July 30, 2008

290 years ago
1718

Died on this date
William Penn, 73. English colonizer. Mr. Penn, the son of admiral and politician Sir William Penn, converted to Quakerism as a young man and founded the Province of Pennsylvania, which received its royal charter in 1681, as a Quaker colony. He devised a legal and political framework for Pennsylvania that emphasized individual liberties and limited government, which helped to inspire the United States Constitution a century later. Mr. Penn also planned and developed the city of Philadelphia. He returned to England in 1684 and spent the rest of his life there, except for a return to Pennsylvania from 1699-1701. Mr. Penn suffered severe financial problems in his later years, and died penniless.

170 years ago
1838

Died on this date
James Morreau. Canadian rebel. Mr. Morreau was hanged at Niagara, Upper Canada for his part in the Short Hills Raid by Hunter's Lodge Patriots on the Niagara Peninsula from June 21-23, 1838.

110 years ago
1898

Died on this date
Otto von Bismarck, 83. 1st Chancellor of the German Empire, 1871-1890. Mr. Bismarck, a native of Prussia, was Chancellor of the North German Confederation from 1867-1871, and was largely responsible for uniting the German states into a German Empire. When Kaiser Wilhelm II succeeded his father Friedrich III on the throne in 1888, he expressed a desire for a more aggressive foreign policy than that preferred by Mr. Bismarck. Mr. Bismarck resigned under pressure from the Kaiser on March 18, 1890.

100 years ago
1908

Died on this date
James Budd, 57. U.S. politician. Mr. Budd, a Democrat, represented California's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1883-1885) and was Governor of California (1895-1899), winning the 1894 gubernatorial election by just 1,200 votes (0.4%) over Republican Party opponent Morris Estee. Mr. Budd created the state's Bureau of Highways and opposed railroad monopolies, but came up against a hostile Republican majority in the state legislature. He declined to run for re-election in 1898 because of failing health.

90 years ago
1918

Died on this date
Joyce Kilmer, 31. U.S. writer. Mr. Kilmer was a journalist, but was better known as a poet, with his most famous work being the poem Trees (1913). He was a sergeant with the U.S. Army's 69th Infantry Regiment in France in World War I, and was killed in the Second Battle of the Marne.

80 years ago
1928

Olympics
Percy Williams of Canada won the gold medal in the men's 200-metre sprint in the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, against the fastest field ever assembled.

60 years ago
1948

Diplomacy
The 10-nation Danube River Conference opened in Belgrade to discuss navigation rights on the international waterway.

Politics and government
Hungarian President Zoltan Tildy resigned, following the arrest of his son on charges of espionage and treason.

The British House of Commons passed the British Citizenship Act, conferring the status of British subjects on all Commonwealth citizens.

Confessed Communist spy Elizabeth Bentley testified before a U.S. Senate Expenditures subcommittee to receiving classified information during World War II from 40-50 government officials. Among those she named was William Remington, an important member of the Commerce Department's Office of International Trade.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. established a Greater Berlin Trading Corporation to handle the city's trade with the rest of Germany and foreign countries.

Trade union representatives from the U.S.A. and western Europe ended a two-day conference in Paris on the Marshall Plan by voting to establish a liaison office with the Organization for European Economic Cooperation and defend the Marshall Plan from Communist attack.

50 years ago
1958

War
Turkish and Syrian border forces clashed near Bab Elhawa.

Defense
The Swedish Parliament rejected a resolution barring Swedish acquisition or development of nuclear weapons.

Politics and government
Malaya's federal executive council approved the extension of emergency regulations for the suppression of Communist guerrillas.

Economics and finance
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Coordinating Committee eased restrictions on trade with Communist countries, permitting the sale of 100 major items previously barred.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Heavenly Club--Les Sauterelles

Labour
The United Steelworkers of America and 11 major steel producers reached agreement on a three-year contract providing a package wage increase of about 6%. The package covered about 400,000 workers and was valued at about 90c per hour per worker.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (1-0) 18 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 16
Saskatchewan (1-0) 25 @ Calgary (0-1) 24

Winnipeg's Dave Raimey returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, but his Blue Bombers still lost to the Lions at Winnipeg Stadium.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Carleton Hobbs, 80. U.K. actor. Mr. Hobbs was best known for his performances on radio, especially for playing Sherlock Holmes in 80 BBC broadcasts from 1952-1969. This blogger regards Mr. Hobbs' performances as the best of all those who played Sherlock Holmes on radio.

War
Rhodesian troops began two days of raids on 10 Patriotic Front guerrilla bases in Mozambique in what was described as a pre-emptive strike to prevent the overthrow of the Rhodesian government of Prime Minister Ian Smith.

Golf
Rod Funseth won the Hartford Open with a total score of 264. First prize money was $42,000.

Baseball
Andre Dawson hit 2 home runs in the 3rd inning and Larry Parrish homered in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings as the Montreal Expos tied a team record for runs in a game and recorded the most lopsided win in their history, routing the Atlanta Braves 19-0 before 10,834 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Dave Cash, Tony Perez, and Chris Speier also homered. Messrs. Dawson, Parrish, and Gary Carter each had 4 hits as everyone in the starting lineup and 13 of the 14 men who played for the Expos had at least 1 hit, as the team amassed 28 hits. Woodie Fryman pitched a 7-hit shutout and hit a single and double, scoring a run and driving in a run.



The Houston Astros scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the New York Mets 3-2 before 17,502 fans at the Astrodome.

Jim Barr and Vida Blue were the respective winning pitchers as the San Francisco Giants swept a doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs 4-2 and 1-0 before 37,770 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Mr. Blue pitched a 6-hit shutout to win the pitchers' duel over Dave Roberts, improving his 1978 record to 15-4. Heity Cruz singled home Jack Clark with 1 out in the bottom of the 4th inning for the game's only run.

Pinch hitter Jim Spencer doubled home Graig Nettles with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning to break a 3-3 tie as the New York Yankees edged the Minnesota Twins 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 41,491 fans at Yankee Stadium. The Twins scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to win the second game 2-0, with Dave Goltz allowing 5 hits in 8+ innings to win the pitchers' duel over Jim Beattie.

Paul Splittorff allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 7 2/3 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Bill Lee as the Kansas City Royals edged the Boston Red Sox 2-1 before 34,626 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The Red Sox had runners on second and third bases with 2 out in the 9th, but Al Hraboksy struck out George Scott to end the game.

The Oakland Athletics scored 2 runs with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 before 10,272 fans at Cleveland Stadium.

Lamar Johnson singled home 2 runs and another scored on error on the same play with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning as the Chicago White Sox rallied to defeat the Texas Rangers 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 25,704 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Rangers had runners on first and third bases with 1 out in the top of the 9th, but John Lowenstein was caught stealing and put out in a rundown between third base and home plate for the second out, and Juan Beniquez grounded out to second base to end the game. Ralph Garr hit a single, double, and triple to help the White Sox win the second game 4-2 to complete the sweep. Henry Cruz played the 9th inning of the first game in left field, without a fielding chance, in the 171st and last game of his 4-year major league career.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: L'Italiano--Toto Cutugno (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'--Michael Jackson

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Wrapped Around Your Finger--The Police

#1 single in the U.K.: Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)--Paul Young (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Every Breath You Take--The Police (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Every Breath You Take--The Police (3rd week at #1)
2 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
3 Never Gonna Let You Go--Sergio Mendes
4 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara
5 Our House--Madness
6 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'--Michael Jackson
7 She Works Hard for the Money--Donna Summer
8 Too Shy--Kajagoogoo
9 Is There Something I Should Know--Duran Duran
10 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)--Eurythmics

Singles entering the chart were Tell Her About It by Billy Joel (#47); Don't Cry by Asia (#52); Making Love Out of Nothing at All by Air Supply (#71); Far from Over by Frank Stallone (#72); Lady Love (One More Time) by George Benson (#78); You're Driving Me Out of My Mind by Little River Band (#82); I Love Rocky Road by "Weird Al" Yankovic (#88); and True by Spandau Ballet (#90). I Love Rocky Road was a spoof of the 1982 hit I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Every Breath You Take--The Police
3 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara
4 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
5 White Wedding--Billy Idol
6 Come Dancing--The Kinks
7 Is There Something I Should Know--Duran Duran
8 Puttin' on the Ritz--Taco
9 Hot Girls in Love--Loverboy
10 China Girl--David Bowie

Singles entering the chart were (She's) Sexy and 17 by the Stray Cats (#42); Don't Cry by Asia (#46); and Rise Up by Parachute Club (#49).

Died on this date
Lynn Fontanne, 96. U.K.-born U.S. actress. Miss Fontanne starred with her husband Alfred Lunt on Broadway in such plays as The Guardsman (1924); Arms and the Man (1925); Pygmalion (1926); Strange Interlude (1928); Design for Living (1933); The Taming of the Shrew (1935); Idiot's Delight (1936); There Shall Be No Night (1940); and The Visit (1958). The couple were given a special Tony Award in 1970.

Howard Dietz, 86. U.S. publicist and songwriter. Mr. Dietz was Vice President in Charge of Publicity at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios from 1942-1957, but his association with the company went back further. He has been credited with creating Leo the Lion as the studio's mascot and Ars Gratia Artis as its slogan. Mr. Dietz and Arthur Schwartz were a songwriting team, with Mr. Dietz writing lyrics for more than a dozen Broadway musicals, including The Band Wagon (1931), with songs such as Dancing in the Dark and died after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Diplomacy
Foreign ministers from nine Latin American countries ended a meeting without agreeing on measures to avert war.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (2-1) 34 @ Hamilton (1-3) 20

Sammy Greene's 113-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the big play for the Lions as they defeated the Tiger-Cats at Ivor Wynne Stadium. B.C. kicker Lui Passaglia missed a convert--his first such miss in his 8-year CFL career.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Tell Me--Nick Kamen (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Fast Car--Tracy Chapman (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Push It--Salt-n-Pepa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Nuit de folie--Début de Soirée (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Roll With It--Steve Winwood

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Pour Some Sugar on Me--Def Leppard (2nd week at #1)
2 Roll With It--Steve Winwood
3 Hold on to the Nights--Richard Marx
4 The Flame--Cheap Trick
5 Hands to Heaven--Breathe
6 Sign Your Name--Terence Trent D'Arby
7 Make Me Lose Control--Eric Carmen
8 New Sensation--INXS
9 1-2-3--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
10 Rush Hour--Jane Wiedlin

Singles entering the chart were Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin (#79); Fallen Angel by Poison (#80); Always There for You by Stryper (#84); I Feel Free by Belinda Carlisle (#85); Don't Be Cruel by Cheap Trick (#87); Skin Deep by Cher (#88); The Dead Heart by Midnight Oil (#89); and Nice 'n' Slow by Freddie Jackson (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 The Flame--Cheap Trick
2 Roll With It--Steve Winwood
3 New Sensation--INXS
4 In Your Soul--Corey Hart
5 Foolish Beat--Debbie Gibson
6 Make it Real--The Jets
7 Lost in You--Rod Stewart
8 Make Me Lose Control--Eric Carmen
9 I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That--Elton John
10 One More Try--George Michael

Singles entering the chart were Missed Opportunity by Daryl Hall John Oates (#72); Here with Me by REO Speedwagon (#75); A Woman Loves a Man by Joe Cocker (#81); The Dead Heart by Midnight Oil (#86); If You Go This Time by Platinum Blonde (#88); Walk, Don't Run by Malcolm Buie (#91); When it's Love by Van Halen (#94); The Twist (Yo, Twist!) by the Fat Boys with Stupid Def Vocals by Chubby Checker (#96); and Sweet Child o' Mine by Guns 'N' Roses (#98).

Cycling
Ronald Dossenbach left Vancouver to start a cross-Canada ride to Halifax; he completed it in a record 13 days, 15 hours, 4 minutes.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (2-1) 45 @ Calgary (0-3) 20

Rick Worman played the entire game at quarterback for the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium, while Rick Johnson spent the entire game on the sidelines, and was cut from the team before their next game.

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Buffalo Bob Smith, 80. U.S. television host. Mr. Smith, born Robert Schmidt, was a popular radio personality in his native Buffalo, New York before joining the National Broadcasting Company, where he hosted the children's show Howdy Doody from 1947-1960; he hosted a syndicated revival of the program from 1976-1977. Mr. Smith died of cancer.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-3) 8 @ Hamilton (4-1) 26
Toronto (2-3) 15 @ Calgary (3-2) 14



Winnipeg (0-5) 13 @ British Columbia (2-3) 20