October 10, 2008

140 years ago
1868

Caribbeana
Carlos Céspedes issued the Grito de Yara from his plantation, La Demajagua, proclaiming Cuba's independence from Spanish rule.

Academia
Collège Saint-Joseph de Memramcook opened in Moncton, New Brunswick as the first Acadian institution of higher education. It was one of three colleges that merged in 1963 to become the Université de Moncton.

Football
R. Tait Mackenzie authored the first written account of a football game played in Quebec, at the St. Catherine Street cricket grounds between a team of officers from the English troops garrisoned in Montreal and a team of civilians, mainly from McGill University.

130 years ago
1878

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie and his Liberal government resigned, 23 days after losing the federal election to a Conservative/Liberal-Conservative coalition led by former Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald.

110 years ago
1898

Born on this date
Lotte Lenya. Austrian-born singer and actress. Miss Lenya, born Karoline Wilhelmine Charlotte Blamaue, was best known for singing the songs of her first husband, composer Kurt Weill. They moved to New York City in 1935, and Miss Lenya spent the rest of her life in the United States. She appeared in several movies, and was nominated for an Academy Award for her supporting performance in The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961). Miss Lenya died of cancer on November 27, 1981 at the age of 83.

100 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Johnny Green. U.S. songwriter and composer. Mr. Green wrote jazz standard songs such as Body and Soul and Out of Nowhere, and won Academy Awards for his scores for Easter Parade (1948); An American in Paris (1951); West Side Story (1961); and Oliver! (1968). He won another Oscar as the producer of Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor (1953), which was named Best Live Action Short Subject, One-Reel. Mr. Green died on May 15, 1989 at the age of 80.

Baseball
World Series
Chicago Cubs 10 @ Detroit Tigers 6 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 1-0)

The Cubs scored 5 runs in the top of the 9th inning, hitting 6 straight singles with 1 out to defeat the Tigers before 10,812 fans at Bennett Park.

90 years ago
1918

Died on this date
Henry Dobson, 76. Australian politician. Mr. Dobson represented Brighton in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1891-1900, serving as Leader of the Opposition from 1891-1892 and Premier of Tasmania from 1892-1894. He represented Tasmania in the Australian Senate from 1901-1910.

War
The Irish mailboat RMS Leinster was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UB-123, killing 564 men, the worst-ever such incident in the Irish Sea.

Health
The influenza epidemic began its Quebec peak, killing 500 people in Quebec City and 3,500 in Montreal from October 10-20.

Football
CPFL-high school
Pre-season
Ottawa Senators (2-0) 11 Ottawa Collegiate Institute (0-2) 5

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Charles Smith. U.S. engineer. Mr. Smith was killed in western Jalisco by Mexican "rebels."

Politics and government
Chiang Kai-shek was inaugurated as Chairman of the Republic of China.

Aviation
The U.S. Navy dirigible Los Angeles returned to Lakehurst, New Jersey after a five-day voyage to San Antonio and back.

Religion
The 49th General Triennial Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America opened in Washington with an address of welcome from U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, in which he declared that organized government and organized society were inadequate to serve the needs of mankind without the inspiration of faith and devotion to religion.

75 years ago
1933

Crime
A United Airlines Boeing 247 propliner bound from Newark, New Jersey to Oakland, California, crashed near Chesterton, Indiana, with the loss of all four passengers and three crew members. The crash was caused by the explosion of a bomb that had been brought on board by one of the passengers.

70 years ago
1938

Diplomacy
The Munich Agreement ceded the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany.

Football
WIFU
Regina (3-3) 3 @ Calgary (4-2) 5
Winnipeg (4-2) 25 @ Edmonton (0-6) 12

ORFU
Peterborough (0-1) 6 @ Montreal (1-0) 24
Sarnia (1-0) 8 @ Toronto (0-1) 6

Eddie O'Brien and Bob Fritz scored touchdowns for the Eskimos, both converted by Harold Sutton, in their loss to the Blue Bombers at Clarke Stadium. The TDs were the second and third--and last--of the season for the Eskimos.

WCIRU
British Columbia (2-0) 13 @ Saskatchewan (0-1) 6

60 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and George Spelvin (Wendell Holmes), on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Guy Fawkes Society

This was the first episode to feature Wendell Holmes as Dr. Watson. It was thought that the use of an actor named Holmes playing Dr. Watson would cause confusion, so Wendell Holmes acted on this series under the name George Spelvin, which is a common alias in British theatre, usually used by an actor playing more than one role in a show.

Died on this date
Ted Horn, 38. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Horn drove in the American Automobile Association Championship Series in the 1930s and '40s, winning the national championship in 1946, 1947, and 1948. He appeared in the Indianapolis 500 10 times from 1935-1948, never winning, but finishing in the top four for the last nine years. He died shortly after being seriously injured in a crash on the second lap of a race at DuQuoin, Illinois when a wheel spindle broke and spun his car into the path of the car driven by Johnny Mantz, who suffered slight injuries. Mr. Horn suffered a concussion, crushed chest, and broken left leg.

War
Greek government forces began a new offensive in northwestern Greece intended to wipe out the remnants of guerrilla forces on the Albanian border.

Politics and government
Pro-U.S. Nationalist Party candidate Juan Manuel Galvez was elected President of Honduras without formal opposition.

Carlos Prio Socarras was inaugurated as the 17th President of Cuba.

Tennis
Ted Schroeder won the men's singles title and Gussie Moran won the women's singles title at the first U.S. national hard court competition in San Francisco.

Auto racing
Johnnie Parsons won the 100-mile AAA race at the DuQuoin, Illinois fairground track in which Ted Horn was fatally injured.

Baseball
World Series
Boston Braves 11 @ Cleveland Indians 5 (Cleveland led best-of-seven series 3-2)

The Braves scored 6 runs in the top of the 7th inning to break a 5-5 tie as they averted elimination before a World Series record crowd of 86,288, breaking the previous day's record.



50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Carolina Moon/Stupid Cupid--Connie Francis (3rd week at #1)

War
Premier Ferhat Abbas of the nationalist Free Algerian government offered to negotiate a cease-fire with French forces in Algeria.

World events
Moro Indians attacked a U.S. oil crew prospecting for the Pure Oil Company near Madrejon in the North Chaco area of Paraguay.

Politics and government
Pledging restoration of indirect democracy as soon as possible, Pakistani Supreme Commander General Ayub Khan denied that he was contemplating a purge of former political leaders.

40 years ago
1968

On television tonight
Dragnet 1969, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Management Services: DR-11



Law
In the aftermath of the Senate filibuster that prevented the confirmation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Abe Fortas as Chief Justice, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson announced that Earl Warren would stay on as Chief Justice "until his successor qualifies."

Disasters
At least 300 people died when an overloaded ferry sank in shark-infested waters off Mindanao Island in the Philippines.

Baseball
World Series
Detroit Tigers 4 @ St. Louis Cardinals 1 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Jim Northrup tripled home Norm Cash and Willie Horton, and Bill Freehan followed with a double to score Mr. Northrup, breaking a 0-0 tie with 2 out in the top of the 7th, and the Tigers added an insurance run in the 9th as they defeated the defending champion Cardinals before 54,692 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium, becoming the third team, after the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1958 New York Yankees, to win the World Series after falling behind 3 games to 1. St. Louis center fielder Curt Flood, one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, misjudged Mr. Northrup's ball, coming in and then having to run back after it. The Cardinals were down to their last out with nobody on base when Mike Shannon hit a home run to ruin Mickey Lolich's bid for a shutout. Tim McCarver popped up for the final out, with Roger Maris on deck. Mr. Maris, dropped to seventh from third in the batting order, batted 0 for 3 and made 3 putouts in right field in the last game of his 12-year major league career. Mr. Lolich earned his third win of the Series, pitching a 5-hitter.



30 years ago
1978

On television tonight
The Paper Chase, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Voices of Silence



Died on this date
Ralph Metcalfe, 68. U.S. runner and politician. Mr. Metcalfe jointly held the world record in the 100-metre dash; he won silver medals in the event in the Summer Olympic Games of 1932 and 1936, and was regarded as the world's fastest man in 1934 and 2935. Mr. Metcalfe won a bronze medal in the men's 200-metre run at the 1932 Olympics, and a gold medal as a member of the American team in the men's 4 x 100-metre relay in the 1936 Olympics. Mr. Metcalfe was an alderman in Chicago from 1955-1970, and represented Illinois' 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 until his death from an apparent heart attack. He co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971.

Ralph Marterie, 63. Italian-born U.S. musician. Mr. Marterie moved to Chicago with his family as a child, and began his career there as a trumpeter in various jazz bands. He was a bandleader during the 1940s and '50s, with hit singles that included Crazy, Man, Crazy (1953); Skokiaan (1954); and Shish-Kebab (1957).

Politics and government
Female pages were hired for the Canadian House of Commons for the first time.

Baseball
World Series
New York Yankees 5 @ Los Angeles Dodgers 11 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Dave Lopes hit 2 home runs and Dusty Baker added another to help the Dodgers beat the Yankees before 55,997 fans at Dodger Stadium.



25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Australiana--Austen Tayshus (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Ralph Richardson, 80. U.K. actor. Sir Ralph was one of Britain's most famous stage actors of the 20th century. His movies included The Four Feathers (1939); The Fallen Idol (1948); The Sound Barrier (1952); Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962); and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984). He often acted with his friend John Gielgud, and the two starred in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on radio in 1954-1955, with Mr. Gielgud as Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Richardson as Dr. Watson.

Politics and government
All five members of a commission appointed by Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos to investigate the August 21 assassination of political opposition leader Benigno Aquino resigned, and the member of parliament whom Mr. Marcos had named as the second chairman of the commission turned down the appointment. The commissioners said they were resigning because of widespread doubts as to their impartiality.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average reached an all-time high of 1,284.65.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (9-3) 30 @ Winnipeg (8-5) 18

Roy Dewalt completed 25 of 34 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown to Sammy Greene, and rushed for a touchdown of his own as the Lions beat the Blue Bombers before 31,508 fans at Winnipeg Stadium on Thanksgiving Day afternoon. Mr. Greene caught 12 passes for 115 yards, while Merv Fernandez added 150 yards on 6 receptions. B.C. kicker and punter Lui Passaglia added 2 converts, 4 field goals, and 2 singles. John Hufnagel, playing his first game at quarterback for the Blue Bombers since being acquired six days earlier with slotback Jerome Erdman in a trade with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for quarterback Nickie Hall and wide receiver Nate Johnson, completed 21 of 35 passes for 342 yards and touchdowns of 75 and 42 yards to Jeff Boyd, but allowed 2 interceptions by Kerry Parker and another by Melvin Byrd, fumbled twice, and was sacked for a safety touch in the 3rd quarter. Mr. Boyd caught 6 passes for 179 yards. Winnipeg's Willard Reaves led all rushers with 15 carries for 61 yards. B.C.'s Larry Jones rushed 6 times for 17 yards, caught 2 passes for 12 yards, and returned 1 kickoff for 15 yards in his 8th and last CFL game. Mr. Hufnagel became the sixth quarterback to start a game for the Blue Bombers in 1983, after Mark Jackson, Nickie Hall, Dieter Brock, Norman Gibbs, and Tom Clements.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Simply Irresistible--Robert Palmer (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Desire--U2 (2nd week at #1)

Football
CFL
Edmonton (9-5) 17 @ Winnipeg (8-6) 21

The Eskimos appeared to be in control in the 4th quarter before 26,298 fans at Winnipeg Stadium, but Sean Salisbury completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to James Murphy, and Trevor Kennerd added a 26-yard field goal late in the game as the Blue Bombers came back to win.



Baseball
National League Championship Series
Los Angeles 7 @ New York 4 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 3-2)

The Dodgers scored 3 runs in the 4th inning to open the scoring, and Kirk Gibson hit a 3-run homer in the 5th to make the score 6-0 as the Dodgers withstood a 3-run rally by the Mets in the bottom of the 5th and held on to win before 52,069 fans at Shea Stadium.



10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Clark Clifford, 91. U.S. politician. Mr. Clifford was a lawyer and an adviser to Democratic Party U.S. Presidents from Harry Truman through Jimmy Carter. He became known as an ultimate Washington insider, holding various positions, most notably Secretary of Defense from 1968-1969 in the administration of President Lyndon Johnson during the Vietnam War.

Terrorism
A Lignes Aériennes Congolaises Boeing 727 was shot down by rebels in Kindu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 41 people.

Baseball
American League Championship Series
New York 4 @ Cleveland 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Paul O'Neill's home run in the top of the 1st inning provided the necessary scoring as Orlando Hernández pitched 7 scoreless innings to win the pitchers' duel over Dwight Gooden before 44,981 fans at Jacobs Field.



National League Championship Series
Atlanta 1 @ San Diego 4 (San Diego led best-of-seven series 3--0)

The Padres scored 2 runs in each of the 5th and 8th innings to defeat the Braves before 62,799 fans at Qualcomm Stadium, as Sterling Hitchock, with relief help, won the pitching matchup over Greg Maddux.