June 8, 2008

1,790 years ago
218

War
With the support of the Syrian legions, Elagabalus defeated the forces of Roman emperor Macrinus in the Battle of Antioch. He fled, but was captured near Chalcedon and later executed in Cappadocia.

250 years ago
1758

War
After a week of fog lifted at dawn, General Jeffrey Amherst gave Gen. James Wolfe the order to attack Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. After a near disastrous landing, Gen. Wolfe led the light infantry, rangers, Fraser's Highlanders, and the grenadiers of the 1st, 15th, 17th, and 22nd regiments onto the shore west of the fortress, establishing a beachhead, driving 1,200 French defenders into the town. The British then proceeded to land artillery to train on the French stronghold, which surrendered seven weeks later, on July 27.

220 years ago
1788

Born on this date
Charles Wickliffe. U.S. politician. Mr. Wickliffe was a member of several parties during the course of his career. He represented Kentucky's 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1823-1833) and was a Whig when he was Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1836-1839), acting as Governor (1839-1840) following the death of Governor James Clark. Mr. Clark was U.S. Postmaster General in the administration of President John Tyler (1841-1845), and served as President James K. Polk's envoy to the Republic of Texas in 1845. As a Union Whig, Mr. Wickliffe represented Kentucky's 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1861-1863), opposing the state's secession from the United States. He was permanently crippled in a fall from a carriage near the end of his term, but still ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Kentucky as a Peace Democrat. Mr. Wickliffe became totally blind in later years, and died on October 31, 1869 at the age of 81.

110 years ago
1898

Politics and government
Malcolm Cameron took office in Regina as Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories; he dies three months later.

100 years ago
1908

Politics and government
The Conservative Party, led by Premier James Whitney, won a second consecutive majority in the Provincial Parliament in the Ontario provincial election, taking 86 of 106 seats, an increase of 17 from the most recent election in 1905. The Liberals, led by Alexander Grant Mackay, dropped from 28 seats to 19, while one Labour candidate was elected.

90 years ago
1918

Space
Nova Aquila, the brightest nova since Kepler's nova of 1604, was discovered.

A solar eclipse, viewable across the United States, was observed at Baker City, Oregon by scientists and an artist hired by the United States Navy.



90 years ago
1928

War
In the Second Northern Expedition, the National Revolutionary Army captured Peking, whose name was changed to Beijing ("Northern Capital").

70 years ago
1938

Politics and government
The Liberal Party, led by Premier William Patterson, won a second consecutive majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly in the Saskatchewan provincial election. The Liberals took 38 of 52 seats, a decrease of 12 from the most recent election in 1934. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, led by G.H. Williams, increased their total from 5 seats to 10. Social Credit, led by Joseph Needham, won 2 seats, as did the Unity Party. The Conservatives, led by future Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, were shut out.

60 years ago
1948

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

On television tonight
Texaco Star Theatre, on NBC

Milton Berle served as guest host for the first broadcast of the variety program, which had been on radio for 10 years; he became the permanent host two months later, increasing his popularity and the popularity of television.

Politics and government
U.S. Senatorial primaries in New Mexico resulted in victory for former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Clinton Anderson in the Democratic Party primary and former U.S. War Secretary Patrick Hurley in the Republican Party primary.

Economics and finance
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan General Douglas MacArthur approved a $60-million U.S. credit to finance Japanese purchases of raw cotton.

50 years ago
1958

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Safe Place, starring Robert H. Harris, Joanne Linville, and Phillip Pine

Died on this date
James M. Barnes, 59. U.S. politician. Mr. Barnes, a Democrat, represented Illinois' 20th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1939-1943. He was Administrative Assistant to U.S. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman from March 1, 1943-July 15, 1945.

War
Lebanese Air Force jets bombed and strafed a 500-man column carrying arms and munitions from Homs, Syria to Baalbeck, Lebanon.

World events
A U.S. helicopter with nine men aboard made a forced landing in East German territory and was seized by East German police after straying off course in a storm.

Disasters
The empty boat which had carried five Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers was discovered floating in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, a day after the cops had disappeared.

Golf
Sam Snead won the Dallas Open; first prize money was $3,500.

Mickey Wright won the LPGA tournament in Pittsburgh.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers

#1 single in France: My Year is a Day--Les Irrésistibles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La bambola--Patty Pravo (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Delilah--Tom Jones (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Young Girl--The Union Gap (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Young Girl--The Union Gap (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Mrs. Robinson--Simon and Garfunkel (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Lazy Sunday--Small Faces (3rd week at #1)
2 If I Only Had Time--John Rowles
3 La Felicidad/Pa Wil Niet in Bad (La Felicidad)/Felicidad, de Roddel Van de Stad--Digno Garcia
--Johnny & Rijk
--Eddie Becker
4 Summertime Blues--Blue Cheer
5 Il Est Cinq Heures, Paris S'éveille--Jacques Dutronc
6 A Man Without Love (Quando M'innamora)--Engelbert Humperdinck
7 I Can't Let Maggie Go--The Honeybus
8 Congratulations--Cliff Richard
9 Jumbo/The Singer Sang His Song--The Bee Gees
10 Young Girl--The Union Gap

Singles entering the chart were Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones (#15); Moest Dat Nou by the Martino's (#33); Helule Helule by the Tremeloes (#36); The Happy Song (Dum-Dum) by Otis Redding (#38); Blue Eyes by Don Partridge (#39); and Think by Aretha Franklin (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mrs. Robinson--Simon and Garfunkel (3rd week at #1)
2 Tighten Up--Archie Bell & the Drells
3 MacArthur Park--Richard Harris
4 Mony Mony--Tommy James and the Shondells
5 Yummy Yummy Yummy--Ohio Express
6 This Guy's in Love with You--Herb Alpert
7 A Beautiful Morning--The Rascals
8 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly--Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus
9 Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing--Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
10 Think--Aretha Franklin

Singles entering the chart were Some Things You Never Get Used To by Diana Ross and the Supremes (#57); Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones (#58); Lady Willpower by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (#61); Grazing in the Grass by Hugh Masakela (#74); Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash (#85); Competition Ain't Nothin' by Little Carl Carlton (#87); Baby You Come Rollin' Across My Mind by Peppermint Trolley Company (#88); The Eyes of a New York Woman by B.J. Thomas (#91); Let Me Be Lonely by Dionne Warwick (#93); Ain't Nothin' But a House Party by the Show Stoppers (#94); Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy by the Tams (#95); and 2 + 2 = ? by the Bob Seger System (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Master Jack--Four Jacks and a Jill (2nd week at #1)
2 Mrs. Robinson--Simon and Garfunkel
3 Tighten Up--Archie Bell & the Drells
4 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly--Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus
5 Delilah--Tom Jones
6 Mony Mony--Tommy James and the Shondells
7 My Girl/Hey Girl--Bobby Vee
8 Like to Get to Know You--Spanky & Our Gang
9 Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing--Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
10 A Beautiful Morning--The Rascals

Singles entering the chart were The Horse by Cliff Nobles & Co. (#86); Lady Willpower by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (#87); Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones (#88); Here Comes the Judge by the Magistrates (#89); Stoned Soul Picnic by the 5th Dimension (#90); Lover's Holiday by Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson (#91); Mountain of Love by Ronnie Dove (#93); Mechanical World by Spirit (#94); Randy by the Happenings (#95); Yester Love by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (#98); You're Good for Me by Lou Rawls (#99); and Funky Fever by Clarence Carter (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 This Guy's in Love with You--Herb Alpert (2nd week at #1)
2 Mrs. Robinson--Simon and Garfunkel
3 Master Jack--Four Jacks and a Jill
4 I Wanna Live--Glen Campbell
5 The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)--Otis Redding
6 MacArthur Park--Richard Harris
7 You Ain't Goin' Nowhere--The Byrds
8 If I were a Carpenter--Four Tops
9 Time for Livin'--The Association
10 Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Yummy Yummy Yummy by Ohio Express (#22); Choo Choo Train by the Box Tops (#25); Brooklyn Roads by Neil Diamond (#28); A Man Without Love (Quando M'innamoro) by Engelbert Humperdinck (#29); and Indian Lake by the Cowsills (#30).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Mrs. Robinson--Simon and Garfunkel
2 Mony Mony--Tommy James and the Shondells
3 Yummy Yummy Yummy--Ohio Express
4 Delilah--Tom Jones
5 Blue Bonnie Blue--49th Parallel
6 I Love You--People
7 My Girl/Hey Girl--Bobby Vee
8 Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)--Johnny Farnham
9 Sunshine of Your Love--Cream
10 Chain Around the Flowers--The Lewis and Clarke Expedition
Pick hit of the week: Jumpin' Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones

Died on this date
Elizabeth Enright, 60. U.S. authoress. Miss Enright wrote short stories for adults, but was perhaps best known for her novels for children, including Thimble Summer (1938) and Gone-Away Lake (1957). She was reported to have died in her sleep after a short illness, although some claimed that she committed suicide.

Crime
Authorities announced the capture in London of James Earl Ray, the suspected assassin of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who had been gunned down in Memphis on April 4.

Canadiana
The former residence of humourist Stephen Leacock at Brewery Bay, near Orillia, Ontario, was designated a national monument.

Horse racing
Stage Door Johnny, with Heliodoro Gustines up, won the 100th running of the Belmont Stakes in a time of 2:27 1/5, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Forward Pass, who was attempting to win the Triple Crown.

30 years ago
1978

On television tonight
James at 16, starring Lance Kerwin, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Rebel Without a Car

Space
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration began an attempt to re-orient Skylab, the space station that had been in Earth orbit since May 1973. Skylab's orbit had been deteriorating because of interference of the upper atmosphere and sunspot-related ultraviolet radiation. NASA officials feared that although the space station would disintegrate upon reentry, large chunks may land on populated areas if the deterioration of the orbit weren't checked, so they hoped to modify the orbit to give Skylab an additional 6-12 months, by which time a space shuttle might be ready to lift Skylab to a higher, more stable orbit or direct its descent so that it crashed into an uninhabited area of the South Pacific Ocean.

Adventure
U.K. yachtswoman Naomi James arrived in Dartmouth, England after almost nine months at sea, breaking the solo round-the-world sailing record by two days. In 272 days Ms. James covered 27,000 miles in 272 days.

Football
CFL
Calgary Stampeders intrasquad game
White 22 Red 17

This blogger was among those in attendance at McMahon Stadium to see Cyril McFall lead White with 6 field goals, the longest coming from 60 yards (the Canadian Football League record at the time was 59 yards).

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Only One Woman--Alien (3rd week at #1)

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Sani Abacha, 54. Head of state of Nigeria, 1993-1998. General Abacha Chief of Army Staff from 1985-1990 and Chief of Defence Staff from 1990-1993, seized power in a coup in November 1993, five months after previous military ruler Gen. Ibrahim Babangida had annulled the election of Moshood Abiola as President. Gen. Abacha was known for human rights abuses and corruption, and died of a reported heart attack at the presidential villa, although it has been reported that he was in the company of two prostitutes imported from Dubai who poisoned his drink. Mr. Abiola, who had been held in solitary confinement since 1994, died a month later on the day he was to be released.

Politics and government
The U.S. National Rifle Association elected actor Charlton Heston as its president.