August 21, 2008

425 years ago
1583

Disasters
The Delight, with 85 persons aboard, foundered on the banks of Sable Island; it was the first Canadian shipwreck on record.

230 years ago
1778

War
British forces began besieging the French outpost at Pondicherry.

200 years ago
1808

War
British and Portuguese forces led by General Arthur Wellesley defeated French force under Major-General Jean-Andoche Junot in the Battle of Vimeiro, Portugal, the first Anglo-Portuguese victory of the Peninsular War.

150 years ago
1858

Politics and government
The first of seven debates between U.S. Senate candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas took place in Ottawa, Illinois.

130 years ago
1878

Law
The American Bar Association was founded in Saratoga, New York.

125 years ago
1883

Disasters
An F5 tornado struck Rochester, Minnesota, leading to the creation of the Mayo Clinic.

120 years ago
1888

Died on this date
James Farnell, 63. Australian politician. Mr. Farnell had a career in state politics in New South Wales spanning almost 30 years, and was Premier from 1877-1878.

Technology
The first successful adding machine in the United States was patented by William Seward Burroughs.

110 years ago
1898

Baseball
Walter Thornton pitched a no-hitter for the Chicago Orphans as they shut out the Brooklyn Bridegrooms 2-0 in Chicago.

90 years ago
1918

War
The Second Battle of the Somme began in France.

80 years ago
1928

Politics and government
Conservative Party leader Simon Fraser Tolmie took office as Premier of British Columbia, replacing John MacLean. The Conservatives had swept Mr. MacLean's Liberal Party out of office in the recent provincial election.

Herbert Hoover resigned as U.S. Commerce Secretary in order to commence his campaign as Republican Party candidate for President of the United States. President Calvin Coolidge immediately appointed William Whiting, a papermaker from Holyoke, Massachusetts to succeed Mr. Hoover. Mr. Whiting was sworn into office in the President's office at Central High School in Superior, Wisconsin, where Mr. Coolidge happened to be at the time.

60 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): You Call Everybody Darlin'--Al Trace and the Revelers (2nd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 My Happiness--The Pied Pipers
--Jon and Sondra Steele
--Ella Fitzgerald
2 Woody Wood-Pecker--The Sportsmen and Mel Blanc
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
--Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters
3 You Can't Be True, Dear--Ken Griffin
--Dick Haymes with the Song Spinners
--The Sportsmen
4 You Call Everybody Darlin'--Al Trace and the Revelers
--Anne Vincent
--Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters
5 Twelfth Street Rag--Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra
6 A Tree in the Meadow--Margaret Whiting
7 It's Magic--Doris Day
--Dick Haymes and Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Tony Martin
--Gordon MacRae
8 Love Somebody--Doris Day and Buddy Clark
9 Confess--Doris Day and Buddy Clark
--Patti Page
10 Cool Water--Vaughn Monroe and the Sons Of The Pioneers

Singles entering the chart were the version of You Call Everybody Darlin' by Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters and You Came a Long Way (From St. Louis) by Ray McKinley and Some Of The Boys (#18).

Space
Astronomers William Luyten of the University of Minnesota and David MacLeish of Argentina's Cordoba Observatory announced the discovery of nine new white dwarf stars, bringing the number found to 100.

War
Mildred Gillars, the American woman known as "Axis Sally," arrived in Washington to face trial for treason for making radio propaganda broadcasts from Germany during World War II.

Diplomacy
Alfons Vogel, press attache of the Romanian mission in Washington, sought asylum in the United States and denounced his country's Communist government.

Defense
U.S. authorities in Berlin stationed 600 soldiers at the Potsdamer Platz, on the border between the American and Soviet sectors, to prevent further U.S.S.R. incursions into the U.S. sector.

General Carl Spaatz issued his final report before retiring as U.S. Air Force chief of staff, announcing plans to develop a supersonic guided missile capable of carrying an atomic warhead 5,000 miles.

Politics and government
Progressive Party U.S. presidential candidate Henry Wallace formally opened his campaign in Bridgeport, Connecticut with a speech accusing both major parties of responsibility for the nation's domestic and international problems. The Christian National Crusade nominated its leader, Gerald L.K. Smith, to run for President of the United States on a platform of racial segregation and curtailment of the immigration of Jews and non-whites.

Science
The Golden Jubilee Exposition opened in New York, with exhibits including a display of the transmutation of metals through atomic radiation.

Journalism
Ray Sprigle, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who spent a month disguised as a Negro in the southern United States, concluded a 12-day series of articles published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and other papers, reporting that southern Negroes wanted "as little contact with the white world as possible," but demanded the right to vote and equal economic and educational opportunity.

Football
IRFU-ORFU
Pre-season
Ottawa (1-0) 13 @ Hamilton (0-1) 7

WIFU-ORFU
Pre-season
Toronto (2-1) 7 @ Calgary (1-0) 16

WIFU
Saskatchewan (1-0) 17 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 6

Doug Smylie took a lateral from Howie Turner and rushed 1 yard for a touchdown in the 4th quarter to break a 7-7 tie as the Rough Riders beat the Tigers before 9,000 fans at Civic Stadium. Eric Chipper converted the TD and added 2 field goals. Garry Walsh rushed 1 yard for the Hamilton touchdown on the first play of the 4th quarter to tie the score 7-7, but Pat Santucci's convert attempt was blocked by Ace Powell. The game marked the introduction of unlimited substitution in Canadian football, a rule change for 1948.

Rod Pantages and Normie Hill scored touchdowns and Bill Wusyk added 2 converts and a field goal for the Stampeders as they beat the Beaches Indians at Mewata Stadium. Ernie Becker scored the Toronto touchdown.

Ken Charlton scored 2 touchdowns and 2 singles and Gabe Patterson added a field goal for the Roughriders as they defeated the Blue Bombers at Osborne Stadium. Bob Sandberg scored a touchdown and single for all the Winnipeg points.

50 years ago
1958

Politics and government
South African Justice Minister Charles Swart was appointed acting Prime Minister as a result of Prime Minister Johannes Strijdom's heart condition.

Greek Cypriot guerrillas rejected Britain's revised plans for limited Cypriot self-government.

Football
CFL
WIFU
Winnipeg (1-1) 13 @ Saskatchewan (2-1) 21

Ron Adam, replacing injured regular Frank Tripucka at quarterback, completed just 3 passes, but 2 of them went for touchdowns to Jack Hill and Mike Hagler to help the Roughriders upset the Blue Bombers at Taylor Field in Regina. Vic Marks scored the other Saskatchewan TD on a 3-yard fumble return, with Mr. Hill adding 3 converts. Leo Lewis scored the Winnipeg touchdown, with Gerry James adding 2 field goals, and Charlie Shepard punting for a single.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Mony Mony--Tommy James and the Shondells (3rd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 The Orange and the Green/(The Puppet Song) Whiskey on a Sunday--The Irish Rovers
2 Angel of the Morning--Merrilee Rush
3 MacArthur Park--Richard Harris
4 Indian Lake--The Cowsills
5 Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones
6 This Guy's in Love with You--Herb Alpert
7 Lady Willpower--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
8 Hush...Not a Word to Mary--John Rowles
9 Dream a Little Dream of Me--Mama Cass
10 Hurdy Gurdy Man--Donovan

Singles entering the chart were Do it Again by the Beach Boys (#23); Help Yourself by Tom Jones (#24); and Sealed with a Kiss by the Toys (#39).

War
Private First Class James Anderson, Jr. posthumously received the first Medal of Honor to be awarded to a Negro U.S. Marine. Pvt. Anderson, 20, died during combat on February 28, 1967, when he covered a grenade with his body to save his teammates.

World events
Nicolae Ceaușescu, leader of Romania's Communist government, publicly condemned the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, encouraging the Romanian population to arm itself against possible Soviet reprisals. Communist Party leaders in Italy and France said that they had tried to dissuade the U.S.S.R. from taking military action against Czechoslovakia.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Post Office announced the closing of the century-old Post Office Savings Bank in Ottawa.

Football
CFL
Toronto (2-1) 19 @ Calgary (3-2) 7

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Monster--Pink Lady (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): It's a Heartache--Bonnie Tyler (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Vamos a la playa--Righeira

Died on this date
Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., 50. Filipino politician. A Senator from 1967-1972, Mr. Aquino was the leader of the political opposition to Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos. Mr. Aquino had planned to run against Mr. Marcos in the 1973 presidential election, but the election never took place, and Mr. Aquino was later imprisoned and sentenced to death. Mr. Marcos commuted the sentence and allowed Mr. Aquino to go to the United States for heart surgery. He became a scholar there, but in June 1983 announced his intention to return to the Philippines to participate in elections scheduled for 1984. Upon landing at Manila International Airport, Mr. Aquino's plane was boarded by three armed guards, who escorted him off the plane and obscured the view as Mr. Aquino was shot to death.

Personal
This blogger won a $10 gift certificate from Happy Mart on Barry Boyd's Oldies But Goodies show on Edmonton radio station CFRN.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (3-4) 15 @ Calgary (4-2) 26

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Sweet Lovers--Holidaymakers (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: The Twist (Yo, Twist!)--The Fat Boys with Stupid Def Vocals by Chubby Checker (3rd week at #1)

Disasters
The 6.9 Mw Nepal earthquake shook the Nepal–India border with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), leaving 709–1,450 people killed and thousands injured.

10 years ago
1998

At the movies
Your Friends & Neighbors, written and directed by Neil LaBute, and starring Amy Brenneman, Aaron Eckhart, Catherine Keener, Nastassja Kinski, Jason Patric, and Ben Stiller, opened in theatres.

Football
CFL
Montreal (6-2) 13 @ Saskatchewan (2-6) 12
Winnipeg (0-8) 16 @ Edmonton (5-3) 25

Jimmy Kemp completed 18 of 29 passes for 278 yards and touchdowns of 1 yard to Myron Wise in the 1st quarter and 3 yards to Joseph Rogers in the 2nd quarter to help the Eskimos beat the Blue Bombers before 29,123 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Dwayne Provo returned an interception 49 yards in the 3rd quarter for the third Edmonton touchdown. Mr. Rogers' TD came on a spectacular diving catch near the back of the Winnipeg end zone, and Mr. Rogers suffered a season-ending injury later in the game.