September 25, 2008

140 years ago
1868

Disasters
The Russian frigate Alexander Nevsky was wrecked off the coast of Jutland, but the only fatalities were five sailors who had taken a lifeboat in an attempt to get help. Among the survivors was Grand Duke Alexei, son of Czar Aleksandr II.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
W.L. Cornelius. U.S. military aviator. Lieutenant Cornelius was killed in a mid-air collision of Army planes at San Diego.

Politics and government
A joint session of the Mexican Congress voted unanimously--with 277 votes cast--to elect Emilio Portas Gil, 37, as provisional President of the Mexican Republic, with his term to run from December 1, 1928-February 5, 1930. Extraordinary elections for a consitutional President were to be held at the end of November 1929, and the President then elected would serve for the balance of the full term of six years ending November 30, 1934.

Scandal
The trial of former Queens, New York Borough President Maurice Connolly and former borough engineer Frederick Seely began in Long Island City, New York. The two were charged with conspiracy to defraud New York City in the letting of contracts involving the expenditure of $29.5 million in public funds for sewer construction during the past few years.

75 years ago
1933

Died on this date
Ring Lardner, 48. U.S. writer. Mr. Lardner was a sportswriter based in Chicago whose book You Know Me Al (1916) is regarded as a classic example of humourous American fiction. He died of tuberculosis.

70 years ago
1938

On the radio
Mercury Theatre on the Air, starring Orson Welles
Tonight's episode: The Immortal Sherlock Holmes

This episode was adapted from William Gillette's play Sherlock Holmes (1899).

60 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Twelfth Street Rag--Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra (5th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 It's Magic--Doris Day (2nd week at #1)
--Dick Haymes and Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Tony Martin
--Gordon MacRae
2 My Happiness--The Pied Pipers
--Ella Fitzgerald
--Jon and Sondra Steele
3 A Tree in the Meadow--Margaret Whiting
4 You Call Everybody Darlin'--Al Trace and the Revelers
--Anne Vincent
--Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters
--The Andrews Sisters
5 Twelfth Street Rag--Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra
6 Underneath the Arches--Primo Scala’s Banjo and Accordian Orchestra with the Keynotes
--The Andrews Sisters
7 Love Somebody--Doris Day and Buddy Clark
8 Cool Water--Vaughn Monroe and the Sons of the Pioneers
9 Rambling Rose--Perry Como and the Satisfiers
10 Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue--Gordon MacRae and the Starlighters
--Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
--Jack Emerson

Singles entering the chart were Buttons and Bows by Dinah Shore and the Happy Valley Boys (#35); At the Flying "W" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters (#36); and This is the Moment, with versions by Jo Stafford; and Tony Martin and the Lyttle Sisters (#40). Buttons and Bows was the first recorded version of a song from the movie The Paleface (1948).

Died on this date
Stan Mauldin, 27. U.S. football player. Mr. Mauldin was a tackle at the University of Texas before serving in World War II. He joined the Chicago Cardinals in 1946, and helped them win the National Football League championship in 1947. Mr. Mauldin helped the Cardinals defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in the first game of the 1948 regular season, but after the game he complained of a headache and then collapsed. The heart specialist who attempted to revive Mr. Mauldin said that he died either of a hemorrhage at the base of the skull or a massive coronary attack. The Cardinals retired Mr. Mauldin's jersey #77.

Defense
U.S. Air Force Secretary Stuart Symington revealed at a New York convention of the Air Force Association that a U.S. military plane had flown "hundreds of miles faster than the speed of sound."

Politics and government
Pro-American Navy Minister and acting Foreign Minister Admiral Fidel Anadon resigned from the Argentine cabinet of President Juan Peron.

Economics and finance
U.S. and U.K. military governors in Germany proposed a halt to the dismantling of German factories for reparations in exchange for a reduction in Marshall Plan aid to Germany.

Italy and France agreed to abolish customs barriers at the start of 1950.

Football
IRFU
Toronto (3-2) 5 @ Ottawa (4-1) 12

WIFU
Saskatchewan (1-6) 12 @ Calgary (6-0) 13

ORFU
Windsor (0-3) 2 @ Sarnia (1-2) 6

Howie Turner completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Brian Lynch on a fake field goal late in the 3rd quarter and Bob Paffrath threw a 72-yard TD pass to Pete Karpuk in the 4th quarter to help the Rough Riders defeat the Argonauts before 17,000 fans at Lansdowne Park.

Woody Strode and Harry Hood scored touchdowns for the Stampeders, both converted by Fred Wilmot, and Keith Spaith's single proved to be the difference, as the Stampeders edged the Roughriders at Mewata Stadium. Mr. Pyne and Ken Charlton scored Saskatchewan TDs, both converted by Gabe Patterson.

Hank Galloway and Dutch Davie kicked field goals for the Imperials as they defeated the Rockets for their first win in two years. The Rockets appeared headed for a touchdown late in the game when Johnny Dengel passed to Bob Wylopek for a 40-yard gain, but Mr. Wylopek lateralled to Mike Geary at the Sarnia 7-yard line, and he fumbled, with Sarnia recovering.

ORFU-university
Exhibition
Toronto Beaches Indians 7 University of Toronto 7

Canadian university
Pre-season
Queen's (1-0) 33 @ McMaster (0-1) 1
Ottawa (0-1) 0 @ McGill (1-0) 37
Western Ontario (1-0) 35 Ontario Agricultural College (0-1) 3

50 years ago
1958

Died on this date
John B. Watson, 80. U.S. psychologist. Dr. Watson was the father of behaviourism, emphasizing behaviour rather than mental processes, teaching that behaviours are responses to certain stimuli, or a consequence of the individual's history, especially reward and punishment. Dr. Watson's best-known book was Psychological Care of Infant and Child (1928). His own results in child-rearing were less than successful: his daughter by his first wife attempted suicide, and both sons by his second wife attempted suicide, with one of them succeeding.

Shahed Ali Patwary, 59. Pakistani politician. Mr. Ali, deputy speaker of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly, died in Dacca, two days after being hit in the head by a piece of wood thrown at him by an opposition member during a disorderly assembly meeting.

Politics and government
Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid Karami pledged in his inaugural address to the Lebanese people that U.S. forces would be out of Lebanon by the end of October 1958.

Labour
A 17-day strike by 5,000 United Fruit Company workers at Guatemala's Tiquisate plantation ended when both parties agreed to extend their 1955 contract for another three years.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Help Yourself--Tom Jones (2nd week at #1)
2 Dream a Little Dream of Me--Mama Cass
3 Do it Again--The Beach Boys
4 MacArthur Park--Richard Harris
5 I've Gotta Get a Message to You/Kitty Can--The Bee Gees
6 Classical Gas--Mason Williams
7 Harper Valley P.T.A.--Jeannie C. Riley
8 Indian Lake--The Cowsills
9 The Orange and the Green/(The Puppet Song) Whiskey on a Sunday--The Irish Rovers
10 Abergavenny--Marty Wilde

Singles entering the chart were Harper Valley P.T.A. by Bobbi Martin (#29); Biplane Ever More/Liverpool Lou by the Irish Rovers (#31); and Light My Fire (EP) by Jose Feliciano (#37).

Died on this date
Hans F.K. Günther, 77. German eugenicist. Dr. Günther was a professor at the Universities of Jena (1930-1935) and Berlin (1935-1940) and Albert Ludwigs University (1940-1945). He advocated Nordic superiority in books such as Rassenkunde des deutschen Volkes (Racial Science of the German People) (1922) and Kleine Rassenkunde des deutschen Volkes (A Short Ethnology of the German People) (1928), which greatly influenced Adolf Hitler. Dr. Günther joined the Nazi Party in 1932, and was the only leading racial theorist to join the party before the Nazis took power in 1933. He served three years in internment camps after World War II, but was ruled to be not an instigator of Nazi crimes. Dr. Günther maintained his racial views until his death.

Cornell Woolrich, 64. U.S. author. Cornell George Hopley-Woolrich, who sometimes wrote under the names George Hopley and William Irish, was perhaps the premier author of noir fiction. Many of his short stories and novels have been adapted into radio and television programs, and movies such as Phantom Lady (1944) and Rear Window (1954). Mr. Woolrich died after years of declining health, which included diabetes and the amputation of a leg.

Energy
Québec Premier Daniel Johnson, Sr. flipped a switch to start electricity generation at Hydro Québec's Manicouagan-5 power dam at Manicouagan, Québec.

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 (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kimi no Hitomi wa 10,000 Volt--Takao Horiuchi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (5th week at #1)

Disasters
144 people were killed when a Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182, a Boeing 727 jetliner, collided in midair with a private Cessna 172 over San Diego. All 137 people aboard the two planes were killed, and 13 people on the ground were killed when struck by debris from the crash, making it the worst air disaster in American history. The 727 was banking for a landing turn into San Diego's Lindbergh Field when it was struck in the wing by the Cessna, which was apparently planning landing approaches.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I Like Chopin--Gazebo (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Leopold III, 81. King of the Belgians, 1934-1951. Leopold III succeeeded to the throne upon the death of his father Albert I. He was King during World War II, and led his troops when the Nazis attacked Belgium. King Leopold surrendered to the Nazis on May 27, 1940, a move which was heavily criticized by the Allies. Leopold spent most of the war as a prisoner of the German occupation before being deported to Germany in 1944 and to Austria in 1945. He and his family spent the next five years in exile in Switzerland, returning to Belgium in 1950 after a referendum favoured his return. He soon abdicated in favour of his son Baudoin.

War
The Lebanese and Syrian governments announced that they had agreed to a cease-fire, effective the following day.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher arrived in Canada for a three-day state visit.

U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger arrived in Beijing to help arrange an exchange of visits between leaders of the U.S.A. and China. Chinese Defense Minister Zhang Aiping asserted that China would not "attach ourselves to any big power or bloc of powers."

Crime
38 prisoners escaped from the Maze Prison in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and a guard was killed in the biggest prison break in British history.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (4-7) 25 @ Ottawa (4-6) 29
Edmonton (6-5) 30 @ British Columbia (8-3) 31

J.C. Watts completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Tyron Gray with 1:17 remaining to give the Rough Riders the win over the Tiger-Cats before 26,014 fans at Lansdowne Park. The touchdown came two plays after Mr. Watts completed a pass to Michael Collymore, who appeared to fumble as he hit the ground, with the ball recovered by a Hamilton defender. The play was ruled a complete pass with Mr. Collymore down by contact. Hamilton head coach Bud Riley chased referee Bud Ulrich across the field after the game, loudly expressing his displeasure. Mr. Watts also completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mariet Ford and handed off to Skip Walker for a 25-yard touchdown run, which was followed by Mr. Walker's run for a 2-point convert. Dieter Brock, who had been acquired four days earlier in a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Tom Clements, played his first game as a Tiger-Cat, rushing for a 1-yard touchdown and passing 12 yards to Ron Johnson for another TD. Gerald Bess returned an interception 32 yards for the other Hamilton touchdown as the Tiger-Cats scored 22 points in the 2nd quarter to take a 22-10 halftime lead.

Edmonton kicker Dave Cutler missed a 36-yard field goal on the last play of the game and it went for a single point, allowing the British Columbia Lions to escape with a win over the Eskimos before 52,430 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. The Lions took an early 17-0 lead, but the Eskimos gradually chipped away at the lead on touchdowns by Warren Moon and Neil Lumsden and 2 converts and 5 field goals by Mr. Cutler. The Lions scored both their TDs in the 1st quarter on a 9-yard pass from Roy Dewalt to John Pankratz and a 48-yard run on a reverse by receiver Sammy Greene. Lui Passaglia added 2 converts, 5 field goals, and 2 singles. Mr. Moon completed 24 of 46 passes for 363 yards, while Mr. Dewalt was 21 for 35 for 245 yards. Bryan Hall's play-by-play calling of the last few minutes, as he attempted to yell above the ear-splitting crowd noise, was one of the high points of his career as radio voice of the Eskimos, then on CJCA.



20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Cecilia--Times Two (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Hand in Hand--Koreana (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Billy Carter, 51. U.S. businessman. Mr. Carter was the younger brother of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States of America (1977-1981). Billy upheld the presidential tradition of the colourful or disreputable brother. During Jimmy Carter's presidency, Billy marketed Billy Beer, which soon went out of business. In the late 1970s Billy Carter registered as an agent of the Libyan government, which led to a U.S. Senate investigation. Billy Carter died of pancreatic cancer.

Politics and government
U.S. Vice President and Republican Party presidential candidate George Bush and Massachusetts Governor and Democratic Party presidential candidate Michael Dukakis engaged in a nationally-televised "debate" at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Mr. Dukakis accused Mr. Bush of questioning his patriotism, and said that Mr. Bush would "brand a woman a criminal" if she chose to have an abortion. Mr. Bush defended the sanctity of life.



Medicine
A surgical team in Toronto performed the first human sciatic nerve transplant, on a 9-year-old boy.

Olympics
Matt Biondi of the United States won his fifth gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul when he swam the butterfly leg of the men's 4 x 100-metre medley relay event.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (8-4) 22 @ Toronto (8-4) 35
Hamilton (7-5) 24 @ Saskatchewan (8-4) 26

Toronto defensive tackle Rodney Harding set a CFL single-game record with 5 quarterback sacks as the Argonauts defeated the Eskimos at Exhibition Stadium. The Eskimos' offensive highlight came on their second possession in the 1st quarter, when quarterback Tracy Ham completed a short pass to Henry "Gizmo" Williams that turned into an 85-yard touchdown. Edmonton fullback Tony Spoletini rushed 1 yard for his first CFL touchdown, and Cliff Toney returned an interception for the other Eskimo TD. It was the first CFL game for Toronto wide receiver Paul Masotti.





10 years ago
1998

Football
CFL
Montreal (8-4-1) 25 @ Winnipeg (2-11) 34

Eric Blount tied a league record with his second touchdown of the season on a kickoff return as he helped the Blue Bombers upset the Alouettes before 22,539 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Montreal's Mike Pringle set a record with his ninth consecutive game rushing for 100 yards or more.