August 5, 2008

940 years ago
1068

War
Italo-Norman forces began a nearly-three-year siege of Bari, Italy.

730 years ago
1278

War
King Alfonso X of Castile was forced to abandon the Siege of Algeciras, the first of many on the city during the Spanish Reconquista.

620 years ago
1388

War
Scottish forces commanded by James, 2nd Earl of Douglas won a decisive victory over English foces commanded by Henry "Hotspur" Percy in the Battle of Otterburn in Northumberland, England.

150 years ago
1858

Communications
Frederick Gisbourne completed laying Cyrus Field's first transatlantic telegraph cable from Ireland to Newfoundland, a job which had begun on July 7, 1858. The service ended on September 1, 1858 because the current is too weak, and the line was later relayed using a thicker and better shielded cable.

Adventure
Julia Archibald Holmes became the first woman on record to reach the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado.

120 years ago
1888

Died on this date
Philip Sheridan, 57. U.S. military officer. General Sheridan claimed to have been born in Albany, New York, but he may have been born on a ship carrying his parents from Ireland. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1853, and served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, rising rapidly to the rank of major general and being closely associated with General U.S. Grant. Gen. Sheridan's forces defeated Confederate foces in the Battle of Shenandoah Valley in 1864, and were instrumental in forcing the surrender of General Robert E. Lee in 1865. Gen. Sheridan fought in the Indian Wars on the Great Plains in later years, and was instrumental in the protection of Yellowstone National Park. He died of heart failure.

Anna Haining Bates, 41. Canadian giantess. Mrs. Bates, born Anna Haining Swan in rural Nova Scotia, was 7' 5 1/2" at her tallest and usually weighed around 350 pounds. She married an even taller giant, an American named Martin Van Buren Bates, and the couple lived happily in Seville, Ohio until her death from tuberculosis the day before her 42nd birthday.

Adventure
Bertha Benz drove from Mannheim to Pforzheim and back in the first long distance automobile trip, commemorated as the Bertha Benz Memorial Route since 2008.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Mrs. Frank Melius. U.S. socialite. Mrs. Melius, a society woman from Los Angeles, was beaten to death in her home. Pat Kelley, a butcher boy who loved her, was convicted of her murder on September 15.

Disasters
An eruption of the volcano Rokatinda had destroyed six villages and killed 1,200 people on the island of Paloeweh in the Dutch East Indies.

Olympics
The Canadian team of Bobbie Rosenfeld, Ethel Smith, Myrtle Cook, and Jane Bell won the gold medal in the women's 4 x 100-metre relay run at the Summer Olympic Games in Amsterdam.

60 years ago
1948

War
In an invitation submitted through United Nations mediator Folke Bernadotte, Israel urged the Arab League to begin direct negotiations for a Palestine settlement. Mr. Bernadotte urged the UN Security Council to work for the return of Arab refugees to their former homes in Israeli territory, despite Israeli objections.

Politics and government
Former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities and denied under oath that he had ever known Time editor Whittaker Chambers or belonged to the Communist Party. U.S. President Harry Truman denounced the congressional hearings on alleged Communist connections of high government officials, calling the charges a "red herring" that allowed Republican Party leaders to ignore pressing legislative matters. He ordered all executive departments to refrain from providing congressional committees with "information of any sort relating to[a federal] employee's loyalty or other aspects of the individual's record."

U.S. Representative Estes Kefauver and former Governor Gordon Browning won the Democratic Party U.S. Senatorial and state gubernatorial nominations, respectively, in Tennessee, defeating candidates supported by the powerful machine of former Representative and Memphis Mayor E.H. "Boss" Crump.

Delegates to the Communist Party USA's national convention in New York unanimously rejected former chairman Earl Browder's application for readmission to the party.

Economics and finance
U.S., U.K., and French authorities in Germany agreed to formulate common export-import policies for their zones and maximize West German trade with France.

Business
Ford Motor Company announced a 5% average price increase on new models, its third incrase in the past year.

Labour
The New York State Federation of Labor amended its constitution to bar Communists from office, re-elected Thomas Murray as president, and named Thomas Young as its first Negro vice president.

50 years ago
1958

Died on this date
Frances McDougall, 45 (?). Canadian accident victim. Mrs. McDougall died of asphyxiation in a fire at her home in Edmonton, a few feet away from a telephone. A preliminary investigation indicated that the fire may have been started by a cigarette butt in the basement.

War
The Turkish Cypriot underground accepted the Greek Cypriot truce offer.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. accepted the proposal of U.S.S.R. Premier Nikita Khrushchev for an extraordinary session of the United Nations General Assembly "to discuss the question of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Lebanon and British troops from Jordan."

Politics and government
The Ceylonese Parliament approved a bill granting official status to the minority Tamil language.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
British Columbia (2-1) 34 @ Montreal (1-1) 22

George Herring completed touchdown passes of 54 yards to Paul Cameron and 85 yards to Sonny Homer in the 4th quarter to lead the Lions over the Alouettes before 21,343 fans at Molson Stadium.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): C C C--The Tigers (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Delilah--Tom Jones (9th week at #1)

Died on this date
Luther Perkins, 40. U.S. musician. Mr. Perkins was a guitarist with the Tennessee Three, who backed up Johnny Cash and provided the sound that characterized Mr. Cash's style. Mr. Perkins died two days after being caught in a fire in his home after falling asleep with a lit cigarette in his hand.

War
New peace talks began in Addis Ababa between representatives of Nigeria and the secessionist region of Biafra.

Defense
The day after being recalled as President of Republic of Congo--Brazzaville, Alphonse Massamba-Debat appointed paratroop commander Captain Marien Ngouabi as Army commander. Capt. Ngouabi had reportedly led a coup that deposed President Massamba-Debat on August 3.

Politics and government
The U.S. Republican National Convention opened at Miami Beach Convention Center.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Tu--Umberto Tozzi (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Tu--Umberto Tozzi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (8th week at #1)

Rhodesia's Top 10 (Lyons Maid)
1 Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (6th week at #1)
2 I Can't Stand the Rain--Eruption
3 Take a Chance on Me--ABBA
4 If You Can't Give Me Love--Suzie
5 Make Love to Me--Kelly Marie
6 You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
7 Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees
8 Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue--Crystal Gayle
9 Too Much, Too Little, Too Late--Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
10 Sweet, Sweet Smile--Carpenters

Singles entering the chart were Silver Lady by Lionel Peterson (#19); and Baby Come Back by Player (#20).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Miss You--The Rolling Stones

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (6th week at #1)
2 Windsurfin'--The Surfers
3 Too Much, Too Little, Too Late--Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
4 Let's All Chant--Michael Zager Band
5 Oh Darling--Theo Diepenbrock
6 Miss You--The Rolling Stones
7 Copacabana (At the Copa)--Barry Manilow
8 Last Dance--Donna Summer
9 I've Had Enough/Deliver Your Children--Wings
10 Arabian Affair--The Abdul Hassan Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were One for You One for Me by La Bionda (#22); You Know I Love You (Tu Sais Je T'aime) by Shake (#29); Dancing in the City by Marshall, Hain (#29); Ik Heb M'n Wagen Volgeladen by Henk Wijngaard (#31); and Stuff Like That by Quincy Jones (#33).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Miss You--The Rolling Stones (2nd week at #1)
2 Grease--Frankie Valli
3 Three Times a Lady--Commodores
4 Last Dance--Donna Summer
5 Shadow Dancing--Andy Gibb
6 Baker Street--Gerry Rafferty
7 Love Will Find a Way--Pablo Cruise
8 Life's Been Good--Joe Walsh
9 Use Ta Be My Girl--The O'Jays
10 Still the Same--Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

Singles entering the chart were Summer Nights by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (#51); If You Wanna Do a Dance by the Spinners (#83); You by the McCrarys (#85); She's Always a Woman by Billy Joel (#88); and Rumor at the Honky Tonk by Spellbound (#90). Summer Nights was from the movie Grease (1978).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Baker Street--Gerry Rafferty (4th week at #1)
2 Miss You--The Rolling Stones
3 Shadow Dancing--Andy Gibb
4 Still the Same--Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
5 Grease--Frankie Valli
6 Bluer than Blue--Michael Johnson
7 Last Dance--Donna Summer
8 Three Times a Lady--Commodores
9 Runaway--Jefferson Starship
10 Copacabana (At the Copa)--Barry Manilow

Singles entering the chart were Talking in Your Sleep by Crystal Gayle (#92); Reminiscing by Little River Band (#93); Think it Over by Cheryl Ladd (#97); A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy by the Kinks (#98); 5.7.0.5 by City Boy (#99); and Ready or Not by Helen Reddy (#100).

Died on this date
Jesse Haines, 85. U.S. baseball pitcher. "Pop" Haines played with the Cincinnati Reds (1918) and St. Louis Cardinals (1920-1937), compiling a record of 210-158 with an earned run average of 3.64 in 555 games, and batting .186 with 3 home runs and 79 runs batted in in 560 games, with all but his first game being played with the Cardinals. He had three seasons of 20 or more wins, and helped the Cardinals win World Series championships in 1926, 1931, and 1934. Mr. Haines was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970; his election to the Hall by the Veterans Committee remains controversial. He died two weeks after his 85th birthday.

Dutch Clark, 71. U.S. football player and coach. Earl Harry Clark was a quarterback at Colorado College (1926-1929), and was named a first team All-American in 1928. He played with the Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions (1931-1932, 1934-1938), leading the Lions to their first National Football League championship in 1935, and winning first team All-Pro honours in each of his first 6 seasons. He was the head coach of the Colorado School of Mines (1933); Detroit Lions (1939); Cleveland Rams (1939-1942); Seattle Bombers (1944); and University of Detroit (1951-1953). Mr. Clark was named by Associated Press in 1940 as the best football player of the 1930s; he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 and was part of the charter class of the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1963. Mr. Clark died of cancer.

War
A week-long truce in Beirut ended when fighting renewed between Lebanese Christians and Syrian troops.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Codo--DÖF

At the movies
The Star Chamber, directed by Peter Yates, and starring Michael Douglas, Hal Holbrook, Yaphet Kotto, and Sharon Gless, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Judy Canova, 69. U.S. comedienne and actress. Miss Canova, who often played hillbillies, hosted The Judy Canova Show on CBS, and later, NBC, from 1943-1955.

World events
The government of Upper Volta was overthrown and replaced by a former Premier apparently sympathetic to Libya.

Terrorism
22 members of the Irish Republican Army were sentenced to a total of more than 4,000 years in prison after one of Northern Ireland's biggest mass trials. Four of the terrorists were given life sentences.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had declined sharply from 9.8% to 9.3% in July.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (1-4) 21 @ Edmonton (3-1) 36

Saskatchewan slotback Chris DeFrance amassed 260 yards receiving, including an 88-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Joe Adams in which Mr. DeFrance's helmet was ripped off his head, but it wasn't enough as the Eskimos defeated the Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium. Edmonton quarterback Warren Moon threw 2 touchdown passes to Waddell Smith and another to Brian Kelly, and Angelo Santucci rushed 15 yards for another touchdown. Edmonton kicker Dave Cutler passed the 2,000-point mark for his career, and a field goal in the 4th quarter put him past George Blanda, whose combined total in the National and American Football Leagues was 2,002 points. Tom Krebs played his first game at centre for the Eskimos, several days after being obtained from the Calgary Stampeders in a trade for centre Ted Milian and defensive lineman Harry Doering.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Im Nin'Alu--Ofra Haza (8th week at #1)

War
United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar said that he planned to send 250 military observers to monitor the anticipated truce between Iran and Iraq.

Diplomacy
Three days of talks in Geneva among parties involved in hostilities in Angola and Namibia, mediated by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Chester Crocker, ended.

Politics and government
U.S. Treasury Secretary James Baker resigned in order to manage the presidential campaign of Vice-President and presumptive Republican party U.S. presidential candidate George Bush.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the unemployment rate had risen to 5.4% in June.

Football
CFL
Calgary (1-3) 38 @ Hamilton (2-2) 14

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Todor Zhivkov, 86. First (later General) Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party, 1954-1989; Chairman of the State Council of Bulgaria, 1971-1989; Prime Minister of Bulgaria, 1962-1971. Mr. Zhivkov was the longest-serving leader of any Eastern Bloc nation after World War II, and one of the longest ruling non-royal leaders in modern history. He submitted to the will of the Soviet Union, while expanding ties to the West. Mr. Zhivkov was forced to resign on November 10, 1989, at the same time that the Berlin Wall fell and Eastern Bloc Communist governments began crumbling amid widespread public protests.