mama Know About Me/Fading Away--Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers
9 Louisiana Man--Bobbie Gentry
10 Red Red Wine--Neil Diamond

Singles entering the chart were Master Jack by Four Jacks and a Jill (#24); If I were a Carpenter by the Four Tops (#25); Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel (#28); and The Happy Song (Dum-Dum) by Otis Redding (#29).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 I Love You--People (2nd week at #1)
2 Goin' Away--The Fireballs
3 Love is All Around--The Troggs
4 A Question of Temperature--Balloon Farm
5 I Can't Make it Anymore--The Original Caste
6 Call Me Lightning--The Who
7 Harlem Lady--The Witness, Inc.
8 Young Girl--The Union Gap
9 Look to Your Soul--Johnny Rivers
10 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
Pick hit of the week: Blue Bonnie Blue--The 49th Parallel

Disasters
Earth tremors in the Iranian province of Azerbaijan killed 40.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
St. Louis 2 @ Montreal 3 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-0)

J.-C. Tremblay’s goal at 11:40 of the third period turned out to be the Stanley Cup-winning score, as the Montreal Canadiens edged the St. Louis Blues 3-2 before 15,505 fans at the Montreal Forum to complete a four-game sweep of the finals. Mr. Tremblay’s 30-foot shot rattled off both posts before ending up in the net behind Blues’ goalie Glenn Hall. Mr. Tremblay had assisted on the game-tying goal less than five minutes earlier, passing to Henri Richard. Mr. Hall won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the outstanding player of the Stanley Cup playoffs. In a post-game interview on CBC television, Montreal coach Toe Blake announced his retirement, saying, "I can’t stand the pressure any more. This has been the longest, toughest season and the most nerve-wracking." In 13 years under Mr. Blake’s coaching the Canadiens finished first in the standings 9 times, and won 8 Stanley Cups. Mr. Hall was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs; his backup, Seth Martin, who spent most of his career with the Canadian National Team, retired after this game.



30 years ago
1978

War
Secessionist guerrillas invaded the Zairian province of Shaba (formerly Katanga), occupying the towns of Kolwezi and Mutshatsha. The Zairian government of President Mobutu Sese Seko accused Cuban forces of aiding the rebels.

China accused the Soviet Union of a boat and helicopter raid at the Manchurian border, and of attacking Chinese citizens.

Defense
Margaret A. Brewer became the first female general in the U.S. Marine Corps.

France performed a nuclear test.

Terrorism
In Italy, two days after former Prime Minister Aldo Moro had been murdered by Red Brigade terrorists, the terrorists shot and wounded the manager of the Chemical Bank branch in Milan.

Protest
Three days of anti-government riots in Iran concluded with dozens reported killed.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 3 @ Boston 6 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Don Marcotte, Peter McNab, and Jean Ratelle scored for the Bruins in the 3rd period as they eliminated the Flyers at Boston Garden in the last game for Fred Shero as the Flyers' head coach after seven years; he became head coach of the New York Rangers for the 1978-79 season.

25 years ago
1983

Protest
The copperworkers’ union and five other unions called for a day of protest against the government of Chile, the first such action since the junta headed by Gen. Augusto Pinochet seized power in 1973. The copperworkers’ union stopped short of calling for a general strike when the government showed military force, but the demonstrations, directed primarily at the high cost of living, appeared to be widespread. Tear gas and water cannons were used to disperse crowds in Santiago; police shot and killed 2, and arrested 350.

Politics and government
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, in a letter to the House of Representatives, said that he would seek new approaches to arms talks with the Soviet Union and that he would bring the United States negotiating position in line with the recommendations of the Scowcroft commission. In immediate response, the House committee voted to release funds for research and development of the MX missile.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Maybe We're About to Fall in Love--Tommy Nilsson (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Kim Philby, 76. U.K. traitor. Mr. Philby, a British spy, was one of the Cambridge Five, Communists who provided information to the Soviet Union while masquerading as British patriots. The Soviet blockade of West Berlin in 1948 may have been the result of information obtained from Mr. Philby about the limited stockpile of nuclear weapons held by the United States. Mr. Philby alerted two other Cambridge Five members, Guy Burgess and Donald MacLean, that they were under suspicion, thus allowing them to escape to the U.S.S.R. in 1951. Mr. Philby was frequently under suspicion as the "third man," but was successful in covering his tracks until late 1962, when, at a party in Tel Aviv, a woman named Flora Solomon commented that he was loyal to the Soviets. In January 1963 Mr. Philby defected to the Soviet Union. His remaining years were spent in drunkenness and fornication.

Diplomacy
In Geneva, Switzerland, U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze began two days of talks aimed at resolving some remaining questions on a treaty between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. on intermediate-range nuclear forces.

Politics and government
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, speaking at a Republican Party fund-raising dinner, endorsed Vice-President George Bush as his successor.

Labour
The Polish parliament approved emergency measures that strengthened the government’s hand in economic matters. The legislation would allow strikes, but only by members of government-supervised unions.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference
Division Finals
Detroit 4 @ Edmonton 8 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Atlanta 101 @ Boston 110 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

10 years ago
1998

Defense
The Indian government announced that it had carried out a series of underground nuclear tests; it was the first time India has carried out such tests since 1974. The experiments took place without any warning, and there was widespread outrage and concern over the move. The test site, in Pokhran in the northern desert state of Rajasthan, was only about 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the border with Pakistan. The two countries had fought three wars since independence with Britain in 1947, mainly over the disputed territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and there were fears the tests could escalate the conflict and spark a regional nuclear arms race. There was immediate condemnation of the tests from Pakistan.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Washington 3 @ Ottawa 4 (Washington led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Western Conference
Semi-Finals
Dallas 1 @ Edmonton 0 (OT) (Dallas led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Benoit Hogue scored at 13:07 of the 1st overtime period as the Stars edged the Oilers at Edmonton Coliseum.

Baseball
Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs set the major league record for strikeouts in consecutive games (33) by fanning 13 Arizona Diamondbacks in a 4-2 victory before 47,129 fans at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. He also batted 2 for 3 with 2 runs batted in. The record for strikeouts in two consecutive starts had been 32, set by Luis Tiant in 1968 and matched by Nolan Ryan (1974), Dwight Gooden (1984) and Randy Johnson (1997).

Tony Gwynn singled with 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 8th inning, advanced to second on a base on balls to Greg Vaughn, and scored on a single by Wally Joyner to break a 1-1 tie as the San Diego Padres edged the New York Mets 2-1 before 15,291 fans at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Kevin Brown allowed 4 hits and 1 earned run in 8 innings to get the win over Al Leiter, who allowed 5 hits and 2 earned runs in pitching a complete game.