August 16, 2008

170 years ago
1838

Politics and government
The British Parliament passed a bill of indemnity disavowing the policies of Canadian Governor General Lord Durham in suggesting assimilation of the French Canadians.

150 years ago
1858

Communications
Queen Victoria of the Unitd Kingdom sent U.S. President James Buchanan the first official Atlantic Cable dispatch, from Newfoundland to Britain via Valencia, Ireland; she expressed hope that it would prove "an additional link between the nations whose friendship is founded on their common interest and reciprocal esteem." Cyrus W. Field's cable was laid by USS Niagara and HMS Agamemnon, and landed on the second attempt at Trinity Bay, but the cable failed in September when the American engineer applied excessive voltage to achieve a faster operation. The next improved cable was completed at Hearts Content, Newfoundland on September 7, 1865 by the SS Great Eastern.

Economics and finance
The Assembly of the Province of Canada chartered a Bank of Canada, and abolished imprisonment for debt.

110 years ago
1898

Born on this date
J.I. Rodale. U.S. author and publisher. Jerome Irving Rodale, born Jerome Irving Cohen, co-founded the electrical equipment firm Rodale Manufacturing with his brother Joseph in 1923, and founded Rodale Press in 1930. J.I. Rodale was concerned with his health and became a health and food faddist, establishing an organic food farm, and publishing magazines such as Organic Farming and Gardening and Prevention. He was also a playwright, operating a couple of theatres to stage his works. At the age of 72, Mr. Rodale was a guest on The Dick Cavett Show on June 8, 1971; the show was taped early in the evening for broadcast several hours later. During his interview, Mr. Rodale boasted that he had never felt better in his life, and that he intended to live to be 100. After the interview, Mr. Cavett was interviewing journalist Pete Hamill, and Mr. Rodale, who was sitting further down the couch, slumped over dead; efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The program was never broadcast.

90 years ago
1918

War
The Czechoslovak Legion defeated Russian Red Army forces in the Battle of Lake Baikal in Siberia.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Carlo del Prete, 30. Italian aviator. Major del Prete and Captain Arturo Ferrarin flew from Italy to Brazil. Major del Prete died nine days after being injured in a plane crash in Rio de Janeiro, and 11 days before his 31st birthday.

Diplomacy
The United States signed arbitration and conciliation treaties in Washington with Poland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.

Africana
King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, in separate airplanes, ended a tour of the Belgian Congo.

Aviation
Bert Hassell and Parker Cramer, bound for Stockholm, flew their monoplane Greater Rockford from Rockford, Illinois to Cochrane, Ontario, covering 800 miles in 7 hours.

Transportation
In Bremen, German President Marshal Paul von Hindenburg named and launched the new trans-Atlantic liner Bremen. Like its sister ship Europa, which had been launched the day before, Bremen weighed 46,000 tons and was 938 feet long.

70 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Robert Johnson, 27. U.S. musician. Mr. Johnson was one of the major figures in American blues music. He's regarded as one of the greatest guitarists ever, influencing rock musicians such as Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. According to legend, Mr. Johnson made a deal with the Devil to acquire his skill. His songs included Cross Road Blues and Terraplane Blues. Among the many mysteries surrounding Mr. Johnson are accounts of his death, which reportedly resulted from drinking whiskey that had been poisoned.

60 years ago
1948

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

Died on this date
Harry Dexter White, 55. U.S. bureaucrat. Mr. White was Assistant Treasury Secretary during World War II and an official with the International Monetary Fund. Confessed Communist Elizabeth Bentley had recently testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities and mentioned Mr. White as one of those who had passed classified information to her. Mr. White appeared before the committee on August 13 and denied accusations of participating in a wartime Communist spy ring. He died of a heart attack, likely brought on by the strain of the accusations and hearings. The accusations turned out to be accurate.

Babe Ruth, 53. U.S. baseball player. George Herman Ruth began his major league career with the Boston Red Sox (1914-1919) as a pitcher before moving to the outfield, where he became the most famous player in baseball history, especially after joining the New York Yankees. He played with the Yankees from 1920-1934 and the Boston Braves in 1935, with more hitting records than can be mentioned here. Less well known are his pitching achievements, which included leading the American League in winning percentage (.750) in 1915; in shutouts (9) and earned run average (1.75) in 1916; and setting a record for consecutive scoreless innings in World Series competition that stood for 45 years. The Sultan of Swat died of cancer.

War
U.S. Attorney General Tom Clark asked the Army to arrest Iva Toguri D'Aquino in Tokyo or immediate transfer to San Francisco on charges of broadcasting Japanese propaganda during World War II.

Politics and government
Former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss appeared before a secret session of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities in Washington. He continued to deny any knowledge of Time editor Whittaker Chambers under that name, stating that he may have been briefly acquainted with Mr. Chambers as "George Crosley."

Economics and finance
U.S. President Harry Truman signed the Anti-Inflation Control Act, authorizing him to restrict bank credit and reimpose wartime consumer credit controls.

In an effort to stimulate trade, Poland made Gdynia a duty-free port for U.S., Czech, Romanian, and Yugoslavian shipping.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Purple People Eater--Sheb Wooley (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Sail Along Silvery Moon--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Hello, le soleil brille--Annie Cordy (23rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): All I Have to Do is Dream/Claudette--The Everly Brothers (8th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Patricia--Perez Prado and his Orchestra (4th week at #1)
2 Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare)--Domenico Modugno
--Dean Martin
3 Poor Little Fool--Ricky Nelson
4 Little Star--The Elegants
5 When--The Kalin Twins
6 Fever--Peggy Lee
7 Everybody Loves a Lover--Doris Day
8 Just a Dream--Jimmy Clanton and the Rockets
9 Splish Splash--Bobby Darin
10 Rebel Rouser--Duane Eddy and the Rebels

Singles entering the chart were the version of Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare) by Dean Martin; Lazy Summer Night by the Four Preps (#51); Chantilly Lace by the Big Bopper (#54); Gotta Have Rain, with versions by Eydie Gorme, and Max Bygraves (#59); It's All in the Game by Tommy Edwards (#62); Tears on My Pillow by Little Anthony and the Imperials (#64); As Long as I Have You by Don Rondo (#69); She was Only Seventeen (He was One Year More) by Marty Robbins (#71); and Never Again by Dinah Washington (#74). It's All in the Game was a new recording of a song that had been a hit for Mr. Edwards in 1951. As Long as I Have You was the other side of City Lights, charting at #75.

Died on this date
Wolcott Gibbs, 56. U.S. writer. Mr. Gibbs wrote fiction and non-fiction, and was with The New Yorker from 1927 until his death. He was best known for a parody of Time magazine in 1936. Mr. Gibbs was a drunkard and heavy smoker who died of a heart attack while reading proofs of his forthcoming book More in Sorrow.

Defense
Seadragon, the seventh U.S. atomic submarine, was launched in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire naval shipyard.

Politics and government
Cypriot Archbishop Makarios rejected the British plan for Cypriot self-government.

The French Ministry of Overseas Territories announced that the French Cameroons would receive internal autonomy as a step toward eventual independence.

Cam Kirby, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Red Deer, was elected on the fourth ballot as leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party at the party's leadership convention, attended by 400 delegates, at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton. Mr. Kirby became the Alberta PCs' first leader since the resignation of D.M. Duggan in 1937. Mr. Kirby defeated four other candidates, including Edmonton lawyer C.A. Lazerte and Calgary MLA Ernest Watkins.

Economics and finance
In identical notes to all Latin American nations and the U.S.A., Brazil proposed the establishment of an economic development program for Latin America.

Football
CFL
WIFU
Saskatchewan (1-0) 49 @ British Columbia (0-1) 33

Frank Tripucka completed touchdown passes to Ken Carpenter, Larry Isbell, and Jack Hill, while Cookie Gilchrist, playing his first game in a Saskatchewan uniform, rushed for 2 touchdowns to help the Roughriders defeat the Lions at Empire Stadium in Vancouver before 30,468 fans, the largest crowd yet to attend a regular season football game in Canada. Mike Hagler rushed for another Saskatchewan TD, and Bobby Marlow recovered a B.C. fumble for the other Roughrider touchdown. Mr. Hill converted all 7 Saskatchewan majors. By Bailey scored 3 touchdowns for the Lions, with Sonny Homer scoring another, and Bob Brady returning an interception 20 yards for the other B.C. TD. Ted Hunt added 3 converts.

NFL
Pre-season
College All-Star Game @ Soldier Field, Chicago
College All-Stars 35 Detroit 19

Jim Ninowski completed 2 touchdown passes--one of 84 yards--to Bobby Mitchell to lead the All-Stars to victory over the defending National Football League champion Lions. Chuck Howley returned an interception for the other All-Star TD, while Bobby Conrad added 3 converts and 4 field goals. Tobin Rote threw a 24-yard pass to Jim Doran for the first Detroit touchdown; Ralph Pfeifer rushed 1 yard for the other Detroit TD.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Yummy Yummy Yummy--Ohio Express

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Light My Fire--Jose Feliciano
2 Born to Be Wild--Steppenwolf
3 Never Going Back--The Lovin' Spoonful
4 Hello, I Love You--The Doors
5 Autumn of My Life--Bobby Goldsboro
6 Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)--The Moody Blues
7 People Got to Be Free--The Rascals
8 Alice Long (You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend)--Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
9 Classical Gas--Mason Williams
10 Don't Give Up--Petula Clark

Singles entering the chart were The House that Jack Built by Aretha Franklin (#28); Mrs. Bluebird by Eternity's Children (#29); and And Suddenly by Cherry People (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Sunshine of Your Love--Cream
2 Pictures of Matchstick Men--The Status Quo
3 You Keep Me Hangin' On--The Vanilla Fudge
4 Classical Gas--Mason Williams
5 Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)--The Moody Blues
6 Hurdy Gurdy Man--Donovan
7 Hello, I Love You--The Doors
8 Indian Lake--The Cowsills
9 Angel of the Morning--Merrilee Rush
10 Sky Pilot (Parts One and Two)--Eric Burdon and the Animals
New this week: Singles Game--Jay and the Techniques
Mission Impossible/Norwegian Wood--Allen England Orchestra
You Met Your Match--Stevie Wonder
Six Man Band--The Association

Space
The United States launched the weather satellite ESSA (Environmental Science Services Administration) 7 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Business
Air Canada acquired 40% of the stock of Air Jamaica.

Disasters
A factory making explosives for toy pistols blew up in Ibi, Spain, killing at least 21 people.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer, 90. Dutch diplomat and politician. Jhr. van Starkenborgh was Queen's Commissioner in Groningen (1925–33) and envoy to Brussels (1933–36). He served as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1936-1942. Jhr. van Starkenborgh surrendered to invading Japanese forces in February 1942; he declined the offer of special treatment under house arrest, and was interned in a prison camp with other residents until liberation in August 1945. Jhr. von Starkenburgh officially resigned as Governor-General in October 1945; he served as Dutch Ambassador to France (1945-48) and Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1950-1956).

Football
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats traded punter Ken Clark to the Toronto Argonauts for a player to be named later. Mr. Clark, who was averaging 47.1 yards per punt with 1 single in 5 games, had been suspended by the Tiger-Cats prior to the previous day's game against the Ottawa Rough Riders because of a contract dispute. He joined the Argonauts and played in time for their home game against the Edmonton Eskimos. Running back Neil Lumsden was soon sent to Hamilton to complete the deal.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders, fifth and last in the Western Football Conference with a record of 0-5, fired head coach Jim Eddy and replaced him with assistant coach Walt Posadowski. Mr. Eddy was in his second season as Saskatchewan's head coach, having led the Roughriders to an 8-8 record in 1977, fourth and out of the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.

CFL
Calgary (2-2-1) 29 @ Winnipeg (2-3) 21
Edmonton (4-1) 40 @ Toronto (3-2) 3

John Hufnagel starred at quarterback for the Stampeders as they beat the Blue Bombers for their first win at Winnipeg Stadium since November 1, 1970. It was the second and last game for rookie linebacker Anthony "Champ" Dickerson in a Calgary uniform, and he made an interception.



Tom Scott caught touchdown passes from both Tom Wilkinson and Warren Moon as the Eskimos routed the Argonauts at Exhibition Stadium. Jim Germany rushed for a touchdown, and Mr. Wilkinson completed a touchdown pass to George McGowan. For Mr. McGowan, it was the 43rd and last regular season touchdown of his 8-year Hall of Fame career.

20 years ago
1988

Politics and government
At the U.S. Republican National Convention at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, U.S. Vice President and presumptive 1988 presidential nominee George Bush announced that his vice presidential candidate would be U.S. Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana. A conservative platform was approved, and New Jersey Governor Tom Kean and former President Gerald Ford addressed the convention.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the U.S. deficit on merchandise trade had increased to $12.5 billion in June.

Disasters
A hurricane hit the St-Zotique region in Québec.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (3-3) 5 @ Toronto (5-1) 19



10 years ago
1998

Golf
Vijay Singh won the PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, Washington with a 9-under-par total of 271, 2 strokes ahead of Steve Stricker. First prize money was $540,000.

Auto racing
Jeff Gordon won his fourth straight NASCAR race, taking the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway near Ann Arbor.